Dear Supporters,
Wirral Green Space Alliance are calling for members of the Public to attend the remaining Local Plan Hearings over the next few weeks.
The Wirral Local Plan Examination hearings which began in April 2023 were paused to allow the Leverhulme Appeal to take place. Thankfully, the Leverhulme Appeal Inspector agreed with the Council, and the vast majority of Wirral residents, and refused the appeal. Now the Local Plan Examination hearings have resumed and will continue over the next few weeks until 9th November.
Wirral Green Space Alliance have been working tirelessly to continue to argue against the release of Green Belt at the Local Plan examinations. Although, WGSA disagree with the Council’s housing numbers (we believe there is compelling evidence that they should be much lower) we broadly support the Council’s submitted draft Local Plan which has a “brownfield only approach” and wishes to promote much needed regeneration in the East of the Wirral. The Council’s Draft Local Plan has unanimous political support (across all political parties) and public support confirmed through the ballot box.
WGSA represent over 30 local environment groups on the Wirral. We have received requests from members and others to seek a Local Plan Examination Public Evening Session along the lines of that which took place on Thursday, 8th June 2023 during the Leverhulme Appeals/Inquiry. We are aware that Leverhulmes Inquiry Inspector (Katie MacDonald) found the experience impressive, enlightening and helpful (as the record shows).
Unfortunately, the Council Local Plan Programme Officer has confirmed that the Local Plan Inspectors will not be having a Public Evening Session. The Programme Office has stated “Only those persons who have made representations prior to the submission of the plan, seeking changes to the plan for soundness reasons, have a right to be heard.”
The Wirral Development Consortium, made up of 13 local housebuilders and landowners have indeed made representations prior to the submission of the plan and have expensive legal and planning experts lined up to seek changes to the plan “for soundness reasons”. They will be actively taking part in the hearings over the next few weeks to argue that the Local Plan is “unsound” and that Green Belt should be released.
The programme of hearings over the next few weeks which relate to Green Belt areas are as follows:
Day 16: Thursday 19 October 2023
14:00 Matter 9 Issue 5, Area-based policies, settlement area 4, Bebington, Bromborough and Eastham
Reserve Day: Morning Friday 20 October 2023
Friday to be held in reserve as contingency for any final matters not covered in earlier sessions and for any administrative / programming issues. Likely virtual morning session as needed.
Week 7 – Birkenhead Town Hall
Day 17: Tuesday 31 October 2023
09:30 Matter 9 Issue 6, Area-based policies, settlement area 5, Leasowe, Moreton, Upton, Greasby and Woodchurch (Mid Wirral)
14:00 Matter 9 Issue 7, Area-based policies, settlement area 6, Hoylake and West Kirby
Day 18: Wednesday 1 November 2023
09:30 Matter 9 Issue 8, Area-based policies, settlement area 7, Irby, Thingwall, Pensby, Heswall and Gayton
14:00 Matter 9 Issue 9, Area-based policies, settlement area 8, Rural Area
Day 19: Thursday 2 November 2023
09:30 Matter 9, Area-based policies, any remaining points
14:00 Matter 9, Area-based policies, any remaining points
Block 2 sessions will be held in Birkenhead Town Hall.
Birkenhead Town Hall
Hamilton Street
Birkenhead
CH41 5BR
Wirral Green Space Alliance are calling on people to attend the hearing sessions to show interest and support. You do not have to speak, but if you do wish to speak you may do so if:
· you made a comment (a ‘representation’), on the final draft of the plan (the ‘Regulation 19’ plan) that the LPA submitted for examination, and
· your comment asked for a change to be made to the plan – that is, it was an objection to the submitted plan
If you made a written objection and do not wish to say anything at a hearing, your comment on the final draft plan will still be considered by the inspector. The inspector will also consider all comments made in support of the plan. If you did not make comments on this version of the plan, you do not have a legal right to take part in the examination.
If you wish to speak at the hearings then please contact the Programme Officer Kerry Trueman
Programme Officer
Programme Officer Solutions Limited
Email: kerrytrueman@wirral.gov.uk
Phone: 07582 310364
The “Matters 9” Hearing Statements submitted by the Developers can be read via the following link:
https://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning-and-building/local-plan-examination/hearings-information
These include the following:
Story Homes, Land South of Brimstage Road, Bebington
Russell Homes, Land at Pump Lane, Greasby
Jones Homes, land between Frankby Road and Grange Cross Lane, Newton
Barrett David Wilson, Chester Road, Heswall
Redrow, land between Higher Bebington and the M53
Miller Homes, land off Saughall Massie Rd / Gilroy Rd, China Farm Lane, West Kirby
Leverhulme Estates – 8 sites in Greasby, Pensby, Irby, Barnston, Heswall and Raby Mere
Elan Homes, land at Thingwall Rd, Irby
Bellway Homes, Land at Gayton Parkway
PJ Livesey and Peter Bowling, Land at Storeton
Thank you for your support, it is important that as many people as possible attend the public meetings to show the opposition to any Green Belt Development.