We, the undersigned, call upon Wirral Council to take immediate action regarding the recently installed gates at Banks Road, Heswall Foreshore.

We support efforts to protect the Dee Estuary and prevent the unlawful dumping of boats and vehicles. However, we believe the current arrangements are unfair, incomplete and have been implemented before the wider project has been finished.

We therefore call on Wirral Council to:

1. Reopen the Gates Immediately Until the Project is Complete

Recent public statements indicate that additional access paths are still to be constructed around the gates as part of the wider project. If those works are necessary, the gates should not have been brought into operation before the project was completed.

We call on the Council to reopen the gates immediately until all associated works have been completed and the final access arrangements are in place.

2. Complete the Access Works Before Reintroducing Restrictions

The Council should prioritise the completion of all supporting infrastructure, including the new paths around the gates, before any future restrictions are enforced.

Public access should not be affected by an unfinished project.

3. Provide Reasonable Access for Existing Boat Owners

The Council should establish a fair and transparent permit or access scheme that allows legitimate boat owners and authorised users to transport equipment, tools and materials to boats already located on the foreshore.

These individuals should not be unfairly penalised as a consequence of measures aimed at preventing future dumping and unauthorised access.

Our Position

We support:

✅ Environmental protection.

✅ The removal of abandoned and dangerous vessels.

✅ Proper management of the foreshore.

However, we also believe:

✅ Public access should be maintained.

✅ Projects should be completed before restrictions are imposed.

✅ Legitimate users should be treated fairly.

We therefore ask Wirral Council to review the current arrangements and act without delay.