New trees planted – a lot done, a lot to do!

It’s a fact of life in most parts of Moreton and Leasowe that the area is a flood zone. The Environment Agency agrees. That’s one of the reasons why we need more trees planting. I’ll spare you the basic biology lesson but, the more trees we plant in the area, the better for the environment. Last week, I attended the planting of new trees by Alliance and Leasowe Community Homes, at a site cleared by Alliance, behind Castleway South. I don’t think any of the three councillors have been actively involved until we attended the official planting ceremony last week but there is more we can do to make sure this isn’t the last site to be used in this way. If you would like to get involved in planting trees in this area, let me know.

Green Action Day in Upton Park on Saturday 23 July

Next Saturday is our Green Action Day in Upton Park.  We’ll be meeting at the Pavillion car park on Sandbrook Lane, starting at 10.30am and, with some litter pickers and bags, collecting as much litter and rubbish from around the park and children’s play area as we can.  Everyone is welcome to come along and I’ll do another note to residents this week.

Our first-ever Green Action Day took place in April 2007 at Upton Park and we went on to have similar events at Leasowe Common, the Witley Lyons Estate and Leasowe Park and Ride.

Action Plan for Upton Park

I have met with the Council’s new Parks Manager and we visited Upton Park.  This is a really popular park, especially with dog walkers and children using the play area.  Sadly, it has been a bit neglected over the years.  So, during our meeting, we have agreed an ‘Action Plan’ to bring it back up to scratch.  Some of the actions include:

• A second goalpost at the other end of the kids pitch (near the shelter)
• Removal of some of the dead and dangerous trees in the woods near the boundary with Fender Farm
• New signage near the entrance at Fordhill View
• Removal of the Japanese Knotweed next to the footpath near Holly Place

We also called in and had a cuppa with Jean, who keeps in contact with me about the Park and who is one of the regular visitors.  I agreed with Jean that I would organise another Green Action Day in the Park for August.  Volunteers are welcome to join us for a litter pick.

 

Grass cutting. Or not.

Overgrown grass at Wilkes Avenue

…and at the junction of Livingstone Road

On Thursday I had a meeting with the Managing Director of Leasowe Community Homes.  One of the issues I raised was the grass cutting service around the estate.  These pictures were taken on Thursday.  Last year, we had a similar problem which followed some ‘confusion’ between the Council and Leasowe Community Homes over who owned which bits of land.

This shouldn’t be happening and I’ve been assured that it will be sorted out once and for all.  Many of the complaints I have received are from people who live next door to some of these green spaces – they are keeping their gardens neat and tidy but the grass next door is an eyesore.

The sun’s out, and so is the litter…

Over the past few weeks, I have been working with a resident, John, of Oakmere Close, off Leasowe Road, about the litter problems around Leasowe Common and on the embankment.  John’s photographs show THE litter bin at the embankment – overflowing and clearly too small for the volume of litter that so many visitors leave behind.  Having checked with the Council’s contract manager for Biffa, this bin is supposed to be emptied up to TWICE a day.

The whole area is, sadly, affected by litter.  A couple of years ago, we ran a Green Action Day and collected many bags of rubbish ourselves.  I’m going to ask for the area to be litter picked, for additional bins at the two car parks on the slip road opposite the old hospital site and a bigger bin, or extra bins, at the embankment.

River Birket embankment

Steve and I have had a couple of residents contact us about the state of the embankment.  We’re already asked for the area around the junction with Reeds Lane to be tidied up and we’re meeting a Council officer there soon.  However, the problem isn’t just there.  There is litter and rubbish along much of the embankment and, where there are shrubs and bushes, they are overgrown. 

The pathways along Scoresby Road and Davis Road that run next to the embankment railings are a bit difficult to pass, particularly if you have a pram or a buggy.  We’ve asked for these to be cut back and for a litter pick.  We’ll be arranging to meet with the Environment Agency as well – they are responsible for this land.

Litter hotspot 2: Twickenham Drive

Another ‘hotspot’ is the litter that has built up along the path that runs from Twickenham Drive to the Community Centre.  This makes the whole area look a mess and, while it’s not the Council that drops the litter, I have asked if the Council can pick it up.

Litter hotspot 1: Reeds Lane

Earlier this week, I responded to a complaint from a resident about an accumulation of litter at Reeds Lane, near the cycle path along the Birket.

As you can see from these pictures, the litter hasn’t just appeared – it’s been building up over many months, if not longer.

I have sent the pictures to the Council and have asked to see if the area can be litter picked and tidied up.

Water leak on MacKenzie Road

Over the last 24 hours, I have been liasing with the Director of Communications at United Utilities over a seriously leaking main waster pipe in MacKenzie Road.  You can read about the problem here.

In this weather, the leak is causing extra ice to form on the bend in the road and making it impossible to use the pavement.

I’ve just received an email from United Utilities:

UU inspected this leak on Tuesday after the leak was reported the day before.  UU knows the leak is from a cast iron pipe; the work to fix it is planned for 3.30pm today.  UU is planning to carry out ‘live work’ on the pipe which means water supplies will not be turned off. However, until the pipe is excavated, the scale of the repair will not be known.  That is why UU waited until the local school closed before carrying out the work, just in case the water should have to be turned off.  During this very cold spell of weather, UU is receiving many calls about frozen water pipes; go to www.unitedutilities.com to find out ways to protect your home.

Grow your own? Why we need more allotments

It’s not exactly a scene from The Good Life, but, if all goes according to plan, Leasowe could soon an allotment site.  Several months ago, I met with the Council’s Head of Asset Management at the Wallasey Boxing Club (behind the Early Years Centre and Kingham Close, off Twickenham Drive).  I asked him to look at allowing some of the land next to the Club for allotments.

Max Roy, who runs the boxing club, had no objections and, following that, the Council officers have been working on the possible use of this land.

There are no allotments in Leasowe or Moreton and I am keen that we look at all options in the area – there are plots of Council-owned land that are lying fallow which could be used and, of all the ones I have looked at, this could be the most suitable.

Because the land used to be a sports field, the Council is obliged to write to all schools in the area and ask if they would like to take the land on.  If the schools have no objections, then we will move to the next stage of a full ‘Options Appraisal in January.

I think a new allotment, within walking distance for many people, will be a great way of increasing the supply of fresh food and outdoor activity.  What do you think?  Leave a comment on this blog or drop me an email ianlewis@wirral.gov.uk

In the meantime, I have contacted many of the community leaders in Leasowe and will be writing to all the schools this week.

Green Action Day at Leasowe Common

Chris Blakeley, Leah Fraser, Steve Williams, Alex Jones, yours truly and Maria Byrne

Thanks to all those who turned up to our latest Green Action Day.  We chose Leasowe Common this time and collected around a dozen bags of all kinds of rubbish, not least Tenants Extra, which remains the drink of choice for the people using (and abusing) the Common.

I have since received feedback that someone who uses the Common was unimpressed that we left the (sealed) bags of rubbish near the car parking area.  We did this for two reasons: Biffa are happy to collect the litter for us and also, while we are happy to give our time to do this, we don;t think it’s unreasonable not to take all the litter away in our cars to the tip.  I’m pleased to report that Biffa collected all the bags yesterday, as arranged.

If you would like to nominate a grot spot near you for a Green Action Day, email me at ianlewis@wirral.gov.uk

Normal service resumed…

One of the good things about staying at my parents’ is the absence of email.  Sadly, there is also a lack of web.  Hence the lack of any news updates for a week or two.  I’m mainly back at home in Wallasey now so normal service should resume. 

In response to an article I posted about the Greens, Chris Menzies suggested I should add a link to the Libertarian Party.  So I have.  Meanwhile, the Greens’ top NW mover and shaker asks about Conservative prospects in Liverpool…