The Newsletter for your Community Issue 39: August 2015 See our website www.newferryonline.org.uk
SHOREFIELDS NATURE PARK PROJECT FINALLY UNDERTAKEN
NEW FERRY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION AGM WED 26th AUGUST 2015 New Ferry Residents Association is to hold its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 26th August, 6.30pm at St Marks Church Hall. This will be the first community meeting the group has held since the AGM last summer. The group, which has been working hard behind the scenes since 1999 to win funding for New Ferry projects, has suffered a number of blows since last December. This started with the sudden death of founder member of NeFRA and Chair of the Friends of New Ferry Park Arthur Waller MBE.
It has taken over 2 years to plan and win funding for, but ÂŁ22,000 worth of improvements have been carried out at Shorefields Nature Park. New Ferry Residents Association had to apply for funding from various sources for the project, and eventually was awarded the money from the Community First fund and Funds for You from Wirral Borough Council. The works, completed during July, saw the footpath through the woods repaired and resurfaced, new gates installed to deter motorbikes getting in and ruining the path again, four new heritage signboards and improvements to the steps at the northern end. The scheme also included closing the access at the end of Oakworth Drive which had seen an increase in the number of people coming into the residential cul-de-sac and using it as a shortcut to the steps giving access to Port Sunlight River Park (this had been announced in our last newsletter in summer 2014). The original idea for Shorefields had included a plan to win funding to build a new footpath along the top of the cliffs and to provide new picnic tables. Unfortunately, the National Lottery is not an easy funder to get money out of and turned down our application for an additional ÂŁ25,000 to pay for this. We are determined, however, to continue to seek funding for this second phase. If you would like to get involved in the project or are interested in Shorefields Nature Park in general, please email us at www.newferryonline.org.uk or write to us at the address shown below.
In addition, the group's Treasurer John Blainey has now left New Ferry and relocated to Birkenhead. John had been the organiser of the recent Classic Vehicle Day events, and a valuable contributor to getting the Christmas Lights put up at the end of last year. This means there is an urgent need to find new volunteers from the community to get involved. At the AGM, we will be seeking a new Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. We will also be seeking new people to come onto the committee to help with various projects as and when needed. If you would like to nominate someone (or be nominated yourself), please come along to the meeting.
Published by New Ferry Residents Association, c/o New Ferry Village Hall, Longfellow Drive, New Ferry, Wirral, Merseyside CH62 5JS. Printed by Merseyside Business Forms, Unit 5, Royal Standard Way, Expressway Business Park, New Chester Road, Wirral CH42 1NB
NeFRA Newsletter: Issue 39, August 2015 – Page 2
VANDALS / QUADBIKES / SCRAMBLER BIKES CAUSING MISERY YET AGAIN Sorry to go on about this, but once more as the summer holidays start, the rate of petty vandalism and anti-social behaviour being undertaken by young people has soared. NEW FERRY PARK: The teen shelter has been torched yet again, whilst the tarmac kickabout area gets covered in broken glass. These are facilities provided for young people, so why is there a minority hell-bent on wrecking them?
NEW FERRY BUTTERFLY PARK CELEBRATES 20 YEARS It has been a busy year for New Ferry Butterfly Park. Not only did it win a Green Flag Community Excellence award in July, it also scooped a ‘Bees Needs’ Special Award for Innovation from the Green Flag Award panel in recognition of its commitment to encouraging and increasing pollinator-friendly habitats and food sources throughout the year. This community run park, situated next to Bebington Station behind Aldi's car park, also celebrated its 20th birthday with a garden party on 9th August. Congratulations to all the volunteers involved.
EVENTS AT PORT SUNLIGHT RIVER PARK Bat Walk: Thursday 27th August 8.30-10pm. Come for a gentle walk and see which bats are flying. Suitable for adults and children aged 8 and over. Wear suitable clothing for the weather. Bring a torch. Sorry no dogs. £2 fee per person. Places are limited and must be booked and paid for in advance, either at Bromborough Pool Garden Centre or at the site office. Heritage Open Day guided walk: ‘From Refuse to Recreation’ on Wednesday 9th September 1.303.30pm. Meet at Dock Road North car park. For more details, please contact Anne Litherland by calling 07587550060 or email anne.litherland@wirral.autistic.org
PROPOSAL FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL REHABILITATION CENTRE IN NEW FERRY You may be aware that there are plans to open a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in New Ferry. The suggested location is the former Hunters Furniture store between the post office and Risa Spice. The operators recently held a drop in session to try to convince local people of the need for such a facility here, but some residents remain concerned about the detrimental effect it could have on New Ferry and perceptions about this place. If you have not yet had the chance to air your views on this subject, we would like to hear from you at the Annual General Meeting of New Ferry Residents Association. Details on page 1.
NEW FERRY ROAD BRIDGE: Youths have been seen dropping items onto passing motorists on the bypass. This is an exceptionally dangerous practice which can kill or seriously injure people. SHOREFIELDS/MAYFIELDS: seems to be a popular circuit for unlicensed quadbikes, scrambler bikes and mini motorbikes which whizz around the neighbourhood with no regard for the safety of our children playing there. SHOREFIELDS NATURE PARK: continues to be used as a dumping ground for garden refuse and building waste. PARKED CARS ATTACKED: In some streets of New Ferry there is a persistent problem of cars having their paint scratched and wing mirrors broken. PORT SUNLIGHT RIVER PARK: The information signboards have been vandalised yet again. SO WHY ARE WE LETTING THESE LOUTS SPOIL OUR COMMUNITY? Do you think nothing gets done when you report these things? YOU ARE WRONG!!!!!! In the last year, thanks to local residents reporting people for anti-social behaviour, at least 5 families have been evicted from social rented properties in our area for persistent serious offences, whilst almost a dozen prosecutions have been made by Wirral Borough Council for illegal fly-tipping. In addition, the police have busted a couple of cannabis farms in New Ferry, and a handful of ASBOs have been issued against persistent youth offenders, seriously restricting their movements and lessening the opportunities for them to cause more misery for their neighbours. In addition, several unlicensed motorbikes have been confiscated and crushed. THE FACT IS THAT COMPLAINING ABOUT ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IN NEW FERRY DOES AND CONTINUES TO BRING RESULTS. We appeal to everyone to take a ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH to anti-social behaviour. If you feel as we do and you witness any of the above misdemeanours, please ring the police on 101 and report what you see and – if you know – WHO is doing it. TOGETHER, WE CAN AND WILL BEAT THEM!!!
NeFRA Newsletter: Issue 39, August 2015 – Page 3 USEFUL INFORMATION & NOTICES:
Recycle unwanted furniture There is no need to dump your unwanted furniture. It can be recycled by Wirral Independent Recycling Enterprise (WIRE) and they even collect free of charge. Ring them on 0151 638 6691
Wirral Farmers’ Market Dates
APPEAL FOR HELP WITH CHRISTMAS LIGHTS New Ferry Residents Association has secured most of the funding needed to put the christmas lights again at the end of this year. However, we need volunteers to help with replacing some of the rope bulbs. If you can spare some hours during November to help, please let us know by ringing 0774 607 3914. No specific skills are needed, other than having nimble fingers and a great deal of patience.
The next markets will be held on: th Saturday 12 September 2015 th Saturday 10 October 2015 th Saturday 14 November 2015 Find out more at www.wirralfarmersmarket.org.uk
Anti-social behaviour Having problems with anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood? Ring “It’s Your Call” on 0151 606 2020. The line is open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday, with an answerphone for out-of-hours advice. All calls treated in confidence. You can also ring Wirral Community Patrol on 0151 666 5265. They have mobile officers who can respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Set up a Neighbourhood Watch One of the best ways to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in your street is to set up your own Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. If you don't know how to do this, there is help available from the Mid-Wirral Crime Prevention Panel. Find out more by sending an email to Paul at paul@midwirralcrimepreventionpanel.org.uk
New Ferry Heritage Walk New Ferry Residents Association Chair, Mark Anthony Craig, will be giving a guided heritage th walk around New Ferry on Friday 11 September. The walk, which will last about three hours, starts outside Bebington Station at 9.30am and will finish at Port Sunlight River Park. No booking is required – just turn up on the day dressed according to the weather. Please note there are some steps to be negotiated on the final leg of the walk.
Bebington Youth Club Bebington Youth Club offers a great opportunity for young people to get together and have fun, in a warm and friendly atmosphere with fully qualified youth workers. Please come along and see what is on offer and talk to the friendly staff. There are lots of activities such as Pool, Indoor Football, Table Tennis, Film nights, Music Room, Wii & X Box. Suggestions for any other activities are welcome. Please feel free to visit the club. We are open Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 710pm. The age range is for young people who are in Secondary school.
NeFRA Newsletter: Issue 39, August 2015 – Page 4
PERIOD PHOTO COLLECTION: NEW CHESTER ROAD, 1938 An unusual photo which was recently sent to us from the collection of David Nicholas who lives in Tranmere. In this 1938 shot, we are looking down onto New Chester Road as it approaches the junction with New Ferry Road. The bus is driving past what was/is Buckleys, whilst the Farmers Arms Pub can be seen in all its glory (today it is popular restaurant Risa Spice). The tall smoking chimney in the distance is probably Price's Candle Works next to the River Dibbin.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP DELIVER NEWSLETTERS We urgently need more people to help deliver our newsletters like this one. We print about 3 per year, and 100 newsletters can be delivered in less than half an hour. Can you help? If you can, please fill in, then cut out this section and post it to us at our address shown below.
YES, I would like to volunteer to deliver newsletters. NAME: ADDRESS:
You can see this photo and many more on our website, www.newferryonline.org.uk
EVENING CONTACT TEL: EMAIL ADDRESS:
New Ferry Residents Association consists of local residents and business people. We work together with officers from Wirral Borough Council, local councillors and our Member of Parliament in order to improve New Ferry. We are a non-political organisation. If you have any community based problem which you think we can help you with, please contact us by writing to:
New Ferry Residents Association, c/o New Ferry Village Hall, Longfellow Drive, New Ferry, Wirral, Merseyside CH62 5JS Website: www.newferryonline.org.uk Published by New Ferry Residents Association, c/o New Ferry Village Hall, Longfellow Drive, New Ferry, Wirral, Merseyside CH62 5JS. Printed by Merseyside Business Forms, Unit 5, Royal Standard Way, Expressway Business Park, New Chester Road, Wirral CH42 1NB