Irby, Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society Established over 30 years
Volume 14, Issue 1 - March 2012
Page 1 Santa came to Irby
Page 2 Neighbourhood Plans
Page 3 Snippets
Þingvöllr
Page 4 Beach Clean-up
Page 5 Planning
d e s fu e R Page 6 Committee Diary
Lights Success Santa came to Irby The Irby Christmas lights were North Wirral Rotary who all gave successfully switched on by Santa generously towards the cost. Claus himself at 6pm on Friday 2nd We also took the opportunity to ask the December. lighting contractor (North West The switch on event was a great Lighting) to refurbish all of the success with the village packed with coloured lights along the shop Grandmas, Granddads, Mums, Dads rooflines. We hope you will agree that and children. The children from Irby Irby looked very colourful this and Dawpool Primary Schools sang Christmas. carols and Christmas songs to keep the crowd entertained whist waiting The “Santa comes to Irby” event was for Santa to arrive, on his motor cycle, organised by a collaborative with and escorted by an entourage of representatives from ITPAS, the Shippons Bikers, Irby Evangelical bikers. Church, the Shippons Inn and Irby ITPAS’ involvement with the Village Hall. Christmas lights goes back a number of years when the then secretary, Rosemary Burns, managed the purchase of several sets of illuminated seasonal decorations. ITPAS members will recall how these were replaced in 2008, when Carol Porter obtained funding to purchase ten sets of “star” design clusters. This year, ITPAS were advised that we now require a lighting permit from Wirral Borough Council and the lights must be installed and taken down by a Council-approved supplier. Although this has cost considerably more than in previous years, we were delighted with the Irby traders, Irby and Thurstaston WI, Dawpool WI, The Irby Club, Heswall Round Table and
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Irby, Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society Established over 30 years
5th October Talk
Neighbourhood plans There was a modest attendance at the October ITPAS meeting, yet there was a very lively vocal input from those present who took advantage of the opportunity to shape Wirral Borough Council’s plans for Irby. The Council representative, Andy Brannan led the discussion and took copious notes as those present gave their views on: · Tackling worklessness
· What does Irby need? Ideas included, converting the empty toilet block into a heritage/history centre; introducing parking time limits to prevent commuters parking up for the day, tackling speeding, building a new footpath around Read’s field and more consideration from cyclists on the Wirral Way
· What makes Irby a good place to live? The responses included, the “village feel”; Irby park and swings and Irby tennis courts · How can we improve Irby? People present felt that Park Keepers; more for teenagers to do, litter collections and an Irby youth club would be a good start · Health
Some expressed disapproval of the imminent closure of local GP surgeries and the effect on Irby and Thingwall shops. Retention of free swimming for the over 60’s was asked for as were improved cycle
links.
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A draft summary of all of the Wirral wide consultations was published and presented at the Area Forum meeting on 29th October. This included a reference to ITPAS’ input. A full summary of the consultation exercise will be available in the New Year.
IRBY VILLAGE HALL This is a wonderful community resource and needs a lot of support. We feel that we should strengthen our links by having a representative of ITPAS on the Village Hall Committee. If any ITPAS member would like to be considered for this could you contact Ian Chalmers, our secretary. 0151-648-5619
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Irby, Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society Established over 30 years
d r a Norse Thingwall o b e c i t o We worked closely recently with Prof. Stephen ITPAS N Harding, Councillor Don McCubbin and Joe ITPAS has successfully applied for a £900 grant from Wirral Borough Council’s “Funds for You” programme to purchase a new ITPAS notice board for Irby village. Some members will have seen the glass fronted ITPAS notice boards in Irby Park and Pensby Park, installed a few years ago. The new one in Irby will be of a similar design and replaces the original board which was mounted on the GP Surgery wall for many years before wet rot, and the refurbishment of the former Dental Surgery, led to its removal. The new board will be positioned adjacent to the bus stop opposite Mill Hill Road, outside The Shippons and will be large enough to accommodate both ITPAS notices and those from other community groups.
Smith from Technical Services to realise an idea concerning our Norse heritage. We assessed the siting of four new place names for Thingwall which in Old Norse means Assembly Field. This is where the Norsefolk of the area met to enforce laws and discuss policy. We also decided precisely how the sign should be worded and spelt. The original site was on Cross Hill near the Bassett Hound. The new signs will show the Old
Þingvöllr
Norse name along with a translation and will be found on the four roads leading into Thingwall. United Utilities have been very generous and are to fund the project. ITPAS also have an idea to Following a letter from Joan Lowe regarding the mark the actual site on Cross Hill with an origins of ITPAS, we have had to make information board and will work with Professor alterations to our perceived history. Her husband Harding to this end. Philip died in 1972 and as a Founder member of ITPAS she estimates that ITPAS must have started in the early 1960s. Her earliest written evidence is the first newsletter dated mid-1974 when there was a flurry of concern regarding the Now that the PolyClinic at the new housing development planned for the Warrens is a reality we urge Coombe Road/Heathbank Road area. Soon after patients not to forsake our there was concern that housing might have been local pharmacies. Not only do approved for the south side of Thingwall Road they represent an important from Harrock Wood up to Irby village. Fortunately function in the life of our this didn’t come to pass. It was interesting to see communities but can actually that in 1978 there was concern about the make life easier for you. Irby delapidation of the land between the car park Pharmacy for example has a full range of and the shops. It was extensively cleared and services including taking and collecting prescriptions for you to collect in the Village. This tidied up in 2012! saves you time and effort making the journey to If anyone can add to the welter of stories from the Clinic. Check with them for what they can do ITPAS’ early days and the issues encountered for you. and won could you please share them with us. Send us your email address They will add to our archives and be of interest to Our newsletter and other communications can our present membership. be made by email to you saving us costs. If you would prefer this then let us know. We may even Let me know via webmaster@itpas.org be able to publish as an eBook. or 0151-648-7671 Contact webmaster@itpas.org
Irby Pharmacy
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Irby, Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society
p u n a e l C h c Bea Established over 30 years
Thurstaston’s big beach clean-up on Saturday and Sunday 17th and 18th September was a huge success. Members of the public joined ITPAS members on both days to help clear the beach of litter and unwanted debris. The event, part of the Marine Conservation Society’s Big Beachwatch Weekend, was organised by ITPAS committee member, Jim McCormac and his wife, Valerie. Volunteers, who were issued with gloves and high visibility jackets collected over 15 sacks of rubbish each day containing all sorts of flotsam and jetsam, ranging from clothing and cans to plastic bags and fibreglass pieces from a wrecked boat. ITPAS Chairman, Melanie Walker said, “This initiative complemented our work to improve the quality of the bathing water at Thurstaston. By making the beach debris free, we aim to improve this excellent facility for both local families and visitors to the area.”
ITPAS Chairman, Melanie Walker, 7th from left, with the clean-up team at Thurstaston beach
Watch out for more beach clean-ups coming soon.
We are hoping to increase the ITPAS membership by arranging for every residence in the CH61 postcode area to receive an information sheet and invitation to join ITPAS. Unfortunately, the leaflet distributors cannot differentiate between ITPAS and non-ITPAS member households so please do not be concerned when you receive yours. In the meantime, we’d be grateful if you would pass the enclosed ITPAS leaflet to a friend or neighbour who may be interested in joining ITPAS and supporting local community issues.
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Irby, Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society Established over 30 years
Planning Matters The ITPAS Planning Officer’s case book There has been an application to re-route a This page is a quick update on just a few of the applications we have considered in the Irby/Thingwall, Thurstaston and Pensby areas during the past few months:
footpath (Public Right of Way No. 44) which currently runs next to Hill Farm on the Thurstaston Road. We believe that footpaths are part of the tradition and heritage of the area and should not be changed without exceptional reasons. This application has yet to be decided by the planning office.
In the last newsletter we referred to the application for the building of two houses on land off Mill Road Thingwall. As well A revised application for a Storm Porch at Lee as the ITPAS objection there Farm, Station Road has been submitted, we have were 13 other objections, objected to the application as we are opposed to indicating the level of local development within the Green Belt and the feeling. However, the applicant original planning permission for the building claimed the council were taking contained a condition which stated that the too long to reach a decision on enlargement of the building or construction of a this case and went straight to porch shall not be carried out. This case has yet an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol. to be decided. At the time of writing the Inspectorate have not The Pensby Hotel received a lot of local publicity made their decision following the application to demolish it to enable Irby Mill Farm, Hillbark Road applied for an the building of a care home for the elderly. The extension but the application was refused with the application has been subsequently withdrawn. planning office stating,” The proposed changes create an over proliferation of domestic elements that has a detrimental impact to the preservation of the character and setting of the original building. The proposed extension would have a materially greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt which is unacceptable.” Also in Hillbark Road another property applied for the erection of a side extension and again this was refused on the grounds that the extension would have a harmful visual impact on the surrounding Green Belt . It is heartening to see the council’s planners using their powers to protect the Green Belt. The Cottage Loaf pub submitted an application for six signs which were already displayed outside the pub. We objected as we felt the number of signs was excessive and as the signs were on the approach to the Thurstaston Roundabout there was a risk of motorists being distracted. The outcome is that three of the signs have been refused by planning and will have to be removed.
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Member Records When you received this Newsletter, did you check the mailing label to ensure we have your correct details. We need every bit of information to be accurate to comply with the law in respect of holding personal details about people, so please tell us if its incorrect, even if its just your initial or title, please check and let us know. Phone 648 2444
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Irby, Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society Established over 30 years
Chairman Melanie Walker – 648 6780 chairman@itpas.org Vice Chairman Roy Fisher - 648-7671
All talks are 7.00 for 7.30 pm start in Irby Village Hall unless otherwise stated.
Secretary Ian Chalmers – 648 5619 secretary@itpas.org
Gavin Hunter
‘Old Ports of the Dee’
Treasurer Latimah Sinclair - 648-2444 treasurer@itpas.org
7.00 pm for 7.30 pm start
Planning Paul Bell - 648-2243 planning@itpas.org Membership Jim McCormac - 604-0376 membership@itpas.org
Annual General Meeting
Newsletter Roy Fisher – 648 7671 webmaster@itpas.org
YOUR Society.
Come and discuss the business of
Hear an overview of our work this year and our successes.
Irby Traders Representative TBC
Test yourself on our local quiz. Thursday, May 17th at 7.30 pm
Web Manager Roy Fisher - 648-7671 webmaster@itpas.org
At Irby Cricket Club
General Committee Lukman Sinclair - 648-2444
‘Lady Hamilton’
enquiries@itpas.org
By Michael Corfe 7.00 for 7.30 pm start © ITPAS – Contact the Newsletter editor, details on this page, if you wish to extract information from this Newsletter. For externally drafted articles, contact the copyright holder or author direct (details will be shown). We are more than happy to receive articles, comments, letters or suggestions though they may or may not be included in our forthcoming Newsletters or on the ITPAS website. Any such articles may also be edited at the discretion of the Committee. ITPAS committee members can be contacted by phone or email as detailed above.
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