Green View Monthly Update

Welcome to the latest monthly update. This month the focus is on housing renewal, fuel poverty and, of course, the usual round-up of street issues.

Housing regeneration faces increased turmoil

It seems no aspect of our lives is immune from the savage cuts agenda. Recently the government announced that it would no longer fund the Pathfinder housing renewal programme. The shocking implications of this were exposed in a Channel 4 report.

The Green Party in Wirral has been very critical of certain aspects of housing renewal. In particular, many homes which should have been refurbished were needlessly demolished with all too predictable consequences as anyone who takes a walk around Tranmere can see.

However, to cut funding off at the knees is clearly senseless at a time when unemployment is rising. This has plunged housing renewal into chaos and the panic it has generated is clear for all to see in this report from the Wirral Globe.

Housing is just one example but anger generally is rising rapidly against the cuts. To find out more about what is happening locally you are invited to a Green Party meeting at the Stork Hotel on Price Street on December 8. Clara Paillard who is branch secretary of the PCS union will be speaking on the rising tide of opposition to government cuts. The meeting starts at 7.30pm.

Also, as the only party with a coherent and comprehensive anti-cuts message, the Green Party is supporting the Merseyside march against the cuts in Liverpool on December 11. Full details here.

Shocking rise in fuel poverty

Instead of slashing funding for vital public works like social housing, the government could instead look to the extortionate profits being earned by UK energy companies. Even though fuel poverty has doubled over the past five years energy prices are soaring again this winter. It is simply unacceptable that energy companies making billions in profits are allowed to add to fuel poverty at a time of austerity.

For a long time, the Green Party has been pushing for a massive roll out in home insulation. The failure to do this has led to increased distress for many on low incomes. Thankfully, Wirral Council is now following our advice and extending its free insulation scheme.

With energy prices soaring it is essential that householders take advantage of any grants available, especially given the current government’s aggressive cuts programme. To find out if you qualify for free insulation under Wirral’s “Cosy Homes” scheme, call 0800 512 012.

Streets update

Below you will find the usual round-up of actions taken by the Green Party team over the past month. As usual, if there are any issues affecting your area please get in touch:

• Recently, I did a check on numerous broken street lights that were reported over recent months. I was pleased to see that repairs have been carried out to lights on Maybank Road, Craven Street, Paterson Street and in Victoria Park. I was less pleased that several lights on Bentinck Street are still out so I have sent a reminder to Streetscene. I have also reported broken lights on Birchwood Avenue and Cleveland Street.
• During a recent residents survey we were alerted to persistent fly-tipping by a specific household in the Chester Street area. I immediately wrote to Wirral Methodist Housing who own the relevant property. I received a very positive response and have been impressed by their proactive approach. I am therefore hopeful of a positive outcome.
• Other issues reported this month include graffiti on Hollybank Road and fly-tipping on Florence Street (opposite Europa Pools).

Latest Green View now available

And finally, our latest ward newsletter will be delivered across Birkenhead and Tranmere this month. You can read the on-line version here.

If you would like to help by delivering 100 copies where you live, please get in touch.

Latest Green View now available

Our latest ward newsletter is hot off the press and will be delivered across Birkenhead and Tranmere during December.

You can view an on-line version here.

Great news from Merseyrail

Excellent news today that Merseyrail is increasing frequency along the Liverpool-Chester route which serves Birkenhead Central and Green Lane. The full details are reported in the Daily Post.

Merseyrail also operates an excellent cycle parking scheme. If more people cycled to the station rather than driving it would help ease congestion for local residents around Green Lane and Central stations.

Fly-tipping alert: Florence Street

Florence Street runs between Simpson Street and Parkfield Avenue opposite Europe Pools. It's a frequent target for fly-tipppers.

Graffiti watch: Hollybank Road

Hawthorne House on Hollybank Road is a frequent target of mindless graffiti. I've just reported this to Streetscene.

Activity report for October and why the cuts are so unfair

Welcome to the latest monthly update. As well as the usual Streets report below I wanted to spend some time addressing why I believe the savage cuts which are only just beginning to hit our key public services are deeply unfair.

Cuts: Why we are not all in this together

Throughout the year the Green Party is busy knocking on doors across Birkenhead and Tranmere. This not only keeps us up-to-date with problems in your street, it also shows us how the bigger issues are affecting people. Over recent months I have met several residents directly affected by the cuts in public services. These are people concerned about their housing benefit or those working in the public sector fearful for their jobs. Or, it may be people working in the charity sector who are reliant on funding from local government to maintain care for the elderly or those with special needs.

It’s not surprising that cuts are already beginning to bite. A recent report by the Financial Times showed that, along with Plymouth and Middlesbrough, Wirral is the area most likely to suffer from public sector cuts. Wirral is identified in the report (registration required) as an area with high levels of public sector employment and low levels of economic resilience.

Many are rightly angry that a deficit born of corrupt business practices and slack regulation is now laying waste to basic public services and creating real distress across our community. At the same time, the very wealthy and those who caused the problem in the first place are barely affected at all. Consider the following facts:

• Executive pay at FTSE 100 companies increased by 55% during the past year
• Corporations fail to pay £12bn in legally owed taxes each year. The government is refusing to pursue one company – Vodafone – for over £6bn in unpaid taxes
• Banks deprive savers of £12bn a year in interest according to consumer champion Which.

These are just a few examples but, in every case, the sums are massive. The government could easily clear the deficit by forcing corporations to pay their way. However, this ConDem government, supported by its partners in crime at Wirral town hall would rather force the most vulnerable in our society to carry the can.

If you think the Labour Party would address these concerns just consider that Labour in Wirral believes our Tory led Council has not been tackling the deficit quickly enough as reported in today’s Daily Post.

The whole saga is a disaster from top to bottom and clearly shows the need for real change which only the Green Party can provide.

Streets update

Another busy month with quite a few successes. As usual if there are any issues affecting your area please get in touch:

• Dumped rubbish behind the Carlton pub off Borough Road was removed after I sent photos into Streetscene.
• There was a similar outcome on Woodville Road where rubbish left on the pavement has now been cleared.
• The broken lock on the alley gates serving Claughton Road/Corfu Street has now been repaired.
• I have reported broken street lights in Victoria Park and on Bentinck Street.
• The Council has promised to clear rubbish dumped in the entry between Fairview and Holborn Hill. I am also liaising with the empty homes unit to try and bring a long term empty home on Holborn Hill back into use.
• Graffiti and fly-tipping in the Oxton Road car park has been reported as has the graffiti on the electricity substation on Westbourne Road.
• Streetscene has been asked to clean the vandalised street sign on Exmouth Way which you can see here.
• Traffic management has promised to pay more attention to illegal parking on the junction of Kingsland Road and Woodchurch Road.

Exmouth Way

Reporting mindless graffiti is one important way the Green Party helps to improve the local area.

This is a typical example on Exmouth Way.