Ashlea, 37 Thurstaston Road
**Proposed Flat Development**

​The Society is reviewing a recent planning application by Grosvenor Homes Heswall Ltd for demolition of existing structures and erection of a building comprising residential apartments with associated parking, landscaping and access at Ashlea, 37 Thurstaston Road, Heswall CH60 6SB as recently featured on Place Northwest.
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To view the application and all associated documents, Click Here.

Wirral Council Grant

The Heswall Society/Heswall in Bloom team are very grateful to Wirral Council for setting aside funds for ward use and to our three local councillors for providing a grant to Heswall in Bloom from the Heswall Ward allocation.

This money is being used to fund both the summer and winter planting for this year for all the beds and planters being looked after by the team.

Some of the team are pictured near the Gayton roundabout around just one of the many planting areas that they look after for the benefit of all.
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"This support has been particularly important to us as we did not feel it appropriate because of the Covid-19 situation, to ask our local shopkeepers for any contribution this year", says Chairman Steve Anderson.

Castle Buildings
**Please help us keep Heswall colourful** 

​Thanks once again to Angie Mounsey and her team of socially distanced volunteers, some of whom are pictured. The team have now completed the removal of the winter bedding plants and re-planting of the flower beds at Castle Buildings ready for the summer. The winter and summer planting of these much-loved flower beds, as well as their subsequent maintenance and watering, is undertaken every year by The Heswall Society/Heswall in Bloom for the enjoyment of all.
 
The Heswall Society is, more than ever, keen to continue to play its part in ensuring that standards are maintained within Heswall Village supporting those businesses that are able to function as well as those that will return when circumstances permit.
 
If this dry weather continues, watering is going to be a challenge. Now that The Heswall Society/Heswall in Bloom have use of a bowser (pictured), we can be less reliant on the generosity of nearby shops for water. Thanks to Heswall Community Fire Station for storing the bowser and providing the water. However, we urgently need volunteers to help with the watering. If you are able to lend a hand, please let Angie know by emailing her at parks@heswallsociety.org.uk.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA)

​LJLA have just finished a public consultation on airspace transition. The consultation is a result of the airport changing from ground to GPRS satellite navigation for take-off and landing.
 
An investigation of the proposal by the Society indicated no real changes involving Heswall, at least in the short term, as the document contained no proposal to increase the amount of air traffic. It is believed that what these changes would result in, however, is that the approach to runway 09 (which is over Heswall) would result in further narrowing of the flight path. For this reason, and since all of the options involve this same approach when runway 9 is being used, the Society submitted an objection to the proposal. Arguments used were exactly the same as used in the Society’s earlier comments to the LJLA master Plan in 2017, namely - LJLA should maximise aircraft approach/landing along the Mersey. If flying over Wirral is necessary then the width of corridors should be as wide as possible to minimise disruption for any households. Flights should be better spread out during the day and there should be no flights during the night.

**CORONAVIRUS** 
(COVID-19)

Wirral Council have now set up a coronavirus telephone Helpline for both people in need and for volunteers wanting to help. Click here for further details. The Helpline Number is 0151 666 5050. The helpline will operate from Monday to Friday, between 9.00am – 5.00pm.

In addition, the Council has just launched a survey to identify residents who are able and willing to help neighbours and vulnerable people to access support and supplies during these times of social distancing and isolation. Areas where the Council are looking for additional support include:
  • Check in via phone with people who may need it
  • Help a vulnerable person with practicalities (e.g. food deliveries, online shopping etc)
  • Help a vulnerable person with home help (e.g. preparing food, delivering a hot meal)
  • Support my neighbours in general ways (e.g. make myself known to my local residents)
  • Help with technology or digital (setting up FaceTime, WhatsApp, e-consult, NHS apps, etc.)
  • Adding capacity to key services (e.g. care homes, children's centres) in case of staff shortages
 
If you are able to contribute,  please Click Here to complete the survey. 
 
If you do need help and have problems with either contacting the Council helpline or neighbours, the Society would be happy to try and make sure that your names are passed on to someone that could help.

Friends of Dawstone Park

The Heswall Society continues to support the active Friends of Dawstone Park Group, and are delighted that it has, once again, achieved Green Flag Status!​  Click Here for further details.

Wirral Borough Council have recently confirmed that, due to Covid-19, no ‘organised’ Volunteer groups are permitted until the 27July 2020.  As the weeds etc. do not understand this, Committee members have been popping in from time to time to do some work on an individual basis!

Friends of Feather Lane Woods
(the woods below Tesco)

The Council not having the resources to fully maintain the woods, the purpose of the Friends Group is to help protect and manage them to stop them from becoming an unsightly jungle and so that they can continue to be a much needed haven for wildlife.

If you would like to be involved, please contact Heswall Society at parks@heswallsociety.org.uk

Tree Felling, Telegraph Road ​ 

Thank you for bringing our immediate attention to the felling of the tree outside 'Inspired Kitchens and Bathrooms' on Telegraph Road.

This tree had a preservation order on it and the Society should have been alerted to this work which in this case it wasn’t.

Click Here for further details and to see what action the Heswall Society has taken on your behalf. 

Heswall Police Station ​

We have received no further news yet on the future of the Heswall Police Station which was put up for sale last year, possibly with a view to redevelopment.
 
Following the Society’s unsuccessful application to have the building listed, the only option left was to contact the the Police and Crime Commissioner and stress the local importance of maintaining the exterior of this building, one of the few distinctive buildings in Heswall, designed by the respected architect, Harry Beswick. 

Heswall Dales

​Wirral Borough Council have recently published a Heswall Dales Management Plan 2020-2022.  This plan is intended to provide a framework for the development and improvement of Heswall Dales.
​The Council has updated four evidence based documents as input in support of Wirral's emerging Local Plan. For further information, Click Here. Notably, for Heswall, they include a welcome proposal to include within a Dee Estuary Local Landscape Designation area the coastal farmland between the open access land at Heswall Fields in the north and Cottage Lane in the south.

A six week period of consultation is now in progress and will finish at 5pm on 24 July 2020.
 
In addition, the Council have appointed LUC (Land Use Consultants) to prepare a GBI (Green & Blue Infrastructure) strategy on which they are currently conducting an online survey – deadline 5 July 2020. Click Here to view the Heswall Society's submission.

James Stuart Marsden FRICS

Members of the Society will be saddened to hear of the recent death of a past Heswall Society Chairman, Stuart Marsden (pictured centre) on 13 May 2020 aged 89.
 
As you will see from the Society’s Obituary for Stuart, he served on the Committee for a remarkable 32 years and was Chairman from 2000 to 2009. Stuart was a hugely influential Chairman and his achievements were many.
 
Stuart was a true gentleman and will be greatly missed by those who had the privilege to know him.
 
Our thoughts and condolences are with Stuart’s family and friends at this sad time.

**COVID-19 SCAM ALERT**

We are in extraordinary times but one notable positive from the Covid-19 outbreak has been how communities have come together and are helping each other in so many ways. By contrast, others less human see this as an opportunity to defraud the unwary.

Merseyside Police have issued the following to alert residents of the risks, what to look out for and how to protect themselves. We urge you to Click below to view, and pass on to others:- Stay well and stay safe.

Join Us!

​The Heswall Society is the local amenity society for Heswall and Gayton, formed just over 60 years ago by some far-sighted residents.  For more information, Click here.
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 below ​Heswall
New members who share our aim to retain the quality of Heswall and Gayton, without opposing sensitive change, are very welcome. If you would like to join The Heswall Society please click on the red button below.

Conservation Areas

Eight Conservation Area signs have been erected on lamp posts at the main entrances to Heswall Lower Village Conservation Area, and one sign at the entrance to Gayton Conservation Area

Newsletters

Click Here to see the Society's Spring 2020 Newsletter which has now been published and distributed to Members.  Non members are encouraged to read it in order see and appreciate just how much time and effort the Society invests in protecting Heswall's built environment and public spaces for the benefit of its community, and we hope you will consider joining us!

 Previous editions can be accessed within the Members Area.

Lower Village Action Group

The Society was recently approached by shopkeepers, businesses and local residents of the Lower Village, for help in forming a group similar to the Heswall & District Business Association, but exclusively focused on reinvigorating the Lower Village by whatever means.
 
The newly formed Lower Village Action Group committee held its inaugural meeting in early January when ideas/thoughts flowed and from these, a number of possible initiatives are being pursued. It’s a case of ‘watch this space’ for developments. 

Lower Village Telephone Kiosk
​*What Now?*

​Having successfully adopted and renovated the telephone kiosk in the Lower Village, the Society is now considering how best to use it. The simplest option is to just leave the kiosk as it is, providing an important contribution to the street scene. But the Society is keen to look at whether it could provide an additional function. Ideas actively being explored are installing a defibrillator, using it as a mini library, or possibly both. We would be very happy to receive any other  novel ideas that readers might have.​​
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Trees
​The Society now receives notification of all applications for surgery or felling of trees that are subject to Tree Preservation Orders or are within our Conservation Areas.
Between January and August 2019, the Society received notification of six applications for tree works either to trees with Tree Preservation Orders attached, or to trees within our two Conservation Areas, and has objected in part to two of these applications.

​Potholes!

​The  Government has given Wirral an extra £1.4 million to fix pot holes in our roads.  Residents are invited to nominate a road for repair.  To do so, Click Here.  Now's your chance!
​If you would like to help protect and enhance the unique character of Heswall please consider joining The Society.

​GDPR

​Please click on the Society's Privacy Notice to see how your data is collected and used by the Society.
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Did you know that this logo was developed from a design by a pupil of Heswall Primary School in 1996?​
The Heswall Society is involved in local environmental issues and consulted by the Council on Conservation Areas. The Heswall Society review every planning application. We are the only residents' body which encourages the best designs of houses, retail and commercial properties in order to maintain the character and distinguishing features of Heswall. We are a local amenity society and our site contains local history, Heswall photographs, planning information, conservation area details, Heswall Society history, listed buildings and Friends of Heswall Open Spaces