Public Footpaths and Bridleways
*** Action Needed ***

ublic rights of way that do not appear on the Council's definitive map by 1 January 2026 risk being lost forever. Everyone is encouraged to look at the definitive map and bring attention to any known footpaths and public rights of way that are not shown.

For more information on this, including a link to the definitive map, and how you can help, Click Here.

Dennis Clegg Retires

After 20 years on the Committee, Dennis Clegg retired at the end of February. He handed over his former role of Planning Officer to Roger Lane last year. The Heswall Society would like to thank Dennis for his hard work and exceptional loyalty to Heswall, in recognition of which the Society has made him an Honorary Life Member.
 
In public recognition of his tireless efforts, Dennis has just been awarded the Wirral Award by the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. This Award is richly deserved, acknowledging his boundless energy and expertise in helping Heswall develop.
 
Dennis joined the Committee in 2001, and became Chairman in 2011 in addition to the role of Planning Officer.  The Society celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2013.  Dennis led the organisation of a variety of events, including a successful dinner and a public exhibition showcasing the achievements of the Society.  He spearheaded the setting up the Friends of Dawstone Park, and the model he developed has subsequently been used to initiate other local Friends’ Groups.
 
On relinquishing the Chairman’s role in 2015, Dennis kept on the mantle of Planning Officer. His wide-ranging experience and judgement has helped the Society and professional colleagues in their efforts to keep Heswall’s character while it evolves and grows.
 
The Society owes Dennis an immeasurable debt. His knowledge, expertise and wise council have served and guided the Society through some difficult times.
 
Thank you, Dennis.  The Heswall Society wishes you well.

Planning Reports

​The latest monthly list of planning applications/appeals identified by the Planning Group or brought to their attention can now be viewed in the Planning section. Please note that these lists are regularly updated so it's worthwhile re-visiting them.

In order to keep members up to date with the work of the Society’s Planning Group in monitoring planning applications and taking action when necessary, the same monthly list of Planning applications together with monthly Planning Reports prepared for the Society's Committee by the Society’s Planning Group are now published within the Member’s Area. 

Heswall Police Station

Responding to our enquiry, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside (PCC) has informed us that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PCC has not been able to dispose of a number of properties, including Heswall Police Station.  Apparently, the station is not therefore currently for sale, though it is expected to be put back to the market in the next few months.
 
As a new PCC will be elected in May, plans may change and we will continue to monitor the situation.
 
Following the Society’s unsuccessful application to have the building listed, the only option left was to contact the the PCC 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. ​

Friends of Whitfield Common

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​Friends of Whitfield Common is a newly formed friends group whose aim is to make Whitfield Common an interesting place for people of all ages. Their ambitions include renewing the tennis courts, making a Five a Side football pitch, possibly extending the cycle area as well as cleaning up and use of the existing building, provided they can secure Council support. They are full of ideas for future projects with local community, schools, scouts etc but they need support and will welcome anyone with energy, ideas and some time. In due course they will also need a chairman and board of trustees.
 
Cllr Andrew Hodson is co-ordinating names of those who would like to join in so please email andrewhodson@wirral.gov.uk if you would like to help in any way.
 

Heswall in Bloom

​The bed by the Catholic Church has now been planted out with shrubs. These are mainly perennials and together with the bark chippings, it is hoped to keep the weeds down and minimise maintenance requirements. Benches mounted on concrete bases have also now been installed. The Rotary Club of West Wirral and a member from the Catholic Church are covering the costs. 
 
The estimated planting costs for the current year (summer and winter plantings) is £2000. This is based on the amount spent in 2020, but includes an approximate extra 10% increase. While current funds will partially cover this cost, it is not appropriate to ask our struggling local businesses for funding due to the current pandemic, and it is doubtful whether our councillors will be able to support us. We will therefore be relying on resident donations to boost these funds.  If you can help, please forward donations, clearly ​marked for Heswall in Bloom, to Chairman, The Heswall Society, c/o Heswall Hall, 111 Telegraph Road, Wirral CH60 0AF.

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!​ 

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

Caroline Cartwright

​Caroline in The Village Shop, also a recent recipient of the Wirral Award, is a great supporter of the work of the Society, and is doing a tremendous job in serving the local community. In recognition of this, the Society has offered her, and she has modestly accepted, Honorary Life Membership.

Watch This Space!

The Society is monitoring activity at this site which lies between 39 Piper's Lane and the Wirral Way. There has clearly been some recent tree felling and site clearance work, as well as the opening up of a new access from Pipers End.  In 2013, planning consent for two dwellings on this site with access from Piper's Lane was refused. We are not aware of any subsequent planning applications but will continue to monitor.

Meetings 2021

​Sadly, Coronavirus restrictions have necessitated suspension of face-to-face meetings. Instead, the Society has successfully resorted to video conferencing on the Zoom platform. After the success of the delayed 2020 AGM held in November, an Open Meeting was held by Zoom in January, to hear a talk by Professor Iain Jackson, on the work of the outstanding architect Herbert Rowse attracting a remarkable attendance of 80 people.
 
It is recognised that video conferencing is neither attractive nor practical for some members, and this we very much regret. However, these are exceptional times and your Committee feels that this is the best way to at least try and deliver some meeting benefit to members.

​At the Society's last meeting following the 2021 AGM, the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society Talks Team gave a fascinating talk on ‘The Story of the Manchester Ship Canal’. 

​The next scheduled Open Meeting is on 20 September 2021. Details, when available, will be posted on the Events page.

The Society is working closely with Heswall Hall to develop meeting safety protocols that will allow us to start our face-to-face Open Meetings again. We are hoping that we’ll be able to hold the first in November.

Wirral Chamber Music Festival

Wirral Chamber Music Festival are hosting a concert in St Peter's Church on 17 July 2021 as part of their first festival weekend, and have asked for the Society's help to spread the word.

After the success of their carol concert at Christmas, we are sure that Heswall Society members and friends will be interested in attending. Click Here for details of the concert and how to obtain tickets.

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.

Heswall Walks

​The second of four walks in and around Heswall, originally  published by Heswall Society in March 1989, is now reproduced on this website along with the first (see below). The series of four walks was initiated by a committee lead by Hugh Roper, Poppy Agnew, a local artist, and Ken Burnley, a well-known Wirral local historian and author. With the involvement of other committee members, publication of the walks happened over the course of  ten years, and it's our intention to reproduce all of them via our website in due course.

The second walk starts from the Glegg Arms. It passes through the historic core of Gayton to the meadows alongside the River Dee, returning, via the Lower Village, over the last remnant of the 'black heathland' (The Beacons) to the starting point.

Heswall Society Walk 1
Heswall Society Walk 2

Local Plan

​In March 2021, Wirral Borough Council put out for consultation its Wirral Housing Density Study. The Society has recently responded in two parts. 

This follows the Society's response to two other recent  consultations put out by the Council, namely:
  • Wirral Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy. 
  • Wirral Local Plan Viability Testing Assumptions Consultation.
These and earlier consultations previously highlighted, together with the Society's responses, can be accessed within the Planning section.​

Government Consultations

The Society has recently responded to three consultations put out by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government concerning:
  • Changes to the Planning System
  • Planning for the Future
  • Permitted development right to change from Use Class E (Commercial, Business and Service) to Class C3 (Residential)
Click Here to view the consultations and the Society's responses.

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.

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 2021 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. 
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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