'Construction of the Albert Dock'

At the Society's next Open Meeting on Wednesday 26 February 2020 at Heswall Hall,  Anthony Clark will give a talk entitled 'Construction of the Albert Dock' starting at 8:00pm.  Light refreshments will be available from 7:30pm.

This promises to be an extremely informative talk about Liverpool's Royal Albert Dock, designed by dock engineer and architect Jesse Hartley. Completed in 1846, it is the largest collection of Grade 1 listed buildings in the UK, and a World Heritage Site. 

​​To see our list of  events confirmed to date for 2020, Click Here.​

Wirral Local Plan

Picture

Heswall Society is busy analysing the latest version of the Council’s Local Plan for Wirral and preparing its considered responses to a number of questions asked in the recently released  Issues and Options consultation document.

We encourage everyone to respond to this consultation which has significant potential implications not just for Heswall but for the Wirral in general.

WGSA (Wirral Green Space Alliance Group), which includes Heswall Society has issued a Call to Arms notice which members and non members are urged to read.

The consultation period finishes at 5pm on Monday, March 23. Our chairman intends to send out to members (by e-mail or mail) information on our response to key aspects in this document during the week beginning March 2 so that members can incorporate the Society's views in their own responses should they wish to. It isn't possible to do so any sooner because of the time it taking to prepare considered responses to this 535 page document!

Meanwhile, our friends at ITPAS (Irby Thurstaston & Pensby Amenity Society) are hosting a meeting on Tuesday 25 February at St. Chad's Church and Hall, Irby, for members and non-members alike, at which they will explain the 'Issues and Options', what they mean for the Green Belt, what needs doing and how to respond. Click Here for further details.

Castle Buildings

​​Belated thanks to all those who helped Angie Mounsey with the clearing and winter planting of the flowerbeds by Castle Buildings.  It was great to have so much help and the pansies have received many positive comments!  As it turned out, the weather was good for the planting and, as we all know only too well, there has since been an abundance of rain! Inevitably at this time of year, falling leaves and other debris require regular clearing to enable the new planting to mature and provide a colourful display to be enjoyed by all over the coming winter months.

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.

The Friends Group's annual fundraising event 'Fun in The Park' (including Novelty Dog Show!) is on Saturday 24 August 2019 in Dawstone Park from 12.30pm.  For further details, Click Here.

Friends of Feather Lane Woods
(the woods below Tesco)

 We are pleased to report that following an Open Meeting organised by The Heswall Society on 18 February 2019, a committee for the Friends of Feather Lane Woods was formed and has agreed a draft Constitution to put before a General Meeting. 

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. 

​​The Church of the Good Shepherd

​The Parish of Heswall continues to keep the Heswall Society informed on its developing plans to replace the existing Good Shepherd building and Parish Hall with a new church and community hall (The Lighthouse Church).  Information on this including a short video can be found on the Parish of Heswall website.
Picture
​
​
Did you know that this logo was developed from a design by a pupil of Heswall Primary School in 1996?​

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.
​
 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.

Farr Hall Drive Area

The Society is very concerned about the 'discovery' of the Farr Hall Drive area by developers, and their proposals for developments (largely flats) which are out of character. A number of these are referred to within the Planning - Recent Activity page together with action taken by the Society.

Click Here to view the Society's letter to the Council's Heritage Officer expressing its concerns.

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 Autumn 2019 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.​​
Picture
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.

Friends of Hill House Gardens

​For the latest update on the excellent work undertaken by the Friends, Click Here to see their Spring 2019 Newsletter.  A noticeboard now erected at the Telegraph Road entrance to Hill House Gardens provides further information about the Friends group.  If you would like to know more or you are interested in joining and/or volunteering, please email Margaret at heswallwildlife@aol.com.  

Friends of Heswall Dales

For the latest news on what has been happening in the Dales, click here for the Spring 2019 Newsletter or visit their website at http://www.heswalldalesfriends.co.uk.​​

​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.
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