Peak Cluster 
Our Green Belt is under threat from the proposal by Peak Cluster to run a CO2 pipeline through the centre of Wirral and build an above ground facility at Moreton. KEY REASONS FOR OPPOSITION:
In summary, concerns centre on safety, environmental impact, the use of Green Belt land, and the perceived effectiveness of carbon capture technology. The Wirral Green Space Alliance (of which the Heswall Society is a member) has set up a petition which we would encourage you to sign. The link to the petitions ae below. Please sign both There are a number of groups other than ourselves opposing this proposal. These include:
Defend Wirrals Green Spaces No CO2 Pipeline Wirral Industrial Scale Solar farm Threatens Wirral Green Belt
SAY NO TO INDUSTRIAL SCALE SOLAR FARMS ON WIRRAL’S PRECIOUS GREEN BELT Not content with trying to concrete over our precious Green Belt with housing, Developers are now eyeing up Wirral’s Green Belt to enable them to maximise their profits via Industrial Scale Solar Farms. Whilst we support the use of solar power to help the UK achieve its net zero targets, we believe they should be constructed in the right places, i.e. on carparks, supermarkets, factories, municipal buildings, private family homes, etc. NOT on productive farmland, with important, supposedly protected landscape and ecological value. We are calling on Wirral Borough Council to SAY NO TO INDUSTRIAL SOLAR FARMS ON WIRRAL'S GREEN BELT and to use all their powers to direct solar panels / farms to be installed on Brownfield land, as required by Wirral’s Adopted Local Plan. Currently, there is a proposed Solar Farm in the pipeline which would consume 70 acres of green belt land at Rose Cottage, Station Road, Thurstaston: SAVE THURSTASTON’S ICONIC VIEWS - Stop the industrialisation of Wirral’s most treasured beauty spot! Why this matters to you.... Even if you don’t live in Thurstaston you’ve likely enjoyed a walk along the Wirral Way, taken in the breathtaking views from Thurstaston Hill or visited the Country Park with family and friends. These are the views that define the Wirral and attract over 250,000 visitors every year. Now imagine those iconic, much loved views destroyed by 70 acres of industrial solar panels. What’s at stake.... Chinese company CHINT Solar and the Landowner want to transform productive, protected Green Belt farmland at Thurstaston into an industrial solar installation: it’s a threat to everything that makes this area so special. • 3.5 metre high solar panels covering an area equivalent to 40 football pitches • Substations, transformers, constant noise from cooling fans • 2.5 metre high security fencing severing access to ancient wildlife corridors, forage and roosting opportunities • CCTV cameras and security lighting resulting in permanent surveillance and light pollution, causing significant disturbance for nocturnal animals • Destruction of habitat for sensitive and protected local and migrating wildlife • Disruption, danger and damage on local roads from heavy loads and machinery The Result: Industrialisation of an irreplaceable, protected landscape. We Must Act Now CHINT Solar have already submitted a Screening Request for a ‘Proposed Solar PV Development’ to Wirral Council, arguing an onerous and lengthy Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is unnecessary. WGSA, ITPAS and others objected to the truncating of the evidence process, and the Council has confirmed a full EIA IS required. Once the EIA has been completed a full Planning Application will likely be submitted. There is a better way - Leading Conservation groups like CPRE – The Countryside Charity (formerly known as Campaign to Protect Rural England) have identified the solution: rooftop solar, brownfield sites and previously developed land (PDL). We do not need to sacrifice our most precious landscapes when alternatives exist. If approved in this unique site, it would set a terrible precedent and open the floodgates for solar farms across Wirral. What We Are Asking - Sign this petition to tell Wirral Council to: • REJECT the Rose Cottage (Thurstaston) Solar Farm application • PROTECT our Area of Special Landscape Value (SLV) and the Thurstaston SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) Good News: Brownfield Only LocalPlanThe long expected letter from the inspectors has been received by the Council today.
Wirral Council has been told by the Planning Inspectors it can move ahead to formally adopt what is believed to be the country’s first Brownfield-Only Local Plan. It seems the government inspectors have accepted the required changes to the Local Plan (Main Modifications) and Wirral Council can now go forward and adopt the plan. The Local Plan is a vital document which sets out how the borough should be developed over the next 18 years – what Wirral will look like for the next generation and beyond. The fight to save our Wirral Green Belt may have been successful. The Heswall Society and Wirral Green Space Alliance have been fighting for this for years and it now seems we may have success in protecting our precious Green Belt. A note of caution to this good news, however. We need to review the news and report back once we have digested the report. In addition, the implications, if any, for Wirral Council having received the letter after the NPPF deadline (albeit by only one day) also needs also to be understood. Looks like very good news, but we need more information before we can be absolutely sure. Defibrillator Installed in Lower Heswall Village
We are pleased to announce that the Defibrillator presented by the Heswall Society and maintained by St Peters Church has been installed in the Porch of St Peters Church and is accessible 24/7.
In announcing this at the Society's Open Meeting in January 2025 Steve Anderson said "While we hope it is not required it's good to know that if it's needed it could save lives". Award for Harry Beswick Pub
The Harry Beswick Pub is awarded The Heswall Society Outstanding Building Award.
This prestigious award was presented to Hydes Brewery at The Harry Beswick pub on Monday 18th November at 11am. The award recognises the Brewery’s commitment to preserving and revitalising a historic building that has been an integral part of Heswall for generations. The Harry Beswick, the former site of Heswall Police Station, is named after its local architect known for his Edwardian designs of public buildings. The award celebrates outstanding achievements in sensitive architectural design and preservation of heritage sites in the Heswall area. Located in the heart of Heswall, The Harry Beswick, was constructed incorporating the local stone that was once common in the construction of such buildings on the Wirral. Originally built in 1911, the building has long been a much-loved local landmark. Through meticulous renovation efforts, Hydes Brewery has succeeded in not only preserving the building’s architectural integrity but also enhancing its appeal and functionality for modern-day patrons. “The Harry Beswick pub is a shining example of how heritage sites can evolve to meet contemporary needs while respecting their original features” said Dr Steve Anderson, Chair of the Heswall Society. The project included restoring the stone plaque above the main entrance, the Ruabon brick façade and sandstone together with the mullion windows and gables. The award serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding historic structures and encouraging their transformation into vibrant spaces that continue to serve the community. By valuing and preserving history, projects like this inspire future generations to engage with and cherish the architectural heritage around them. Roy Wilson, general manager of The Harry Beswick, added: “We’re delighted to have been presented with this award. We have worked hard to establish a strong relationship with the local community since we opened last November and this continues to go from strength to strength. Becoming an integral part of the local community is of great importance to Hydes. “The Harry Beswick was Hydes’ first property acquisition since 2018 and its first new establishment to open in five years. The response from customers and the local community has been tremendous and we look forward to building on the success of our first year in Heswall.”
The future of Dawstone Park is under treat. The Friends of Dawstone Park was set up in April 2015 to ensure the flowers beds in the Park were maintained as the Council was no longer prepared to do this. Over the past 9 years the committee has been largely unchanged. New volunteers are now needed to continue the work.
To find out how you can help and what’s involved please contact Paul Leidecker on 0151 342 8570 or via email [email protected] The Outdoor Gym
The Outdoor Gym Due to the recent council elections and the Council officers busy dealing with the Local Plan examination and Leverhulme Estates inquiry, there has been no further progress at the time of writing. The design has been agreed with the Council officers (a surfaced pad containing four items of fitness equipment) as has the position on the Puddydale. The next steps are to finalise costs and raise the required 4 amount of money. Our Councillors remain confident that the gym will be in place by the end of the year
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John Pyke 1940-2026
The Heswall Society announces with deep regret the death of John Pyke. He was a long-standing Heswall Society Committee member who in his long life excelled in business, in service to the community and in sport. John was the fourth generation of a family which had run jewellers on Merseyside since 1877 when William Pyke and Sons in Market Street, Birkenhead was founded. He was educated at Birkenhead Preparatory School and then Bromsgrove School. He graduated in Law from Trinity College Cambridge where he captained the Rugby XV. His jewelry training took place in Bradford and Geneva, and in 1964 he became manager of the Liverpool branch of the family firm. Throughout his career he made frequent trips to Antwerp to buy diamonds, to Latin America to buy emeralds and to the Far East to buy rubies. He gave a fascinating talk at an open meeting of the Heswall Society in 2020 about his adventures purchasing gems in far off places. As managing director of the family firm, he increased the number of branches to seven. He played rugby for the Old Birkonians. He used his strength and impressive 6’ 1” frame to thwart unwitting raiders who on separate occasions made the wrong decision to try to rob his stores in Birkenhead and Liverpool where he happened to be present at the time of the attack. John was also a longstanding member of Liverpool Round Table and 41 Club. He was elected as councillor in the 1970’s for Bebington and then Oxton and was also nominated as a parliamentary candidate for Birkenhead. He was active in various chambers of commerce, was a Director of Wirral Metropolitan College, and became a magistrate in 1988. He moved from Bebington to Heswall in 1977 and was elected to the Committee of the Heswall Society in 2007. Initially he was responsible for publicity, but latterly he looked after conservation areas, trees and open spaces. He became Chair of the Heswall Society in April 2009, relinquishing the role in 2011 when he was nominated to the very prestigious role of President of the National Association of Goldsmiths. He was a keen scuba diver in his younger years and a very skillful skier, a sport which he never stopped even in advanced age. The Heswall Society has very much appreciated his very active contribution to our activities and the wise counsel he was able to bring to the Committee based on his wide experience. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with Frankie, his wife, and his two daughters and two sons.
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.
Heswall in Bloom. Planting in the Rain!Undeterred by heavy rain the Heswall in Bloom volunteers do their bit to keep our Wirral home special. To find out more about Heswall in Bloom see their Facebook Page
Castle Buildings Flower Beds
CThe Heswall Society/Heswall in Bloom are hugely grateful to The Mill Shop, Claire House, Hallmark and Cain of Heswall who have each agreed to 'Adopt a Bed' outside their shops in Castle Buildings. The beds are planted and maintained throughout the year by volunteer members of the Society, lead by Angie Mounsey.
One of the major difficulties we face is keeping the beds adequately watered, particularly during dry spells, without a readily available tap! Because of this, it has been necessary for volunteers to bring large quantities of water with them by car which can be extremely onerous. Now, by adopting the various flower beds, these four businesses have very kindly agreed to share the job of watering between them, for which the Society is immensely grateful and has donated some bright red watering cans! Hopefully all those who enjoy the flower beds will also show these businesses how much their work is valued. Volunteers Needed Book Share Kiosk
For the full story on how our Telephone Box was rescued and repurposed click here
Update on Risk to Wirral Green Belt
Message from Steve Anderson Chair of Heswall
2nd October 2024. The Government’s consultation on the proposed revision of the National Planning and Policy Framework completed on September 24th 2024. My thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to the consultation. Apparently, the Government has been inundated with responses and it will take some time for the analysis to be completed. The Society’s detailed final response is here. It is encouraging that responses in addition to those from other Wirral Green Space Alliance (WGSA) member organisations, those from the Community Planning Alliance the Council and other Local Authorities are all in alignment against the current proposals, particularly on changes to the Standard Method for calculating housing need. The Council has submitted an excellent response to the consultation and their cover letter which is here. Their cover letter very nicely summarises their issues with these proposals. Not surprisingly Developers are all for the proposed revision. I will be writing shortly to our own MP, Matthew Patrick, to express the Society’s concerns with respect to this proposed revision and encourage him to liaise with the other three Wirral MPs to do all the can to get Angela Raynor to seriously reconsider her proposals in light of this huge negative response. In addition, following the recent WGSA Steering Group Meeting, the Alliance will be writing to all four Wirral MPs asking for a meeting where it will be emphasised how the proposed revision would have such serious consequences for Wirral’s Green Belt and discuss how this might be overcome. Solar Panels in Conservation Areas
Wirral Council has recently updated its policy on Solar Panels in Conservation Areas - including, of course, Gayton and Lower Heswall Village. See Details
Heswall WalksThe 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. There is also a "Treasure Hunt" suitable for primary school children accompanied by an adult. Free Down Loads Public Footpaths and Bridleways
The Government’s deadline to register historic paths by 2026 (that members were alerted to) was repealed by DEFRA in March 2022 following the Welsh government’s lead. Public rights of way that did not appear on the Council's definitive map by 1 January 2026 had been at risk of being lost forever.
Nonetheless, 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. Once recorded as rights of way, and added to the definitive map, paths are protected under law for people to use. For more information on this, including a link to the definitive map, and how you can help, Click here. |
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