News in Heswall

Like so many other towns and their residents, Heswall is feeling the pain and anxiety of lockdown and all that it denies us.

So today's announcement by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons will have been eagerly anticipated by many, particularly local hospitality businesses, retailers, service providers, and parents of school age children.

Wirral's COVID-19 cases have risen for the first time since early January in worrying news ahead of today's announcement on the roadmap out of lockdown.

On a day-by-day comparison, there were 371 cases at a rate of 115 per 100,000 in the week up to February 17.

Please note that if you need to go over the water via the Queensway Tunnel, better known as the Birkenhead Tunnel, a programme of essential maintenance works will bring two closures, one short, one long, to all traffic during February, with more to come next month.

The Tunnel will be out of action between 2100 tonight and 0630 tomorrow morning.

Well, apart from being able to visit if it comes to pass, it's another example, along with the One West Kirby project we reported on earlier this month, of trying to make things happen for the local community - as George Morgan reports.

The woman in charge of a major lido project wants a 50-metre outdoor swimming pool in New Brighton.

Wirral's COVID hospital numbers have halved in the space of a week, as the borough continues to get on top of the virus.

The very latest figure, which covers February 16, shows that 65 virus patients were in Wirral's hospitals.

Sue Porter, owner of Linghams on Telegraph Road, and her team are celebrating recognition given to them today by the British book industry.

Sue, who, before the pandemic struck, had turned Heswall's bookstore and cafe into one of the most important places to launch a book outside London, has battled through COVID restrictions and lockdowns by running a click and collect service for local book buyers, and going online to great effect to maintain the spirit of her popular literary events with authors.

Last night, a key Wirral Council meeting recommended that the Williamson Art Gallery remains open and many other controversial savings plans are scrapped.

Before Christmas, the authority put options including the complete closure of Europa Pools, the borough's four public golf courses and the Williamson out to consultation.

Feel free to tap or click your way through the gallery of 10 pictures above.

A crunch council meeting later today will have a huge role in the future of Europa Pools, the Williamson Art Gallery and other much-loved services.

Wirral Council's Policy and Resources (P&R) Committee is meeting at 6pm this evening to discuss the authority's perilous budget situation.

Merseyside schools lost more than £200,000 when a facilities lettings company collapsed last year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service can reveal.

Pensby High School on Irby Road was the worst hit of all of them.