News in Heswall

The number of people in Wirral's hospitals with COVID has fallen for the first time in weeks after a worrying increase.

The very latest figures we have, which cover up to March 29, show there were 66 coronavirus patients in the borough's hospitals. That is down on last week, when there were 70 COVID patients.

Hyundai and Kia are exploring the idea of making their electric cars vibrate in an effort to win over petrol and diesel car drivers who don't like the silent motion of an electric car.

The Korean brands have filed patents in the US for a device that can mimic the vibrations of an internal combustion engine and hopes that it will win over drivers who miss the thrum of a traditional engine.

Plans to open a new restaurant in Heswall until 1.30am have faced a backlash from some local residents.

Tahona Projects Limited is understood to be wanting to open a Mexican restaurant which will turn into a bar around 11pm at The Curve on The Mount.

Just over a year ago we reported how the Community Interest Company, One West Kirby, had canvassed residents for their opinions of the town, and their ideas for how it might be improved and become fit for the future.

Just over one thousand people responded, identifying, amongst other things, their desire for more local independent shops, community green spaces and events like festivals, along with a safer environment for pedestrians and fewer cars.

Mr Gove met all four Wirral MPs yesterday to discuss the £20m worth of cuts Wirral Council has been forced to make this year.

The council passed a budget which withdrew funding from Woodchurch Leisure Centre, nine libraries, two public golf courses and more on February 28.

Walk-in vaccinations in Wirral have been temporarily suspended, meaning people can only get a jab in the borough if they have a booking.

The move has been blamed on both demand and supply issues. It does not mean residents cannot get jabbed in Wirral, but they must have an appointment and should not just turn up and expect to get a dose of the vaccine.

The retreat by our banks from the high street continues. At noon on July 1 the branch of Barclays at 26 Pensby Road will shut up shop.

The announcement of the closure comes just a couple of months after Barclays reported a record annual profit for 2021 and returned £2.5 billion to shareholders. The bank revealed a pretax profit of £8.4 billion, above analyst expectations and a number almost triple the £3.1 billion of the year before.

Major plans for Hoylake which include an overhaul of the town's promenade have been put forward.

Hoylake Vision, a community forum, has put a series of plans including electric vehicle charging points and improved accessibility at the promenade, plus the possibility of a Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre to the east of the Carr Lane area, giving people access to nature, out to residents.

Co-op Academies Trust is offering teacher training opportunities to applicants from Wirral.

Teacher training provider Bright Futures and Co-op Academies Trust are working together to offer primary and secondary Initial Teacher Training (ITT).

Merseyside Police detectives are completing multiple lines of enquiry after the body of a man was found on Smallridge Close in Pensby on Sunday March 27.

At this stage, police are treating the incident as an unexplained death, and currently not looking for anyone else in connection with it.