Wirral Thread

[kat2]

image hosted on flickr

Birkenhead Park Festival of Transport 2012

[kat2]

image hosted on flickr

Birkenhead Park Festival of Transport 2012

[Paul D]

Peel pushes ahead with Ellesmere Port scheme

PEEL Group has submitted plans for a six-acre "gateway" site in Ellesmere Port.

Its Peel Investments (North) division wants to build a hotel, offices, petrol station and convenience store at the development off Rossmore Road East and Jacks Wood Avenue which is part of the Rossfield Park Strategic Area close to Junction 8 of the M53.

Peel says the development would create between 135 and 163 jobs.

Louise Morrissey, director of land and planning at Peel said: “Key to Peel’s proposals is the aspiration to build up the prosperity and image of Ellesmere Port as a great place to live and work.

"Providing new commercial development, new local facilities and new jobs will help further promote and sustain regeneration and give a boost to the new sustainable community at Rossfield Park.

"Seeking planning consent for this development is an important next step in our regeneration efforts and we believe that this prominent and accessible site within the Rossfield Park strategic area is ideal for the development proposed.”

Two years ago Peel submitted plans for 300 houses at Rossfield which are being developmed by Wainhomes.

[UAE Investor]

Big (little) problems on Wirral Way, West Kirby through to heswall and beyond...

dogs roaming free and attacking other people...

despite signs saying dogs must be kept under control at all times..

Seems some don,t care , just a matter of time before a child gets mauled etc.

Sorry to bring this up but the problem is getting worse not better

Some people have up to five dogs just running free to do what ever/attack as they please..

Wirral borough coucil have been notified


all the best UAE

[Awayo]

Sounds woof that does.

[BeeGee]

Edited below

[BeeGee]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Rest Hill Road Higher Bebington

[Awayo]

Looks like the Silage Monster is escaping from that old barn.

[Paul D]

Chester University acquires Shell research base

THE University of Chester is promising to help create 2,000 jobs after acquiring the Shell Technology Centre in Ellesmere Port.

It wants to use the site for an an engineering and technology faculty that will attract investment from private enterprise and connect students with industry.

The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

The centre at Thornton employs around 300 scientists responsible not only for researching high-performance fuels for Formula One engines but also for developing new biofuels.

It faced an uncertain future after Shell sold its nearby Stanlow refinery to Indian company Essar in 2011. There were reports Shell would close the facility, but last year it was talking to potential buyers.

As well as launching a new faculty, the university wants to offer incubator space to 22 "pre-start" and high growth small firms; and strike partnership deals with multi-national firms, particularly in the food processing industry.

Professor Tim Wheeler, the university’s vice-chancellor, said: “The University of Chester has long been synonymous with ensuring that Cheshire West and Chester is ‘open for business,’ and our commitment at Thornton could bring up to 2,000 jobs to Ellesmere Port over the next five years, together with perpetuating Shell’s distinguished reputation.

"Thornton, with 1.1 million sq ft of space in 48 buildings, is the most substantial acquisition in the University’s history, as the institution enters its 175th year and the next phase in its evolution, which should see it sitting more prominently on the international stage – and taking Cheshire West and Chester with it.

“The engineering and technology agenda is very much a growth area for the university and the region and will complement both their existing strengths. It is also a national priority in terms both of education and training, innovation and business, so understandably, Thornton is already attracting significant interest."

He added: "The University's vision for the Thornton site is to build on the excellent foundations laid by Shell to create an internationally-recognised, financially self-sustaining and multi-disciplinary campus that targets and stimulates private sector growth through employment, education and inward investment. It will integrate students with employers and employees.”

[Awayo]

Shitty news that Shell has closed its Ellesmere Port R&D facility really. It did not necessarily have to do so with selling the refinery next door. Along with Unilever's site nearby it must have been one of the top few most significant private sector employers of highly educated staff working in science/tech in our metropolitan area. This is just an expanding Univ. Chester (so good news in that respect) taking over buildings to host its engineering faculty. Good luck to them in that respect.


Funny of course that along with a council we now have a place called 'Cheshire West and Chester' so it's reassuring to learn that it is 'open for business'!

[Awayo]

Here was the real news from a couple of years ago announcing that Shell were shifting R&D work from Thornton to Germany: http://www.ellesmereportpioneer.co.u...5940-28755488/.

[urbansubrosa]

Some recent shots of a nice windy high tide down at New Brighton

[openlyJane]

Great pictures. I am envious because I know I will never be able to take pictures of that technical quality. What sort of camera/lens do you use?

[BeeGee]

[IMG]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

Old Forge Cottages, Village Road Higher Bebington.

These cottages were owned and operated by the Storeton Quarry and are built with the local sandstone. Used by workers on the Storeton Railway, there are similar cottages in Cross Lane which were also owned by the Quarry Company. Tiny top floor!

[Paul D]

Wirral wind farm business park could create “hundreds of new jobs”

HUNDREDS of new jobs are expected to be created in Merseyside with a multi-million pound Wirral business park specialising in the offshore windfarm industry.

A four-acre site in Birkenhead has been earmarked for the scheme which will fulfil demand from supply-chain businesses supporting the lucrative industry.

Wirral council is proposing to buy the site on Campbeltown Road, in Birkenhead, adjacent to the Cammell Laird site, known as Maritime Business Park.

Pat Hackett, council cabinet member for regeneration, said the site, which will accommodate three 10,000 sq ft units, “will give us much-needed industrial space”.

The authority also hopes to have the site available to host Wirral-based events as part of the 61 day International Festival of Business to be held in 2014.

Cllr Hackett said: “This will be fantastic – next to the world- renowned Cammell Laird, with all its great history and a site which is now being used in a much more modern way. But, of even more importance will be the opportunity to create new jobs. We are talking about hundreds of new jobs which will be much- needed at a time like this.”

A report going to Wirral council’s ruling cabinet this week recommends the authority proceed with negotiations to buy the Campbeltown Road site, which it says will “open up supply chain and export opportunities in this expanding industry” which “presents a huge opportunity for Wirral”.

It said: “Here 1,000 turbines are planned, the value of which is estimated to be in the region of £18bn and with an industry calculation of 4.5 jobs per installed turbine.”

The council believes there are Wirral companies and non- Wirral companies who are looking for new premises in the borough, with a number of these operating in the offshore wind sector and Maritime Business Park will help meet their needs.

The same report also advises that the council enters into negotiations with Cammell Laird to sell or lease to the company a council-owned car park and slipway at Alabama Way.

This would allow the company to develop a facility for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) in Wirral.

Cammell Laird currently has O&M sites at Liverpool Docks and Mostyn, in North Wales, and could lead to further jobs.

Read more: Liverpool Echo http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz2NE9uHp35

[Infinite 3D]

The new £32 million pound teaching hospital in Birkenhead, Wirral.





See full set of photographs here>>>>

[Infinite 3D]

Thought the Wirral thread would be interested in seeing this great little building at St Anselm's College. It is a dedicated food hub for the school, see more photographs here >>>

[urbansubrosa]

Originally Posted by openlyJane

Great pictures. I am envious because I know I will never be able to take pictures of that technical quality. What sort of camera/lens do you use?

Jane, thanks for that comment, sorry for a delay, just seen your words, those shots are all taken on a Canon 7D with a 70-200mm lense

[Chris B]

From the Echo -

Revitalised New Brighton looks to the future

SEASIDE town New Brighton has been revitalised and plans are now being put in place to build on its success.

Developers Neptune say they aim to start work this year on an apartment block which formed part of the original scheme and are also seeking to have the new development classed by the council as a town centre to ease planning restrictions.

The £60m regeneration scheme at New Brighton is the largest to date in Wirral and has seen a new cinema, hotel, casino, restaurants and bars plus a supermarket on the seafront – and thousands of visitors.

Key among its attractions is the revamped Floral Pavilion theatre and conference centre which has been widely celebrated as its fortunes revived. Now developer Neptune hopes to build on this success with the site being redesignated as a town centre and expanded to include a wider area of the town.

The move comes as yet more businesses have opened up in the area, which until the redevelopment had suffered from a lack of investment and a decline from its former glory days as a leading resort town.

Neptune is asking the council to include its development in a redesignated town centre which it says would “elevate its status”. The developers say the change could “only serve to reinforce that success and re- establish New Brighton – saying it “ought to be recognised in the same fashion as Liscard”.

Article continues here - http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-33281825/

[HollyBlack]

Originally Posted by Chris B

From the Echo - ...
Developers Neptune say they aim to start work this year on an apartment block which formed part of the original scheme and are also seeking to have the new development classed by the council as a town centre to ease planning restrictions. ...

A town centre is a place that needs more apartments but can live without more shops.
New Brighton is the opposite.