Anger over an 'eyesore' big yellow gate in Wirral continues to simmer after Wirral Council refused to back down in the face of a public backlash. Over 1,000 people have now signed a petition demanding to have the gate, on Banks Road in Heswall, opened.
Gate installed to stop abandoned boats
In a bid to help tidy up Heswall Foreshore, Wirral Council recently installed, closed, and locked a big yellow gate. Over the years, the foreshore has become home to dozens of abandoned boats, giving it a strange and untidy character.
The council claims that boats have been towed into the area behind vehicles and then abandoned by their owners, so the gate is seen as a vital defence against this happening again. More than 50 vessels were removed from the foreshore as a part of an ongoing £200,000 project to clear the site.
Restoration of WWII ship affected
The ECHO last week reported how the gate is affecting the ongoing restoration of a WWII ship which was used during the D-Day landings. Simon and Gemma Robins, who run the Ship Happens YouTube channel say they fully support efforts to clear up the beach but are not pleased with how the gate is affecting their restoration efforts.
The couple, and others, told the ECHO they believe the gate will not solve the issue as, they claim, the abandoned boats came from the sea and not the road. A member of the public who commented on the story said: "The gate is an eyesore and much worse than the boats that were there."
Accessibility concerns
One of the concerns people have with the gate relates to wheelchair access to the foreshore, as the gate stretches across the entire road. In response to these concerns, the council said it will be improving the area to the side of the gate "by using gravel to level the surface more."
A petition has now been set up, calling on the council to take "immediate action." One of the petition's demands is for the gates to be reopened until the project is complete.
The petition states: "Additional access paths are still to be constructed around the gates as part of the wider project. If those works are necessary, the gates should not have been brought into operation before the project was completed."
Petition starter disappointed
Gerard McBeath, who started the petition, told the ECHO: "I'm disappointed that it's come to this. I support efforts to protect the foreshore and remove abandoned boats, but the way the council has gone about this is wrong in my opinion."
Gemma and Simon from Ship Happens have spent years restoring a piece of British maritime history while showcasing the Wirral, the Dee Estuary and our coastline to people all over the world through their videos.
"I hope the council will now take the opportunity to engage with Ship Happens and other legitimate users of the foreshore to find a fair and workable solution for everyone."
Council responds
Responding to the petition's demands, a spokesperson from Wirral Council said: "Wirral Council recognises the strength of feeling expressed in the petition and understands that Heswall foreshore is a valued local asset for residents and visitors alike.
"The council has a legal responsibility to protect and manage the foreshore which forms part of a nationally and internationally protected environmental site, recognised for its unique habitats and importance to wildlife.
"None of the boats on Heswall foreshore has permission to be there, and in response to long-standing concerns about the impact of abandoned boats which can damage the foreshore, disrupt habitats and undermine the long-term protection of this important environment, the council is delivering a £200,000 project to remove unauthorised vessels from the foreshore and help safeguard the area for the future.
"This has included measures to manage vehicle access and prevent further boats from being abandoned on the foreshore, helping to protect the site from future damage.
"When installing gates on Banks Road, full consideration was given to accessibility requirements. The gate has been positioned to maintain pedestrian access on both sides, including access to the King Charles III Coastal Path, and the council will shortly improve the adjacent route further by levelling the surface with gravel.
"These actions are about protecting a sensitive and internationally important stretch of coastline, ensuring the foreshore can continue to support wildlife and be enjoyed responsibly by residents and visitors alike.
"The council remains committed to ensuring the foreshore is accessible to pedestrians while also taking the necessary steps to protect a sensitive and internationally important stretch of coastline."
