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A Woodchurch resident who has lived there for more than 70 years claims the estate is "dying", despite the estate being named as part of £20 million in a government investment.
As reported by the Wirral Globe, Lenny Fowler showed the Local Democracy Reporting Service around the estate. He showed them the rubbish on the ground, broken streetlights, uncollected rubbish from bins, and broken fences.
"The whole place is just ridiculous," he told them. "Nothing gets fixed here."
Later on his tour on Carr Bridge Road, Lenny identified sharp, rusty pieces of metal sticking up from broken fencing, pointing out the danger if someone fell on it.
Neighbour Simon Johnson spent hours every day for the last six months picking up rubbish across the estate, telling the Globe he was "fed up of seeing rubbish".
Still, Woodchurch is due for some regeneration, being named one of hundreds of neighbourhoods that will receive funding from the Government's Pride in Place programme. The 10-year programme includes 400 neighbourhoods across the UK, aiming to target overlooked areas and communities and restore pride.
Matthew Patrick, MP for Wirral West, said in a statement: "I refuse to see the Woodchurch written off and held back. That is why I fought for and secured £20 million in Government funding for the area as part of Labour's Pride in Place programme."
He was approached for comment by the LDRS, with Lenny and Simon's concerns in mind.
He added that a local board chaired by Jenny Allinson is now up and running, with a launch event held on Hoole Road in May. "The future of the Woodchurch is in the Woodchurch's hands," he said.
The three councillors for Upton ward – Stephen Bennett, Jean Robinson and Jerry Williams – said the estate is "turning a corner." In a joint statement, they said: "From community-led investment and grassroots action to safer streets and new opportunities, Woodchurch is showing what can happen when residents, organisations and partners work together towards a shared vision for the future."
