Hoylake News, Views and much more!
Wirral Community Patrol (web page) staff along with Community Support Officers have issued fines to dog owners who have not cleared the mess that their dog has left. The maximum fine for failing to clean up after a dog is £1,000 although the value of fines issued is not known. There have been visible patrols in Queens Park during mornings over the two weeks.
If you do walk a dog in local parks, along the promenade, on the beach and elsewhere – remember to be a responsible owner and clean it up.
Hoylake Rugby Football Club has successfully secured a substantial grant that will fund a redevelopment programme of the club facilities.
Hoylake RFC has been awarded £50,000 from Sport England as part of the Inspired Facilities scheme. The grant will be used to fund the redevelopment of the existing clubhouse and works are expected to start next May. For detailed information about the redevelopment plans, read the document entitled Bridging The Gap which is available as a download on this page.
Hoylake Community Centre would like to thank Carl Hughes (Store Manager) from Sainsbury’s Local in Hoylake and his staff for all their help and support during the year.
The staff have volunteered for helping out on many community events such as working in the coffee bar at the Food Fair or History Event. Also a team of volunteers (pictured above) came to help us decorate the Centre for Christmas, even providing decorations and Santa Hats, which were used by the Wednesday Special Needs Christmas Party.
The store is currently holding a raffle for a Hamper of Christmas goodies with all proceeds for Hoylake Community Centre – tickets are only £1.00
Centre Development Manager Gill Norris said: “Sainsbury’s Local, Hoylake support this year has been invaluable and we look forward to working with them in 2012.”
The blue hoardings that have been covering the former auction showrooms at The Quadrant have finally been removed. The old, large glass windows have been replaced with brickwork, new hardwood doors and sandstone windows.
Wilson Grange, a financial services company currently based in West Kirby, is set to open new office in the building in January. Following the closure of the HSBC branch next door it has been rumoured that a different high street bank will also open in the new offices.
What do you think – is this office something of an improvement or would you prefer to see new shop premises? Leave a comment and have your say!
Meols Drive was closed to traffic in the early hours of Wednesday, 7th December as fire crews attended to a major fire.
The fire broke out at Redcroft (pictured above), a significant private property that has been undergoing an extensive renovation programme. The blaze started just after 1.00am and could have been started by a lightning strike that occurred at around 1.15am.
Merseyside Fire & Rescue report that the height of the fire four appliances and an aerial fire unit were involved in tackling the blaze. At 9.30am two appliances were still on scene after relief fire crews were sent to the area. The main body of the fire was suppressed by 4.06am, with other pockets of fire further targeted by hoses.
Redcroft is an Edwardian property that overlooks the 18th green of Royal Liverpool Golf Club. The property was purchased by Mr Tim Ryan after being marketed for sale in spring 2009 and was previously the home of Dr Wakely and family (source). The property is not currently occupied.
Many Hoylake residents heard the very loud thunder and lightning strike at around 1.15am. Local RNLI member Ian Davies reports that various electrical items in his home have been damaged. Strong winds have again caused some localised damage; at least one of the lampost banners on Market Street has partially come away from fixings, the Christmas lights appear to have come loose and several homes have damaged fence panels and TV aerials.
Were you affected by the lightning strike? Please leave a comment below.
Additional fire photos including rear of property:
Several Merseyrail stations including Leasowe, Moreton and Manor Road are to receive funding as part of the Access for All programme.
Access for All is a key part of the Government’s strategy to improve the accessibility of Great Britain’s railway. This funding is specifically targeted at providing infrastructure improvements at stations which will enable more disabled people to access the rail network.
Merseyrail has been successful in securing £625,000 of funding to install an accessible toilet at several stations on the network and Manor Road Station at Hoylake is one of the selected stations.
Several residents have heard a rumour that a development including a Tesco convenience store is being planned for the partially cleared site at Hoose Court, Market Street (pictured during demolition in the summer).
The rumour is for a Tesco store at ground floor level on Market Street with apartments above. However there is no substance to the rumour. Owners of the site, Wirral Partnership Homes (WPH) have confirmed to HoylakeJunction.com that there are no plans for any type of store at the site. A planning application is to be submitted in due course for a development of residential apartments.
Tesco has been mooted as being interested in Hoylake before. A couple of years ago it was believed that the supermarket giant was taking a close look at the old Jon David store – that has since become the home to Hoylake School of Dance.
It could be that any of the main supermarket chains are looking for a suitable site in Hoylake. Sainsbury’s took what was probably the most suited site at the former garage on the corner of Alderley Road and Market Street. That particular site very nearly became three retail units in 2005, one being a What’s Cooking restaurant.
A suitable site needs to offer space for limited parking and easy access for deliveries and Hoylake possibly doesn’t have such a site available.
Yours thoughts?
The production team behind the Great British Bake Off television programme are accepting applications for next year’s competition.
Now, you might think that the chances of someone from Hoylake being selected are rather slim? However if West Kirby can manage it then why not Hoylake – Yasmin Limbert, one of this year’s finalists lives just up the road! You can follow what Yasmin is up to since the show by reading her blog and if you fancy having a go yourself, apply online for 2012 Great British Bake Off right here.
By the way, if you win, you owe me big fat cake 
Hoylake could see the largest residential development of recent years if a proposed development for Carr Lane is approved.
A scheme incorporating the construction of 62 affordable homes is being proposed on a large area of vacant land off Carr Lane, Hoylake. The site, once home to the Ellerman Lines (a shipping company) social club and subsequently a night club is considered suitable for a development in plans submitted this week.
The plans have been submitted by a company called Kirby Park Limited which has a registered office in Caldy Road, West Kirby. The affordable housing proposed consists of 62 dwellings and include:
The proposed dwellings and apartment building are all two storey in height and are traditional designed structures with pitched roofs. The supporting planning documentation is available here.
Is this good news for Hoylake and the local economy or is such a development too large for the location? What do you think? Leave a comment and have your say!
Hoylake Allotment Association has submitted a planning application to convert a section of land at the end of the Sandringham Avenue football pitch in to approximately 21 additional allotment plots. As waste land will be reclaimed behind Manor Road station, the football pitch will be repositioned and retained. Sport England were keen on the pitch being retained. A wildlife survey has also been undertaken and cuttings from a tree that is possibly native black poplar have previously been taken for subsequent replanting.
Even if planning permission is secured the additional plots can only go ahead if funding is raised for appropriate security fencing – theft of crops and shed contents is unfortunately an issue.
Contact Hoylake Allotment Association if you’d like to join the members waiting list.
What You’ve Been Saying: