Have you seen the above billboard above the corner of Shaw Street? Local community interest company Hoylake Village Life would like you to share your views on how you think Hoylake could be improved.

Hoylake Village Life are presenting ideas and seeking the views of the community on a ‘Plan’ for the future of Hoylake. If it is endorsed by the community in a local referendum to be held in 2012, the plan becomes an official policy document which will influence the Council when making planning and development decisions, and will help to attract funding for Hoylake.

Click the banner above or click here and complete the survey. There are a range of multiple choice questions giving you the opportunity to air your views on how you think Hoylake could develop in the years ahead.

Does anybody know where the centre-piece of the drinking fountain has gone?

Those trails of sand would seem to suggest that it’s been removed very recently. If you know more, please leave a comment below.

I sincerely hope that it hasn’t been stolen for scrap metal. There have been numerous reports in the media about metal plaques and statues being stolen for their scrap value – is Hoylake’s missing fountain a case of that?

[UPDATE: 5-Nov-11 @ 17.10] It hasn’t been stolen – well, fingers crossed! Works to finally add the missing pieces of the fountain and repair some of the rust had been scheduled to take place in the near future. So, for now, it’s being assumed that the centre-piece has been legitimately removed.

[UPDATE: 7-Nov-11] Phew! There hasn’t been a theft …the centre-piece has been removed by the restoration workers who, it seems, turned-up unannounced on the day of Hoylake Food Fair and removed it for off-site repairs.

See this 2008 post for more photos of the restored fountain.

Grove Park

Gail Lowther, Chair of Friends of Grove Park writes:

“At our last committee meeting of the Friends of Grove Park, we met with Jackie Smallwood from the Parks Dept and she said that work to install the new play equipment should start mid November. So hopefully the new play equipment should be in place well before Christmas. If anyone wants to see a plan of the proposed alterations there is a copy up in the noticeboard in the park.”

Queens Park

As I understand it, children’s play apparatus within Wirral parks has traditionally been replaced every 20 years and next year would have been Queens Park’s turn again. That isn’t scheduled to happen however and as a result Jan Foster and the Hoylake in Bloom group have been attempting to have funds allocated to the park play area. I think some funding has however been secured to replace the well-used, rotten picnic benches within the play area.

The brick building (gardeners hut) by the bowling green within the park has just had a replacement roof.

How long have the street-lights within the park been off? Is it just me or were the lights working earlier this year?

Parade Gardens

The two bowling greens are now treated and fed and many of the grass verges have been trimmed and tidied. There hasn’t been any sign this week of the works for the forthcoming mosaic and sensory garden area.

Despite the recent investment in track replacement on the Merseyrail Wirral Line between West Kirby and Moreton, the works remains unfinished with no target completion date in place.

The track on the line up to West Kirby has not been completely replaced following the recent works and there are still stretches of old track on wooden railway sleepers. At Manor Road station new, unused rails can be seen lying inside the existing ones. Several Hoylake and Meols residents who live close to the railway line have noticed a reduction in noise levels and would like to see the remaining track replaced.

In response to a request for information, speaking on behalf of Network Rail, Gemma Richardson, Community Relations said: “Due to operational difficulties, the scope of work had to be altered, therefore some of the old track was not renewed. We do not as yet have a planned timescale or date for the outstanding works.”

Roadworks

United Utilities have now started the mains water pipe replacement work in Hoylake. The work, which is scheduled to run for about 18 weeks, has started on Market Street by Chapel Road and will progress toward the Railway Inn at Meols. Queues are inevitable, especially next week when children return to school.

Additionally, from October 31st, Bridge Road in West Kirby will be closed for seven weeks. Roadworks are also in place at Moreton Cross.

Wirral Line Track Replacement

Several lengths of train track have not been replaced along the Merseyrail West Kirby Line following the recent line closure. It is not clear if Network Rail have completed the track replacement or whether they’ll be returning. A request for an update from them about the works is still due. Do you think the line is now quieter when a train runs along? Leave a comment below.

Walrus Card

Merseyrail is now starting to install a new smart card payment system across the entire network. It’s called the Walrus Card and will work in a similar manner to the Oyster Card that is used on the London Underground. For more information visit the official site – note that a video starts to play as soon as you do. There are no timescales as yet for installation of the new system at local stations.

Meols Parade Gardens

Works are scheduled to start next week on a new mosaic and sensory garden feature within Meols Parade Gardens. Jan Foster and the team at Hoylake in Bloom have worked hard to promote the scheme and to raise the required funding. Photos to come in due course.

Cabbage Patch

You can eat cabbage, despite most children vehemently believing otherwise. But what you shouldn’t really do is eat the ornamental cabbage leaves that you’ll find in the flower beds outside Home Bargains on Market Street. They’ve been planted by Hoylake in Bloom and not Incredible, Edible Hoylake!

Many Hoylake residents have been wondering why works have stalled at the proposed Royal Hilbre Hotel & Spa on Meols Drive.

The venue was expected to be open by August but that date has passed and there have been rumours that the developers had run out of cash.

I emailed the hotel late last week and have been informed that the developers now aim to open the venue in 2012. Keith Ellis, one of the team behind the revamp of the former nursing home and Paddocks house (pictured), says they are now nearing the completion of negotiations over lending for the project with a major bank, and are on track to open in 2012.

The firm says it has received several enquiries for bookings for the 2012 Womens Golf Open which is being hosted at Royal Liverpool in September, 2012.

Some Hoylake establishments want to amend their current licensing arrangements and you have an opportunity to hear about and comment upon the proposals.

A public meeting is being held this Monday evening (24, October) to discuss a range of Hoylake licensing issues and you’ll be able to air your views – for and against.

Various issues to be discussed include:

• Hoylake venues being able to serve alcohol into the early hours of the morning
• venues to be able to serve alcohol without the requirement to serve food

Apologies for the short notice.

Owners of the Hoose Court site, Wirral Partnership Homes, are inviting local Hoylake residents to comment on redevelopment plans for the now boarded, partially vacant site on Market Street. Here is the invitation:

“You are invited to attend a Hoose Court redevelopment consultation drop in event, in front of the empty site, in Market Street, Hoylake on Tuesday 11th October 2011 any time between 2pm and 7pm

Come along and tell us your views on the redevelopment proposals consisting of modern new homes and share your ideas on the landscaping proposals for the area.

If you would like any further information contact Steve Eaves at Wirral Partnership Homes on (0151) 666 7001″.

Local community group, Incredible Edible Hoylake, would like to use some of the available land for a community gardening area.

NatWest CommunityForce is a new initiative which sees the high street bank working with local communities to support people, projects and charities making a real difference where you live.

Local projects in Hoylake could receive much-needed funding if enough votes are secured by the cut-off date of 23rd October, 2011.

Current projects in Hoylake are from Hilbre Group of Scouts and Hoylake Village Life. Please support your local community groups.