Plans for £10m redevelopment of Mersey coastline unveiled (From Wirral Globe)

Plans for £10m redevelopment of Mersey coastline unveiled

1:27pm Monday 21st September 2009 in News By Craig Manning

PLANS for a major redevelopment of the Mersey coastline have been unveiled by Wirral council.

The £10 million scheme, involving the coastline from Rock Ferry to Eastham including the Royal Mersey Yacht Club, will focus on an area that has long been neglected.

Known as the Mersey Coast project it incorporates the yacht club's plans to redevelop their land including the derelict Admiral Pub to provide members with improved facilities and a new clubhouse that is capable of hosting national and international sailing events.

Rock Ferry councillor Moira McLaughlin said: "These proposals by the yacht club are very exciting and most importantly, deliverable.

"They will transform the waterfront and open it up both for water based and recreational uses which will benefit the whole community.

"We have been trying for many years to regenerate this area of Wirral and I will be lobbying the external funding agencies to provide the money which will make these proposals a reality."

There are also plans to refurbish the pier and make significant improvements to the esplanade as well as reclaiming Bromborough landfill site as a green space.

Central to the plans is the need to improve links from the coast back into the communities of Rock Ferry, New Ferry and Port Sunlight by creating new access routes including a new entrance and exit route to the A41 bypass from the yacht club.

Cllr Jean Stapleton, cabinet member for Regeneration and Planning Strategy, said: "I welcome the proposals for this part of the Mersey Coast as they will complement the successful work that has been undertaken over the past few years through the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park Initiative.

"These proposals are significant and should be included in the 'Adapting the Landscape Study' which is currently being undertaken by the North West Development Agency and its partners.

"Over the years the Agency has significantly supported our waterfront development and I hope that through the study and programmes like Newlands Two they will be able to continue to work with us.

"Such proposals bring significant economic and social benefits not only to Wirral but also to the Liverpool City Region."