An open letter to the Forward Planning Dept, Wirral Borough Council:

FOR the second time in two years, proposals have been put forward concerning the main carpark in Bromborough village that have been so lacking in thought, sensitivity or reason as to cause businesses and residents of Bromborough to collectively shake their heads in utter disbelief.

First of all, it was to introduce car parking charges, a strategy condemned across the Wirral and quickly, correctly and thankfully consigned by the council to 'The bin of bad ideas'.

Now - a new idea - 'let's re-develop it instead'.

Let's include it in our Local Plan for re-development across Wirral under the category of 'mixed usage'.

Well, whatever new development the term 'mixed use' disguises it most certainly won't include enough parking to replace the the essential parking space we must lose in the process.

This is complete lunacy.

Whatever arguments we threw at the council at the time of the carpark charges debacle still apply.

It was the community's view that introducing charges would be extremely damaging to the economy of the village and, ultimately, damaging to the social structure of the surrounding community.

To withdraw that proposal and then to suggest removing it completely suggests not only that the voice of the community has not been listened to, but also that the planners have no understanding at all of what is important to our ‘village’ communities.

You have backed off from a strategy that would have been 'extremely damaging' and replaced it with one which is almost certainly 'utterly devastating'.

Is this not an astonishing piece of ineptness?

What thinking, if any, has gone on to come to this decision?

I attended one of the council's meetings on 'the local plan' and asked if I would be allowed to view, or at least be told of, the studies that had taken place that led to such a decision.

I was told to leave my name and address and someone would be in touch.

Well, after a couple of follow-up calls, someone did get in touch.

They were as helpful as they could be, but were unable to help with my specific enquiry -"What evidence is there of its current worth?"

As far as they were aware " ... no further studies or details appear to be available."

This strongly suggests that the carpark has been thrown into the Local Plan without any meaningful research taking place to assess its current worth to the community.

No surveys, no statistics, no assessment of its importance to businesses or community.

I think this is thoughtless and reckless approach.

Meanwhile, we in the village have been carrying out our own surveys and questionnaires.

The results are looking interesting and ultimately should be quite informative.

They will be completed and available to view in due course.

You may possibly be interested.

If so, you are welcome to contact us.

Phil Spencer, by email