New plan moves toward protecting 'community at risk of flooding'

The new wetland will see wildlife habitats and shallow pools created that could be similar to the Gilroy Nature Park (pictured)
-Credit:Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo


Plans to create a new wetlands area between two towns in the west of Wirral have moved forward. The project is intended to protect homes from flooding along the River Birket and is backed by £430,000 of Environment Agency funding.

The wetlands would be created across 60 hectares of what is currently poor quality agricultural land called the Hoylake Carrs between West Kirby and Hoylake that is known to flood. The Birket, a tributary of the River Mersey, runs through the site on its route to Meols, Moreton, and Leasowe before it drains into the Birkenhead docks.

The scheme has been in development for a number of years with funding announced for the project last year following a bid by the council with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust. The project was reportedly first floated by those opposed to scrapped council plans for a golf resort in the area.

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Following committee approval on January 27, Cheshire Wildlife Trust is planning to start engaging with the public, local community and environmental groups, as well as council planning in early 2025. Councillors from all parties said this engagement was critically important but there was disagreement about how the council should move forward after detailed plans were put forward.

Hoylake councillor Max Booth said the intention of the scheme was admirable but felt it fell short in a number of areas. He wanted to see a more balanced approach with public engagement before a decision, more tree planting, and maintenance of The Birket going forward.

He wanted to see more public engagement before a decision was made, adding: “This could be the greatest scheme in the world but without properly consulting, how am I supposed to know and make an informed decision?”

Plans for a new wetland between West Kirby and Hoylake
Plans for a new wetland between West Kirby and Hoylake -Credit:Cheshire Wildlife Trust/JBA Consulting

Committee chair councillor Liz Grey said there was scope to introduce trees on the site but surveys had already been extensively done on the site and the project would be managed by Cheshire Wildlife Trust who have experience managing similar projects elsewhere. She said going in a different direction would go against the advice of experts.

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However she said: “It’s vital that the local community, the community you represent are fully on board with this and see the merits of it and see what they perhaps stand to lose if they don’t have it,” adding: “They need to know what’s happening in their area, you need to know what’s happening. It’s a big deal.”

Other councillors were concerned councillors were acting as experts and risked putting the entire project in jeopardy. Officers also said there were limitations on what the site could be turned into due to its close proximity to habitats in the Dee Estuary and the Wirral coastline.

Cllr Booth said he was concerned about the decision being taken before any public consultation was done, referencing the controversial West Kirby sea wall which was also funded by the Environment Agency. He said: “We’re just doing to do a scheme in your neighbourhood and we haven’t told you about it. We’re not going to inform you about it and just going to do it and hope you’ll be okay with it.”

However Cllr Grey said: “I do think we need to have the experts make these decisions, especially when we’re talking about something as serious as flooding and a community that is at risk of flooding.” Green councillor Gail Jenkinson said there were no trees currently on the site and the council "shouldn't be changing things pretty much on the fly."

The wetlands will see the creation of 15 scrapes, effectively shallow pools and ditches, a low level bund 20cm high and around five metres wide on the east of the site to hold back water, and a series of leaky barriers to slow water flow. During periods of heavy rainfall, water will be directed into the wetland reducing the amount of water flowing downstream and the risk of flooding in places like Meols.

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The scrapes will provide a variety of habitats with the ability to hold nearly 46,000 cubed meters of water in these shallow pools. This will be similar to the nearby Gilroy Nature Park just outside of West Kirby.

Modelling of the plans shows it could reduce water flowing downstream during heavy periods by 21% to nearly half depending on how severe the rainfall is. However the reduction of water flowing at peak times was much smaller.

Going forward, further modelling will be undertaken to look at the risk of flooding will be reduced for homes downstream, engagement with stakeholders and utility companies, and carry out required surveys and technical investigations. Further plans for the creation of the wetland will also be developed.

While there is scope for more woodland to be planted on the site, this is limited both because of land use constraints as well as funding conditions. According to a report, the site is considered highly suitable for a new wetland and wetlands are effective at improving water quality as well as creating habitats for wading birds and great crested newts.

The wetland is also expected to improve water quality in the Birket which is currently affected by contamination, poor livestock and soil management, as well as its proximity to urban areas. After a motion by the Conservatives was voted down, Labour, Green, and Liberal Democrat councillors voted to move the proposals for a wetlands forward.