LABOUR campaigners have blasted Leverhulme Estate's applications to build on essential greenbelt land.

The landowners have made applications across multiple sites to build 800 homes, none of which are covered by the new local plan, which offers brownfield sites for development of housing and more green spaces. and creates green spaces for future generations. 

Gail Jenkinson, who leads Labour’s campaigning team in Greasby, Frankby and Irby, has gained more than 4,000 signatures in a petition to oppose the schemes. She is now urging members of the public to join her in formal opposition through the planning process. 

Ms Jenkinson : “The Labour-led local plan has space for 18,000 homes by regenerating areas of Birkenhead, Liscard and Seacombe. This includes enough for the government targets and approximately 6,000 contingency places. We simply do not ned to build on greenbelt land.”

The latest proposal includes building around Limbo Lane in Irby, next to the head of Arrowe Brook. 

“Our local services are already under strain,” she said. “Irby Primary is full and health services are creaking. Irby would run into Thingwall, removing the separation of villages that greenbelt is meant to provide.”

The proposed sites are:

Land east of Thorncroft Drive, Gills Lane, Pensby

Land east of Dale View Close, north of Gills Lane, Pensby

Land at Milner Road and Barnston Road, Heswall

Land west of Barnston Road, north of Gills Lane

Land west of Raby Hall, Raby Hall Road, Raby Mere

Land east of Glenwood Drive, Irby

Land east of Raby Hall, Raby Hall Road, Raby Mere

The camaigner also highlighted the issues with the sites themselves.

“The proposed development adjacent to Arrowe Brook will have a knock-on effect downstream, including areas such as Brookway, Greasby that are already prone to flooding,” she said. “The compound effect of building at Arrowe Brook Park, adjacent to Arrowe Brook, must be considered. It has  The homes have a larger footprint than the original hard standing and removed 10s of mature trees that used to soak up water from Arrowe Brook were removed. The effects of this development will not be known for several years 

“Also, there are at least two sewage overflow points on Arrowe Brook. It is known that the sewage infrastructure is not fit for purpose. Building at the top of Arrowe Brook makes it more likely that sewage will be discharged, to run through residential areas in Greasby and Upton.”

To view the planning applications, go to: https://online.wirral.gov.uk/planning/index.html and choose ‘search for planning applications’. Objections can be made through online comments or by emailing planningapplications@wirral.gov.uk

A link to the petition is here