Walls speak in colours we refuse to mute

This article was developed as part of a wider effort to understand and document the key turning points in Wirral’s regeneration agenda.

I fully expect some backlash. Some will claim I’ve got things wrong. Others will say I’m stirring the pot. That’s fine. Criticism is part of the process. But here’s the thing: this isn’t about politics. It’s not about individuals. It’s not about scoring points. It’s about trying to shine a light on how decisions are made in a system that’s broken—or at the very least, buckling.

New Brighton’s history is one of grand visions, broken promises, and grassroots reinvention. Once home to Europe’s largest outdoor lido and a magnet for day-trippers crossing the Mersey, it thrived with arcades, theatres, and the iconic Tower Grounds. But by the 1990s, the great lido was gone—demolished after years of underinvestment and neglect. One by one, its major attractions disappeared.

In the last five years, few words have appeared more often in Wirral Council's public communications than “regeneration.” And few places have been promised more transformation than Birkenhead.

When I tried to look up how my local councillors voted on key decisions, I was met with silence. Wirral Council's own "How Councillors Voted" tool returned nothing. Not a single vote recorded from any councillor between 2010 and 2025.

Over the last few years, I've delved deeply into Japanese literature, becoming increasingly fascinated with its rich tapestry of folk tales

I want to dive into the fascinating world of AI in video production, a topic that's generating a lot of buzz.