Not everything is broken. From climate delivery to real regeneration in Birkenhead, Wirral Council is starting to show signs of progress. Here’s why that matters. Tags: Wirral Council, Birkenhead regeneration, public services, climate action, local government, COVID response, accountability

This week, I read in The Guardian that Folkestone’s controversial harbour redevelopment plan had finally been approved: 410 new homes, 54 commercial units, right on the waterfront. The council voted it through. And the tone wasn’t triumph — it was resignation. “We cannot block the blocks,” one councillor said. It was less a victory than a surrender.

Connor Hilton didn't start as a pizzaiolo. His story didn't begin with dough recipes passed down through generations or culinary training from a prestigious chef. Instead, it started with a spark of creativity, a bold opportunity, and the supportive spirit of New Brighton's vibrant community.

If you’d wandered down Victoria Road in New Brighton back in early 2018, you might have noticed a bit of a bleak canvas—tired concrete corners, unloved traffic boxes, a street needing more than just sunlight. It needed imagination. It needed someone willing to plant a seed.

This isn’t about negativity. It’s about systems that don’t work, decisions that aren’t visible, and a structure that makes it almost impossible for residents to follow what’s really happening.

This post supports my recent article, Bin the Bollards, by detailing how I sourced and verified crash data on Duke Street. It shows step by step how the evidence doesn’t support the claim that wand orcas are needed for cyclist safety.

Stand on Kings Parade and look down towards the lifeguard station—the one watching over the tide like a sentry in a hi-vis vest.

This is New Brighton. Yes, New Brighton.” – Dom Joly on His Unexpected Night Out

This piece was written in direct response to Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee - Monday, 16th June 2025 6.00 p.m decision to approve the Duke Street Active Travel Scheme.

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

New Brighton's Marine Lake has long been a cherished spot for locals and visitors alike. From early morning swims to paddle boarding sessions, the lake offers a unique outdoor experience that invigorates both body and soul. In recent years, this stretch of water has become a quiet revolution—the heart of a growing outdoor swimming culture that brings health, happiness and hope to the Wirral coast.

This is a long read, so buckle in. -✍️ Author’s Note New Brighton has already done the hard part. It found its voice. It picked up a...

A Kafkaesque paper trail, a mysterious missing voting portal, and a civic system that makes democracy look like amateur dramatics with better biscuits.

In Side-Lined by the Sea, I laid bare the ways New Brighton has been persistently overlooked in Wirral’s regeneration priorities. Despite our creative energy, visitor pull, and historical significance, we remain an afterthought in key masterplans, while dubious vanity schemes elsewhere soak up public attention and funding.

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.