Wirral-based businesses owners slam regeneration proposals

Two business owners have rejected regeneration plans proposed by Wirral Council that will create thousands of new homes.

Last week Wirral Council published plans to redevelop Scotts Quay in Seacombe, including proposals for 3,500 homes mainly in the form of apartments.

Currently, the plans are in very early stages as they will cause major changes to the area around Birkenhead Road and the local authority is seeking public feedback on proposals before developing them further.

Against this backdrop, two business owners have come forward raising their concerns that the proposed new homes will be built very close to where they work.

Frank Brennan, who runs the Soccer Dome in Seacombe said he another business owner in the area, John Hennessy, were surprised and horrified about the current proposals adding he had not been informed of the plans before they went public.

Wirral Council have claimed the plans are part of their wider efforts to regenerate the left bank of the Mersey which could see thousands of homes constructed. In Scotts Quay, the new homes have been stated to be ‘a new high-density mixed use sustainable living area’ which would overlook the Mersey towards Liverpool.

Creating new homes during this current climate are also widely appreciated as the demand her affordable properties have gone through the roof.

However, Mr Brennan said the plans to build new properties led to ‘rumours and wild exaggerations of job losses and business closures’ being rife on social media causing ‘initial hysteria’.

Mr Brennan said: ‘How are developers and businesses in this area expected to react? I have just invested around £15 thousand upgrading the Soccer Dome into a multi-use leisure and community centre, and without any communication I wake up Thursday morning to see that Wirral Borough Council want to demolish my building and replace it with houses.

‘Hundreds of fellow business owners in this Scott’s Quay project would have experienced a similar feeling of distress that morning too.

‘Of course, when the initial hysteria calms down and the proposals are studied in depth, it becomes clear that this is a wish list for Seacombe, dreamed up by consultants, no doubt paid thousands of pounds from our council taxes, and published as a consultation document.

‘If only Wirral Council had invited groups of interested and affected parties in for talks, they could have had a vision for Seacombe that was practical and free.’

Image: Di