Hearings Information | wirral.gov.uk

Hearing Statements

Matter 1

Matter 2

Matter 3

Matter 4

Matter 5

Matter 6

Addenda to Hearing Statements

Hearing Dates

Block 1

Week One - Committee Room 1 & 2, Wallasey Town Hall

Day One: Tuesday 18 April 2023

10:00: Inspector's introductions, Council's opening statements, Administrative Points
11:30: Matter 1, Issue 1
14:00: Matter 1, Issue 2

Day Two: Wednesday 19 April 2023

09:30: Matter 1, Issue 3
11:30: Matter 1, Issue 4

Week Two - Hearings will be held virtually

Day Three: Tuesday 9 May 2023

09:30: Matter 5, Detailed Policies
14:00: Matter 5, Detailed Policies

Wednesday 10 May 2023

No hearings / industrial action

Day Four: Thursday 11 May 2023

09:30: Matter 5, Detailed Policies
14:00: Matter 6, Minerals, Waste, Pollution, Geology

Reserve Day: Friday 12 May 2023

Friday to be held in reserve as contingency for any final matters not covered in earlier sessions and for any administrative / programming issues. Likely virtual morning session as needed.

Block 2

Week 3 - Birkenhead Town Hall

Day 5: Tuesday 12 September 2023

10:00 Inspectors’ introductions Any administrative/ programming points, including plan timescale

11:30 Matter 2, vision/ objectives, Issue 1

14:00 Matter 2, vision/ objectives, Issue 2

Day 6: Wednesday 13 September 2023

09:30 Matter 3, strategic housing, issue 1

14:00 Matter 3, strategic housing, issues 2 & 3

Day 7: Thursday 14 September 2023

09:30 Matter 3, strategic housing, issue 4 (housing viability)

14:00 Matter 3, strategic housing, issue 4 (housing viability)

Reserve Day: Morning Friday 15 September 2023

Friday to be held in reserve as contingency for any final matters not covered in earlier sessions and for any administrative / programming issues. Likely virtual morning session as needed.

Week 4 – Hearings will be held virtually

Day 8: Tuesday 3 October 2023

09:30 Matter 4, employment and infrastructure, issue 1

14:00 Matter 4, employment and infrastructure, issue 1

Day 9: Wednesday 4 October 2023

09:30 Matter 4, employment and infrastructure, issue 2

14:00 Matter 4, employment and infrastructure, issue 2

Week 5 – Birkenhead Town Hall

Day 10: Tuesday 10 October 2023

09:30 Matter 7, Strategic Environmental Policies

14:00 Matter 7, Strategic Environmental Policies

Day 11: Wednesday 11 October 2023

Site Visits

Day 12: Thursday 12 October 2023

09:30 Matter 8, Delivery

14:00 Matter 8, Delivery

Day 13: Friday 13 October 2023

09:30 Matter 9, Area-based policies, issue 1 (overarching themes)

14:00 Matter 9, Area-based policies, issue 1 (overarching themes)

Week 6 – Birkenhead Town Hall

Day 14: Tuesday 17 October 2023

09:30 Matter 9 Issue 2, Area-based policies, settlement area 1, Wallasey

14:00 Matter 9 Issue 2, Area-based policies, settlement area 1, Wallasey

Day 15: Wednesday 18 October 2023

09:30 Matter 9 Issue 3, Area-based policies, settlement area 2, Birkenhead Commercial Core

14:00 Matter 9 Issue 3, Area-based policies, settlement area 2, Birkenhead Commercial Core

Day 16: Thursday 19 October 2023

09:30 Matter 9 Issue 4, Area-based policies, settlement area 3, Suburban Birkenhead

14:00 Matter 9 Issue 5, Area-based policies, settlement area 4, Bebington, Bromborough and Eastham

Reserve Day: Morning Friday 20 October 2023

Friday to be held in reserve as contingency for any final matters not covered in earlier sessions and for any administrative / programming issues. Likely virtual morning session as needed.

Week 7 – Birkenhead Town Hall

Day 17: Tuesday 31 October 2023

09:30 Matter 9 Issue 6, Area-based policies, settlement area 5, Leasowe, Moreton, Upton, Greasby and Woodchurch (Mid Wirral)

14:00 Matter 9 Issue 7, Area-based policies, settlement area 6, Hoylake and West Kirby

Day 18: Wednesday 1 November 2023

10:00 Matter 9 Issue 8, Area-based policies, settlement area 7, Irby, Thingwall, Pensby, Heswall and Gayton

11:00 Matter 9 Issue 9, Area-based policies, settlement area 8, Rural Area

Reserve Day: Morning Friday 3 November 2023

Friday to be held in reserve as contingency for any final matters not covered in earlier sessions and for any administrative / programming issues. Likely virtual morning session as needed.

Week 8 – To be held Virtually

Day 19: Tuesday 7 November 2023

09:30 Matter 10, other detailed policies, monitoring and policies map

14:00 Matter 10, other detailed policies, monitoring and policies map

Day 20: Wednesday 8 November 2023

09:30 Additional Matter 8 -Delivery Questions 8 and 9 (not including employment)

14:00 Additional Matter 8 -Delivery Questions 8 and 9 (not including employment)

Day 21: Thursday 9 November 2023

09:30 Reserve

14:00 Reserve

Hearing Information

Block 2 sessions will be held in Birkenhead Town Hall or virtually through Microsoft Teams. Please refer to either the Hearing Dates section above or document INSP005 for information.

Birkenhead Town Hall

Hamilton Street

Birkenhead

CH41 5BR

Observing

Limited seating will be provided for observers to observe the hearing sessions in the main Assembly Hall. It is recommended you use the main entrance on Hamilton Street to access the building.

If you wish to observe the sessions, please refrain from sitting in any reserved seats, as these are reserved for those participating in the hearing session.

Livestreaming

The hearing sessions will also be livestreamed. On the day of the hearing, if you wish to watch a livestream of the hearing session, please follow the link below and select the hearing session that is taking place that day:

https://wirral.public-i.tv/core/portal/home

Recording of hearing sessions

All of the hearing sessions will be recorded and will be available to view via a link on this page. Links to the recordings will appear on this page once the hearing session has concluded. Please note: Due to the large file sizes involved, this will not happen immediately.

If you are participating in the hearing sessions and have any concerns about being recorded, please let the programme officer know.

Parking

On-street parking is available in Hamilton Square (charges apply). There are also a number of disabled parking spaces which are free of charge (blue badges must be displayed).

Food and refreshments

You are welcome to consume food on the premises, but please ensure that you dispose of any litter properly. Water will be available throughout the hearing sessions. There are food purchase options available nearby,

Accessibility

The main entrance is wheelchair accessible and adapted toilets are provided at the venue. A lift is available to all floors. Hearing loop facilities are fitted as standard in all meeting areas.

If you have any specific requirements, please let the programme officer know as soon as possible.

Participating

If you are participating at the hearing sessions, please refer to the latest published programme for the hearing times and check that your name is listed on the programme for all the hearing sessions you are due to participate in. If you are not listed as you expected please contact the programme officer immediately. It is the responsibility of individual participants to check the latest timetable and to ensure that they are present at the correct time.

The hearings will take place in the Main Assembly Hall, if you are listed as a participant or additional participant then a nameplate will be placed at your seat. This is your designated seat, please do not move this and sit elsewhere.

Plug sockets

There are limited plug sockets available, therefore, it is advised that any electronic equipment you require during the hearing is charged beforehand.

Virtual hearings

Week 4, Week 8 of the hearings and any reserve days will be held virtually. If you are participating in the Week 4 or 8 sessions or in a session that has been moved to a reserve day, the programme officer will send you an electronic invitation shortly before the hearing session.

If you wish to observe these sessions, they will be live streamed and recorded.