I am honoured to represent Bromborough ward and almost 15,000 residents.
I grew up on the Wirral in the 70s and 80s. After studying and working in Manchester and Northern Ireland, I returned to live on the Wirral last year.
Many things haven’t changed:
- There are beautiful people, stunning views and green spaces such as Port Sunlight
- There is still too much poverty and inequality
- We are still dealing with cruel conservative cuts to services we all rely on, such as to our NHS
- There is still no justice for the strikers of Cammell Lairds,
- The Labour Party remains a broad church, or what I call, a broad synagogue.
Some things have changed:
- Fish survive in the River Mersey
- The Labour Party has a manifesto, FOR THE MANY not the few, that is even more gorgeous that I am. Lol!
I have met and listened to thousands of people in Bromborough ward. The number one issue is the huge gas explosion that devastated New Ferry, in March last year.
At that time, I lived in Derry~Londonderry in Northern Ireland. In both places, I see communities that are doubly traumatised. Firstly by explosions, violence and poverty; and secondly by ongoing trauma of government indifference, inaction and injustice - although the causes are different.
Wirral Council reported:
- 39 casualties including one young man who suffered life-changing injuries
- In the words of survivors, "So we had no money, we had no home, and we had nowhere to go. We had no clothes. We were just wrapped in [sheets], and they were all covered in blood..."
- Because it was a crime scene, "We were not allowed back to the area for nearly a week, which left me without a car, job, wages."
- 68 people needed temporary accommodation including 16 children.
- The explosion blasted debris in a radius of 700m all around.
- 7 shops and flats were entirely destroyed, with around 20 jobs lost to the local economy.
- Over 100 other houses and 40 shops were damaged - 32 with severed structural damage.
The wider community responded brilliantly. People donated money, clothes, food, transport, tea, cigs and hugs. A woman in Pakistan donated her house in the area for a homeless family to live in.
If this happened in your ward, you would think that national government would help. Indeed 4 days later, Prime Minister Theresa May promised to do so. Maybe the Conservatives got distracted by the 2017 General Election because the only government "help" thus far has been more consultants reports. Which is not what is actually needed.
New research last month by Marion Grundy Ridewood, a local trader, shows that:
- After the first few months of support from the Council and other agencies, people were left to fend for themselves.
- Even people who had insurance are struggling "My insurance company didn’t cover the costs of the damage to our house".
- Many survivors are still traumatised and time is making their debt and depression worse not better. "Trying to survive in B&B room with no way of cooking etc and having to replace clothes, shoes and everything else meant we soon spiraled into debt."
- Some families are still in temporary accommodation.
Survivor testimony is strong:
"I have been living with friends, house sitting for others. I have now been living out of a suitcase for eighteen months."
"We lived in temporary accommodation for 17 months. It was a small house with 3 teenagers sharing one room."
"Because of the stress I am feeling, I went back to my GP who had already put me onto anti-depressants, and when I told him of my difficulties, he doubled my medication."
"My kids still have nightmares and are scared of loud noises, even motorbikes and hoovers, and they all panic attacks in building with big glass windows."
Locally owned businesses such as New Ferry precinct and Bromborough village, are the heart and soul of local communities and economies. Remaining businesses in New Ferry have been hard hit. "I've gone from making £500-£800 per week [in my shop] to making virtually nothing. I'm lucky if I see £20 in my till at the end of the week now." "We have never received help for the loss of earnings" unlike Salisbury, where £7.5m has been given by government.
So what is to be done?
Wirral Council policy is now to urge:
1. "the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to reconsider the judgement that the Bellwin disaster scheme does not apply."
2. "that £500,000 from the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor's Town Centre Fund, should in principle be allocated to New Ferry, subject to an application being completed."
3. "Central government to allocate resources to New Ferry commensurate with those allocated to Salisbury."
I also hope that Wirral Council can find a way to make hardship payments to everyone directly affected. A common experience is "The only money I ever received was £100 from New Beginnings and £200 from the church."
I hope arts programmes such as the Borough of Culture can be used to address community trauma.
New Ferry residents and traders are cracking on with setting up a New Ferry Community Land Trust. Modeled on Granby Four Streets in Liverpool 8, the New Ferry Community Land Trust (CLT) will be a community-led vehicle for rebuilding and regenerating the area. As well as community clean ups, painting empty properties and butterfly murals, the CLT plans to repair and rebuild shops, flats and houses at social and affordable rents.
Everyone is welcome to our diverse and friendly shops and to our Christmas Market on Saturday 8th December.
