Rotting boats set to be removed from shore

Wrecked boats that have been dumped on a Merseyside beach could be removed by the end of the year as gates have been put up to stop cars gaining access.

This action is the latest update of a years-long campaign by a councillor and local people over fears wrecked and rotting boats could harm a protected area on Heswall beach in Wirral.

Last year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported how Wirral Council was moving forward with these plans and now gates have been installed restricting access on to the beach.

The boats need to be taken away to avoid pollution to the surrounding area and to protect bird and animal life.

The Dee Estuary is an internationally important site for wildlife and is the second most important location in the UK for birds such as oystercatchers and shelducks.

The boats will be wrapped to minimise the risk of pollution from oil and anything harmful before being taken away to be dismantled.

Heswall councillor Andrew Hodson, who has been campaigning to get the boats removed for years, said an application to get permission to remove the boats had been submitted to government body Natural England and the council was waiting for feedback so they could be cleared.

The gates have been installed at the beach entrance which will stop any vehicles accessing the beach except for emergency services and people accessing properties.

"Everyone who wants to take a boat down will have to go through the boat yard like they used to," Hodson said.

"Over the last two years people have been asking me when are the boats getting removed.

"Hopefully if we can get through the red tape, hopefully they will be. We have budgeted for £200,000."

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