A cottage owned by Kingsmead School in Hoylake is set to be turned into overnight respite accommodation for up to four children with life-limiting conditions.

Meadway Cottage on Carlton Lane was formerly used by boarders at the private school, which closed its doors in 2020 due to financial difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The seven bedroom property has been rented by Birkenhead based AJ and Friends for day care since August 2021.

Now the community interest company has submitted documents to Wirral Council outlining plans to use it for overnight accommodation for young people that have complex or multiple medical conditions.

Each bedroom will have specialist lighting, offering a mini sensory room experience for the young people, who will be aged up to 18.

Facilities also include a sensory room and a playroom for play, music and crafts.

In the paperwork, the organisation says: “We plan to run the short breaks provision overnight care Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for the first 12 months of registration…after this time frame we would plan to offer further nights, eventually offering 7 days a week overnight setting for children to attend for short breaks stays.”

A statement from AJ and Friends Chief Executive Officer, Beverley Williams, adds: “The respite primary care givers receive will support them to refuel, recharge, spend time with sibling children & allow a break for the prevention of carer burn out – this helps to reduce the risk of placement breakdown, reduces the amount of time a child may spend in hospital settings & prolongs life ultimately.”

A supporting letter from Kingsmead School’s bursar, Tina Evans, says no decision has been made about the future of the other sites owned by the school. She writes that they are “under review”, with the school still trading and the building and grounds continuing to be maintained. ...

Hoylake’s library and municipal golf course are a step closer to being saved.

They were both earmarked for closure as part of £27 million of council budget cuts.

The golf course shut in April, and funding for the library is only in place until November.

Council officials are recommending that expressions of interest received from organisations wanting to take them over are progressed to the next stage.

As previously reported by West Kirby Today, @thelifetreewirral – based at Quirky Cafe where it runs a number of services supporting people who are struggling – wants to use the library to host book clubs and story time sessions, as well as being a base for community groups and events. A cafe is also proposed.

Meanwhile, a plan submitted by @rlgchoylake for the municipal course is also set to move to the business planning stage.

The club already uses the site as a practice course for the Open Golf Championship, which returns to Hoylake in 2023.

Their idea is for a course of up to nine holes, and a driving range which would be available to grass roots golfers and elite players alike.

They also want to create wildlife habitats and nature trails accessible to the local community.

The club house would be used for a golf shop and food and drinks. ...

Bridge Road in West Kirby has reopened, albeit only one-way at the moment.

Road markings indicate it will be reinstated as a two-way route when the one-way road signs and fixed bollard outside Aldi are removed. ...