Plans for a wetlands scheme designed to alleviate the risk of flooding in Meols have been given the green light, despite concern from a councillor that local residents have not yet been consulted on it.
The project, funded by the Environment Agency and delivered through a partnership between Cheshire Wildlife Trust and Wirral Council, will see a wetland created on almost 25 hectares of a floodplain at Hoylake Carrs.
The £430,000 project is part of a national initiative using natural solutions to reduce flooding and deliver environmental and community benefits by creating areas to capture water.
A report to Wirral Council’s environment, climate change and transport committee said that a series of deflectors will be used to slow water flow and redirect it onto the floodplain, whilst water retention areas of various depths will also be created, and wet habitats will be improved.
A map of the wetland site
Hoylake and Meols councillor, Conservative Max Booth, put forward an amendment proposing more maintenance of the the River Birket and woodland planting. He said he believed that would also help protect communities in Moreton and Leasowe which are more at risk.
He criticised the proposal as being “expensive [and] complex”, telling elected members that “it doesn’t deliver a balanced strategy which integrates regular Birkett maintenance, woodland planting and more practical, impactful alternatives”.
He also raised concerns about a decision on the scheme being made before local residents have been consulted, arguing it is being done “backwards”.
Committee Chair, Labour’s Cllr Liz Grey, countered that there have been hydrological and ecological surveys and that Cheshire Wildlife Trust have “wide expertise and experience”, but agreed that consultation with the local community is important.
Some of the properties which are closest to the wetlands site
The report’s author, James Roberts, said the council is exploring scrub creation and woodland planting on the remaining half of the site that is not being used for the wetlands.
Cllr Booth’s amendment was voted down, meaning that, following a consultation, work is expected to start on the scheme in winter 2025.
