The winners of a community photography competition have been announced and their images put on public display at an outdoor gallery in West Kirby.
The public voted for six-year-old Samuel Chambers' photograph of a duck as the winner of the primary school category in Wirral Partnership Homes' (WPH) 'What Does West Kirby Mean to You' photography competition.
The secondary school category was won by 16-year-old Alex Parker for his 'Sand Dunes Night' photograph that captured a stunning sunset over West Kirby, while the adult section was won by Matt Christie for his incredible 'Prom Night' photograph.
The winning photographs and the top 25 entries have been mounted onto 375m of hoardings that are sealing off the Orrysdale Road site while planners decide if £10m proposals submitted by WPH and NHS Wirral for 58 new homes and a state-of-the-art health centre can go ahead.
Six stained glass windows created by local primary school children using spray paint depicting local landmarks were also unveiled at the Bridge Court site.
Some 251 entries were submitted to the competition capturing West Kirby in all its beauty.
WPH Chief Executive, Brian Simpson, said: "The event has been a great success with over 250 entries received that have been used along with the stained glass window art to create a wonderfully vibrant gallery that has transformed the Bridge Court site.
"I would like to thank everyone who took part, the standard was incredibly high and shows just how picturesque West Kirby is and how talented its people are.
"The outline plans we have submitted to transform the site with NHS Wirral are really exciting and we are now looking forward to the first hearing which is expected to take place in February.
"A public consultation process is open until 19 February and we would encourage as many people as possible to share their views with us."
Wirral West MP Esther McVey was on hand to announce the winners and present the prizes.
She said: "This is an outstanding community project that celebrates West Kirby by including the work of young children and people of all ages from the local area."
Samuel Chambers
Alex Parker
Matt Christie
An outdoor public art gallery showing off the photography skills of West Kirby residents will be unveiled on December 21.
A total of 251 images were submitted to Wirral Partnership Homes' (WPH) 'What Does West Kirby Mean To You' photography art competition.
People voted for the winners online and at an exhibition held at The Concourse on Tuesday 6 December as part of a consultation event about WPH's and NHS Wirral's £10 million Bridge Court development scheme.
The winners and the top 25 photographs as voted by West Kirby residents and visitors to the website will be mounted onto the hoardings currently sealing off the Orrysdale Road site and unveiled on December 21.
Winners in each category can choose from a variety of prizes including £100 of vouchers for a store of their choice, an iPod Shuffle, a digital camera, a mini camcorder or photography equipment.
The hoardings will also feature striking art work created by around 70 West Kirby primary schools pupils.
Youngsters were led by community artists Kieran Gorman and Sam Davies from Zap Graffiti Arts as they created six stained-glass windows featuring local West Kirby landmarks using spray paint (see photographs attached).
The session also taught them new art skills and educated pupils to only carry out graffiti art where they have permission and the importance of respecting neighbourhoods.
Bullet points detailing the proposed development scheme, which includes a state-of-the-art health centre and 58 new homes for local people, will also feature.
WPH Chief Executive, Brian Simpson, said: "The interest in the photography competition has been phenomenal with over 250 entries submitted in a relatively short period of time.
"The standard of all of them has been incredibly high and we received a wide range of photographs from primary and secondary school pupils and adults with sites such as the marina and the park proving popular.
"Not only has the photography competition demonstrated how talented West Kirby people are with a camera in hand but also how beautiful the town is and it has really captured everyone's imagination.
"The photographs and the stunning stained glass window art created by primary school pupils will make the site more aesthetically pleasing and provide an outdoor gallery for people to enjoy.
"We are now looking forward to the event on 21 December and hope as many people as possible attend to celebrate everyone's hard work and talent as we unveil the art and announce the winners."
The unveiling and presentation event runs from 12pm until 3pm and Wirral West MP Esther McVey will be attending to announce the winners.
Housing and Local Government Minister Grant Shapps visited West Kirby to see proposals for the £10m Bridge Court health and housing development scheme.
Wirral Partnership Homes (WPH) and NHS Wirral plans to build a new state-of-the-art health centre and 58 homes in Orrysdale Road in one of the first partnership ventures of its kind.
Grant Shapps was taken on a tour of the proposed Bridge Court scheme by WPH Chief Executive, Brian Simpson and Wirral West MP, Esther McVey.
Chief Executive at WPH, Brian Simpson, said: "The Bridge Court scheme is a really good example of partnership working. By pooling resources and services together it will benefit the wider community on a far greater scale than otherwise would be the case if they were proposed independently.
"WPH is a not for profit charity and is pleased to be able to build not just affordable housing but a state-of-the-art new health centre for West Kirby's residents. The local GPs currently rent an outdated building and they will be able to rent a fantastic new facility that will improve local services.
"Building more affordable homes across Wirral is crucial if we are to address the huge demand the area has; over 1,500 applications were received for the last 14 properties to become available to rent in West Kirby so it is vital homes are built to cater for this need.
"The Bridge Court site is the perfect location because until the summer it housed 53 decaying properties that cost tenants a lot of money to heat, were damaging to the environment and expensive to maintain from our perspective as the landlord.
"So the plans we have submitted are a huge improvement and should permission be granted, not only will it see five more homes provided than previously existed, they will be affordable, energy efficient saving tenants an estimated £219-a-year on fuel bills, attractive and create apprenticeships and jobs to boost the local economy."
Wirral West MP, Esther McVey, said: "I was delighted the Housing Minister could spare the time to visit Wirral and to hear first hand of the exciting proposals by WPH for this prestigious mixed development of affordable homes and a state-of-the-art Health facility on what is a flagship site at Bridge Court in West Kirby."
The Bridge Court plans also include WPH proposing to offer tenants a five-year tenancy agreement with the option to buy through shared ownership at the end of the term. Rents will be discounted by 20 per cent from the private market rent level to help residents save deposits to acquire their homes.
The health centre would be 2,300m2 in size and include 18 consulting rooms, two minor surgeries, six general treatment rooms, a play area, clinical stores, an IT centre, an independent health library and four podiatry rooms.
Specialist baby, eye, hearing, leg ulcer and health visitor clinics could be included, while the larger site would enable more people to receive treatments such as phlebotomy and physiotherapy.
Counselling, maternity, psychology, citizen's advice and weight management services are also proposed, and the plans will be fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.
WPH is also leading a community photographic art competition with residents invited to submit images with their work going on display on the hoardings that currently seal the site to improve its aesthetic appeal, showcase people's talent and create an outdoor gallery for the community to enjoy.
Plans to build a state-of-the-art health centre and 58 new homes for local people as part of a £10 million scheme have been proposed for West Kirby, Wirral.
In one of the first partnerships of its kind, Wirral Partnership Homes (WPH) and NHS Wirral have come together to submit plans to Wirral Borough Council to redevelop Bridge Court.
Plans for a 2,300 square metre health centre include 18 consulting rooms, two minor surgeries, six general treatment rooms, a play area, clinical stores, an IT centre, library and four podiatry rooms.
Specialist baby, eye, hearing, leg ulcer and health visitor clinics could be included, while the larger site would enable more people to receive treatments such as phlebotomy and physiotherapy.
Counselling, maternity, psychology, citizen’s advice and weight management services are also proposed, and the plans will be fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.
Some 53 substandard properties that were causing a blot on the landscape were demolished in the summer of 2011 by WPH and the new homes and health centre will compliment the existing architecture and improve the aesthetic appeal of the area.
The construction of the scheme will help create apprenticeships for local people and boost Wirral’s local economy.
Plans for the homes include using the most advanced energy efficient products and technologies that would see tenants saving an estimated £219 a year on fuel bills.
WPH also aims to offer tenants a five-year tenancy agreement with the option to buy through shared ownership at the end of the term. Rents will be discounted by 20 per cent from the private market rent level to help residents save up deposits to acquire their homes.
WPH Chief Executive, Brian Simpson, said: “There is huge demand for housing in West Kirby. Our plans will go a long way in helping local people by providing modern, energy efficient homes that will be unrecognisable compared to the previous properties at Bridge Court and really complement the area.
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with NHS Wirral as we share a vision to provide the best facilities possible for West Kirby residents.
“Should planning permission be granted, tenants will be given the opportunity to buy the new homes at the end of the five-year term through a shared ownership scheme so our plans will really help them get a foot on the housing ladder, something that is proving harder and harder to achieve in the current economic climate.
“Not only will the new development make the area safer and more desirable, but it will also create apprenticeships and jobs, helping the local economy.”
Dr Debbie Forsdyke of West Kirby Health Centre, said: “The existing health centre does not have enough space to deliver the required level of clinical services that our patients need, this can only be achieved through a new, modern facility.
“Having spoken at length to our patients directly and through our Patient Participation Group, we know it is desperately wanted and by working closely with Wirral Partnership Homes, it provides the perfect opportunity to create a sustainable health centre for the future.
“The plans, which include more GP consultation rooms and minor surgery facilities, a wider range of treatment and support services, and a greater selection of facilities, will result in the level of care improving beyond recognition.”
Wirral West MP, Esther McVey, said: “I am absolutely delighted that this site is to be redeveloped bringing much needed affordable energy efficient homes, as well as a state-of-the-art health centre which will deliver 21st century services in a great environment.
“This is tremendous news for the people of West Kirby and the wider community.”
Chairman of the Patient Participation Group, Brian Barnes, said: “West Kirby is in urgent need of a new health centre to ensure the best services are offered to residents.
“We welcome the proposal and hope the plans are approved so more people can benefit from the improved facilities.”
A 14-week consultation period is now underway and closes on 19 February.
Two open consultation events will be held at The Concourse in West Kirby on Tuesday 6 December from 2.30pm to 6.30pm and on Friday 9 December from 10am to 3pm.
Residents in West Kirby are invited to take part in a photographic art competition with their work going on display at a major regeneration site proposed for the town.
The ‘What Does West Kirby Mean to You?’ competition is part of Wirral Partnership Homes (WPH) and NHS Wirral’s £10 million Bridge Court development scheme that plans to build a state-of-the-art health centre and 58 new homes for local people.
Those who enter will see their photographs mounted onto the hoardings that are currently sealing the Bridge Court site to improve its aesthetic appeal, showcase people’s talent and create an outdoor gallery for the community to enjoy.
Residents can vote online and at an exhibition at West Kirby Concourse on 6 December from 2.30pm to 6.30pm with winners chosen in four categories: primary schools aged under 11; secondary schools aged 11 – 18; adults; and groups and schools.
A choice of prizes will be given to winners in each category including £100 of vouchers for Jessops, iTunes, HMV, Toys R Us and Symths Toys, an iPod Shuffle, a digital camera, a mini camcorder and a grant or photography equipment.
Wirral West MP, Esther McVey will announce the winners on Wednesday 21 December when the hoardings are unveiled at the Bridge Court site.
Chief Executive at Wirral Partnership Homes, Brian Simpson, said: “West Kirby is one of Wirral’s most picturesque towns and to celebrate its beauty, we are holding a photography competition giving people the chance to share their enjoyment with the local community and win some fantastic prizes.
“We are encouraging everyone to take part and capture what West Kirby means to them personally through the eye of a lens and I’m sure we’ll get some really creative photographs that will make the hoardings at Bridge Court look very attractive.
“Good luck to everyone who takes part and we look forward to seeing entries online and at the exhibition where people can vote for their favourite.”
As well as the photographs entered into the competition, the hoardings will also feature bullet points explaining details of the proposed development scheme and art work created by West Kirby primary schools during half-term.
Two community artists helped some 70 youngsters create six stained glass windows featuring West Kirby landmarks using spray paint and used the event to teach them rules about graffiti as part of a community development class.
The deadline to enter the photograph competition is 4pm on Friday 2 December.
Primary school pupils in West Kirby took part in a workshop to create some striking art that will go on public display in the town.
Some 70 youngsters attended the event organised by Wirral Partnership Homes (WPH) at the Bridge Court regeneration site in Orrysdale Road.
They were led by community artists Kieran Gorman and Sam Davies from Zap Graffiti Arts as they created six stained-glass windows featuring West Kirby landmarks using spray paint and learned new art skills.
The art will be mounted onto the hoardings that are sealing the Bridge Court site while Wirral Borough Council decides if £10 million plans submitted by WPH and NHS Wirral to build 58 homes for local people and a new state-of-the-art health centre can go ahead.
The stained-glass windows will feature at regular points on the 375 metre hoardings alongside photography submitted by West Kirby residents into a competition titled ‘What Does West Kirby Mean To You?’
Wirral West MP, Esther McVey will unveil the art and announce the competition winners at a special event on Wednesday 21 December.
Chief Executive at Wirral Partnership Homes, Brian Simpson, said: “The children really enjoyed the event and it resulted in six really striking pieces of art being created for the whole community to enjoy.
“The art workshop also allowed us to educate youngsters about spray paint with our community artists and members of staff explaining to youngsters that people should only ever carry out graffiti art where they have permission and the importance of respecting neighbourhoods.
“Their work will be displayed on the hoardings at the Bridge Court along with entries to the photography competition and it will transform the visual appeal of the site while we await the planning decision.”
