Delight at shops go ahead
A £4M scheme to extend Liscard's Cherry Tree Centre will go ahead after all after differences between Wirral council and the centre's owners were resolved.The price to be paid to the council for its 10-year lease on the centre's car park - the site of much of the building work - had become a major sticking point and caused a huge political row.
Owners Parkwood Properties initially offered the authority £500,000 but this was rejected by Conservative and Liberal Democrat cabinet members.
An revised offer of £750,000 was accepted at a cabinet meeting last Friday.
Wallasey MP Angela Eagle said: "This is a triumph for our local communities who really wanted to see this development go ahead.
"I was aghast when I heard of the original decision to turn the proposals down.
"The Cherry Tree Centre is very popular but needs extending to bring in more shops if it is to continue to thrive. I am glad that the voices of local residents have been heard in the council and that the development will now go ahead."
More than 2,000 people had signed a petition - organised by Ms Eagle and Liscard's Labour councillors - urging cabinet members not to "risk the future of Liscard".
Work on the scheme, which includes new shops and a two-storey car park, is now expected to begin in September as originally planned.