Six years after explosion, not a single brick has been laid to rebuild New Ferry
Six years ago, the huge gas explosion was devastating for New Ferry and Port Sunlight.
78 people were made homeless and 81 people had injuries. Really luckily, nobody died.
28 businesses were forced to close and 7 closed permanently.
There’s been no compensation from the government.
As well as Pascal Blasio being found guilty, the gas company that supplied gas to the premises also pleaded guilty in court.
There has been hardship payments from Wirral Council to people who are directly affected. So there's been some justice for New Ferry.
But not a brick has been laid to rebuild New Ferry town centre in the last six years.
A planning application has gone in for the explosion site, from Regenda Homes housing association. But progress is really much too slow. We are given one reason after another for why it’s taking so long. Six years after the explosion and not a brick has been laid. It’s not OK.
Eventually, there'll be affordable housing. There will be some jobs and the apprenticeships. There will not be any new shops, but some of the existing shops are to be improved. Some derelict sites are being brought back into use, including by New Ferry Community Land Trust.
I think there is a link between the blast that happened six years ago and the anti-social behaviour that’s going on at the moment in New Ferry. It’s an indication from the authorities that they don't care about New Ferry. There’s been neglect of New Ferry, particularly by the government. No funding has been spent that has actually benefited people or businesses in New Ferry.
But also from Wirral Council, that has been Labour-controlled for 11 years. They have cut all the Council services in New Ferry. There is no centre left that is funded by the Council. No youth club that’s open - it’s been closed for three years. Bromborough library was closed last year.
There is New Ferry Village Hall which is a charity - and run by volunteers who are fantastic. Their doors are open. They are running all kinds of clubs and activities, seven days a week.
But it’s not enough for what young people need. We need to be offering young people positive, constructive alternatives. Because there is not a wide choice available for young people in our area, some young people are making their own entertainment. They’re claiming their own spaces and occupying the precinct and other parts of the town. Because where else is there for them to go?
There is a small minority of people who are causing anti-social behaviour and committing crimes, causing fear, distress and harassment and none of that is OK. Most young people and older people are perfectly considerate of others and go about their business without causing fear and distress.
Wirral Council is taking a multi agency approach. The Police are taking action as well. I have asked the Police for more information and they have refused to give it to me. I don’t understand why. I think the Police should be working together with local elected representatives and the local community and building trust across generations and across the community.
A lot of the future for New Ferry is in our own hands. Our community has been left behind. I’m not at all saying that people should take the law into their own hands. Crime should still be reported to the Police. But we also need to be looking at self-help, such as community asset transfers like New Ferry Village Hall.
We should challenge all forms of anti-social behaviour. We have a lot of anti-social driving for example. There is a 20mph limit coming in later in the year which is good. It will help calm traffic and help to support more vibrant communities. In this patch of New Ferry, there’s been 13 casualties over the last five years. People drive on the pedestrian precinct. That’s not OK either.
We also need to look at corporate anti-social behaviour: the example set by the great and good of our society, from the Prime Minister down. Are they respecting the law also? They are giving tax relief to wealthy businesses and the super rich, which is extracting wealth from our communities. If there is a fair wealth tax and a fair distribution of resources, then New Ferry would be able to resource itself for what it needs.