Speaking to the Wirral Globe today, I have praised Wirral Council’s regeneration plans as “ambitious” and “realistic”.

I said:

“I believe the plans are a combination of ambition and realism. Ambition to put our town back on the industrial and commercial map.

 

Ambition to attract the inward investment that our town needs. Ambition to make Birkenhead a great place to live.

 

But they are realistic too. They focus on targets that are achievable. We can create jobs by building in new houses.

 

We can attract investment by offering accessible and well-placed industrial sites. And we can look to a future as part of a City Region that is committed to a Green Industrial Revolution with the Mersey Tidal Project, a North West Low Carbon industrial cluster, the Mersey Bay Offshore Wind Farms and the like.

 

By bringing together partners such as Peel, Wirral Met College, the Council, local businesses and a variety of actual or potential investors, together with the involvement of the trade union movement and community organisations the framework for regeneration does meet the needs of Birkenhead and its people.

 

My constituents need new homes. They need dignified and well-paid jobs. Good amenities, nice places to relax in and a healthy environment are vital for our town are not optional in the modern civilised world. They are essential and building them is at the heart of this plan.

 

The plan aims to deliver these things and I will do all I can to hasten its success. Never mind Tory buzz words about levelling up.

 

This is regeneration in action.

 

My election motto was ‘Building a Better Birkenhead.

 

I am delighted to be working with the various agencies, trade unions and people involved in the plan to help achieve that goal.”

 

Read more in the Wirral Globe.