£200,000 to remove abandoned boats

Council plans to move rotting hulks from Heswall shore

Last year, Wirral Council announced plans to remove a large number of boats that have been abandoned on Heswall shore. So far, the only sign of action is a letter pinned to the notice board at the bottom of Banks Road, showing the new proposed location of a security barrier and CCTV .

Heswall Liberal Democrats contacted the Council for information about what is going on. This is what we were told:

£33,439.12 has been spent in 2024/25. This includes work on a Habitats Regulations Assessment, (required to achieve assent from Natural England for the work), and a deposit for a gate entry system and CCTV in order to control access to the foreshore and prevent further boat dumping.

A further £70,411.29 has been committed (but not yet invoiced) to complete the security work and commission further environmental studies which are required. 

As this work will not be completed before the end of this financial year, the funding will be carried over into 2025/26 for this one specific project, subject to approval.

There is another £100,000 in the 2025/26 budget for the actual removal of the boats. 

The work will need to carried out with care as this is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

A contract will be awarded for the work, but the Council believes this £100,000 will be sufficient for the task.

“Extensive efforts have been made to identify the owners of the boats but in most cases without success,” said Heswall campaigner, Elizabeth Brame.

“When there is such pressure on the Council budget, it is awful that the Council has to spend over £200,000 on this project.”