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Ed Barnes

@edbarnesjourno

Local Democracy Reporter for Wirral at the Liverpool Echo reporting for LDRS partners including BBC Merseyside, Wirral Globe, and Birkenhead News | News Journalism MA at Cardiff Uni. πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ #CardiffTrained

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17.11.2024
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Latest posts by Ed Barnes @edbarnesjourno

Preview
Neighbour 'exposed themselves' and made those near them 'suffer' Action was taken against the person living in Birkenhead following complaints from 'intimidated' neighbours

A β€œracially abusive” neighbour who β€œintimidated” others has been banned from a Birkenhead property for three months. Wirral Council said those living in the area had also complained of alleged β€œindecent exposure”.

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

11.03.2026 08:03 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Wirral makes decision over future of 22 car parks after plea The changes would have seen charges come in for car parks in Bromborough, Heswall, and New Brighton.

New charges for 22 car parks across Wirral, which are currently free, have been delayed. Deputy council leader Cllr Julie McManus said there needed to be a further review as a 2023 parking policy might no longer be fit for purpose.
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

10.03.2026 23:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Joey Barton charged with attack near Huyton and Prescot Golf Club Former Manchester City footballer Barton and another man were charged in connection with the alleged assault

BREAKING: Joey Barton charged with attack www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

10.03.2026 12:25 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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'You can take your Β£5bn pipe and stuff it wherever you like' One Wirral councillor said they are with the public and "completely and utterly against this nonsense.”

People pushing Β£5bn plans right through the Wirral have been told to β€œtake your pipe and stuff it wherever you like”.
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

09.03.2026 22:01 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Headstone makers 'banned' as customers told 'call police' The firm, which has existed for 138 years, has now been banned from Wirral cemeteries

BREAKING: Merseyside's "oldest memorial and headstone business" has been banned from Wirral's cemeteries after operating for 138 years
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

04.03.2026 11:41 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Dad whose life was turned upside down is now 'free like a bird' After the ECHO broke the news in 2024, thousands came out to support "local legend" Nelson Shardey

Exclusive: Nelson Shardey was made a British citizen today. He told me he now feels a weight has been lifted off his shoulders and he is β€œfree like a bird”

The β€œlocal legend” saw thousands come to his aid in 2024 in his fight against the Home Office

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

26.02.2026 18:15 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Leader slams 'absurd nonsense' Ebay claims as council tax goes up The council faced a Β£29m budget gap this year

Covering for one of my colleagues, I dipped my toe into politics over the water making my way up to Bootle to see what Sefton Council were up to as they set their budget
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

27.02.2026 09:03 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Dad whose life was turned upside down is now 'free like a bird' After the ECHO broke the news in 2024, thousands came out to support "local legend" Nelson Shardey

Exclusive: Nelson Shardey was made a British citizen today. He told me he now feels a weight has been lifted off his shoulders and he is β€œfree like a bird”

The β€œlocal legend” saw thousands come to his aid in 2024 in his fight against the Home Office

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

26.02.2026 18:15 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Bosses also said this scenario would see more people put at risk than any cuts currently being proposed as all non-essential funding would stop if bankruptcy was declared

24.02.2026 08:01 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

The budget comes after months of discussions and no alternative budget was put on the table by those opposing. Officers made clear no budget was a β€œcatastrophic” option that could not be considered due to the financial costs, lost jobs, immediate stopping of key services, and potential claims

24.02.2026 08:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Council bankruptcy warning after authority 'over water charged fortune' Reform councillor Kathy Hodson said the council’s back was β€œagainst the wall” and needed to make difficult decisions

Top financial bosses have laid out the grim reality if Wirral declared bankruptcy but this now looks unlikely as four parties in Wirral move forward a balanced budget

The Greens labelled it cruel and even suggested asking for a bigger bailout to avoid cuts
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

24.02.2026 07:44 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 0
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Calls for emergency meeting over 'upsetting' 200km pipe One councillor said: "We need to act now basically”

Councillors are pushing for an emergency debate over plans to put a 200km pipe through Wirral
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

19.02.2026 13:53 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Β£122k council boss may not have been up to job, but got it anyway Concerns were also raised about the process of appointing the council's top boss

A former council staff member may have been promoted to a top role despite not being qualified for the job, a new report suggests. Marcus Shaw was appointed as Wirral Council’s interim regeneration director in 2024 but left in August 2025
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

12.02.2026 19:13 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Offices worth Β£63m less than what council thought they would be The development has been criticised by some, but there are hopes a new tenant could be moving in soon.

A Merseyside council has seen a Β£63m loss in value related to two new office buildings. The massive loss is one of the many things revealed in a critical report into the local authority’s finances
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

12.02.2026 16:40 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Four legal orders given to council heading towards financial crisis Independent inspectors also described "a toxic atmosphere" and "an unpleasant place to work in", something the council rejected

A Merseyside council has been given four legal orders amid warnings the authority is heading towards financial crisis. Independent inspectors also said they’d been told Wirral Council is β€œan unpleasant place to work” with β€œa toxic atmosphere”
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

12.02.2026 09:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Government promises to write off Β£55m of council's debt Birkenhead MP and government minister Alison McGovern said the move was part of a package to β€œput local government back on its feet”

Government promises to write off Β£55m of council's debt
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

11.02.2026 18:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Leaked emails show council leader told off over 'conflict' The leaked emails were sent in the run up to the decision to award Β£4.5m towards a museum

Leaked emails show council leader told off over 'conflict' by boss
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

11.02.2026 10:17 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Just posting to say I’m not due to be back in work until January 19. Any stories in the meantime, please pass onto my brilliant colleagues at the Echo. Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year!

23.12.2025 20:36 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Taxi fares to rise and driver says 'I thought you died' The area was told it could have no drivers left as people move to Uber and private hire

One interesting aside from tonight's meeting is a driver's comment he thought a council officer had died. For the full story why...
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

10.12.2025 22:29 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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He charmed family to get Β£2,000 but then became 'rogue nightmare' Michael Wood was sentenced today after pleading guilty to five charges under fraud laws and regulations to protect consumers from unfair trading

A β€œrogue builder” who β€œcharmed” a family with promises to renovate their home has been convicted of fraud and ordered to pay thousands of pounds. One of his victims told a Liverpool court she had been pushed into a state of depression by the situation
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

10.12.2025 20:59 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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'Dismissive' couple found guilty over their 14 barking dogs One neighbour said the noise had taken over his life

A married couple have been found guilty after the noise from their barking dogs β€œtook over” their neighbours’ lives. Stephen and Layla McGuigan have been told to pay more than Β£7,000 in total following complaints over their 14 dogs
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

10.12.2025 19:46 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Vegetation to be cleared from beach after community 'civil war' The beach has caused division in Hoylake for six years

ICYMI the council has taken a major step forward on Hoylake Beach with some plants set to be cleared next year.

The latest twist has been welcomed by Wirral Council's leader @PaulaBasnett1, environment chair @lizgrey_ and Conservatives too www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

10.12.2025 19:31 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Update on new Merseyside park and Birkenhead's burned-out hotel Progress is being made on various schemes to deliver major change

Wirral Council is in talks over the future of the burned-out Central Hotel in Birkenhead and an update has been given on the new Dock Branch Park. The latest on regeneration from the council
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

09.12.2025 16:51 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Council to revisit parking charges after legal challenge One councillor said people would be either "astonished or infuriated"

Merseyside council to revisit parking charges after legal challenge
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

09.12.2025 11:57 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

That does sound like quite the trip. I’ll look into it. Thanks!

04.12.2025 12:06 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Phone was nearly dead so had to slow it down with the live updates. Set off from Heswall at 3:30. Made it to West Kirby by 4. Now just arrived back in New Brighton after nearly seven hours out and about (incl half an hour lunch in Heswall.)

Keep an eye out for the article later this month

03.12.2025 17:30 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

They also said they drive to go to Tranmere Rovers because of the amount of time it takes to get there by bus, even though they’d prefer to go by public transport

03.12.2025 15:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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One key issue raised by Jimmy and Susan Burroughs is the difficult getting from Wallasey to Arrowe Park hospital by bus. Jimmy described the current route as one where you need to take a packed lunch because it takes that long to get there.

03.12.2025 14:59 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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What some people have been telling me as I work my way around

03.12.2025 14:56 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Little update from Port Sunlight on a 20 min walk between bus stops as I attempt to get to Heswall

03.12.2025 14:55 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0