People worry about 'wolf at the door' as man says 'I'd be bankrupt' One woman said: "Over the last two years you are working hard and you can’t even pay your bills.”

“I can’t pay for everything. You have to think about what you pay every month to keep the wolf from your door. It’s not living, it’s trying to exist"

As council tax goes up in Wirral tomorrow, I hit the streets yesterday to find out what people think
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Thank you Lee, really appreciate that!

A little life update as all good things must come to an end. After 3.5 years working with the fabulous team at @liverpoolecho.co.uk, it is time to move on.

However I am incredibly excited and looking forward to join @manchestereveningnews.co.uk covering Oldham and Stockport at the beginning of May!

Mum says banned headstone firm is 'playing with people's grief' Barbara Thomas paid for her son's headstone to be repaired but said she struggled to get updates for Mackie Memorials

The boss of a Wirral memorial business banned from working in cemeteries has been accused of leaving grieving families in tears, misleading customers, and “destroying a company name”. Thomas Smith denies the accusations against him

Full story:
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Dad behind Wirral's oldest headstone business speaks out Allen Roberts said his family closed E.F. Mackie Limited to preserve the Mackie name and its good reputation

A man who ran one of Wirral’s oldest businesses until it closed said he has nothing to do with Mackie Memorials, a business that has been suspended from operating in Wirral's cemeteries.

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Mystery solved in village after complaints One person said they "have no idea what it is" as "nobody's ever told us"

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

A “racially abusive” neighbour who “intimidated” others has been banned from a Birkenhead property for three months. Wirral Council said those living in the area had also complained of alleged “indecent exposure”.

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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.
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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...

'You can take your £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 £5bn plans right through the Wirral have been told to “take your pipe and stuff it wherever you like”.
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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
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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 “free like a bird”

The “local legend” saw thousands come to his aid in 2024 in his fight against the Home Office

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Leader slams 'absurd nonsense' Ebay claims as council tax goes up The council faced a £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
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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 “free like a bird”

The “local legend” saw thousands come to his aid in 2024 in his fight against the Home Office

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

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

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 “catastrophic” option that could not be considered due to the financial costs, lost jobs, immediate stopping of key services, and potential claims

Council bankruptcy warning after authority 'over water charged fortune' Reform councillor Kathy Hodson said the council’s back was “against 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
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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
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£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
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Offices worth £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 £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
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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 “an unpleasant place to work” with “a toxic atmosphere”
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Government promises to write off £55m of council's debt Birkenhead MP and government minister Alison McGovern said the move was part of a package to “put local government back on its feet”

Government promises to write off £55m of council's debt
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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 £4.5m towards a museum

Leaked emails show council leader told off over 'conflict' by boss
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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!

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...
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He charmed family to get £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 “rogue builder” who “charmed” 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
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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 “took over” their neighbours’ lives. Stephen and Layla McGuigan have been told to pay more than £7,000 in total following complaints over their 14 dogs
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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...

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
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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
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