Ed Barnes
@edbarnesjourno.bsky.social
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. 🏳️🌈 #CardiffTrained
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
Keep an eye out for the article later this month
December 3, 2025 at 5:30 PM
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
Keep an eye out for the article later this month
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.
December 3, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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.
What some people have been telling me as I work my way around
December 3, 2025 at 2:56 PM
What some people have been telling me as I work my way around
Little update from Port Sunlight on a 20 min walk between bus stops as I attempt to get to Heswall
December 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Little update from Port Sunlight on a 20 min walk between bus stops as I attempt to get to Heswall
Damn some of these bus routes really do go all around the towns and everything
December 3, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Damn some of these bus routes really do go all around the towns and everything
Decided to hop on the 41 instead as it did not look like the X1 was turning up anytime soon. On my way 😌
December 3, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Decided to hop on the 41 instead as it did not look like the X1 was turning up anytime soon. On my way 😌
Now to get to Birkenhead bus station, because of all the road works that have been going on on Conway Street, I would have to get a bus all the way down to Woodside and back just to get out there. One woman getting off said it was quicker to walk
December 3, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Now to get to Birkenhead bus station, because of all the road works that have been going on on Conway Street, I would have to get a bus all the way down to Woodside and back just to get out there. One woman getting off said it was quicker to walk
After waiting about half an hour in Liscard and seeing a number of other buses go off to Liverpool, I am now on the 410 to Birkenhead. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered they had plugs only to find out they don’t work :(
December 3, 2025 at 11:35 AM
After waiting about half an hour in Liscard and seeing a number of other buses go off to Liverpool, I am now on the 410 to Birkenhead. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered they had plugs only to find out they don’t work :(
We started off outside the Morrisons in New Brighton getting the 433. Not a long wait, just a few minutes and then an eight minute journey to Liscard. So far so good
December 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
We started off outside the Morrisons in New Brighton getting the 433. Not a long wait, just a few minutes and then an eight minute journey to Liscard. So far so good
It’s been two years since I last attempted to get around the Wirral on a bus. Why am I doing this you may ask?
Well the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will be looking to bring buses back under public control in 2026. So I decided to get first hand experience and see what people think
Well the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will be looking to bring buses back under public control in 2026. So I decided to get first hand experience and see what people think
December 3, 2025 at 11:19 AM
It’s been two years since I last attempted to get around the Wirral on a bus. Why am I doing this you may ask?
Well the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will be looking to bring buses back under public control in 2026. So I decided to get first hand experience and see what people think
Well the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will be looking to bring buses back under public control in 2026. So I decided to get first hand experience and see what people think
Despite the Green Party having the same number of councillors as the Conservatives, they will get no chairs or vice chairs
May 21, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Despite the Green Party having the same number of councillors as the Conservatives, they will get no chairs or vice chairs
Quite the change on the floor. Independent Conservatives now to the left of the Lib Dems. Cllrs McManus and Basnett now where the leaders usually sit.
Up in the public gallery, Reform seem to be in a very good mood
Up in the public gallery, Reform seem to be in a very good mood
May 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Quite the change on the floor. Independent Conservatives now to the left of the Lib Dems. Cllrs McManus and Basnett now where the leaders usually sit.
Up in the public gallery, Reform seem to be in a very good mood
Up in the public gallery, Reform seem to be in a very good mood
Wallasey Town Hall looms in the distance as I make my way over the Mersey for tonight’s council meeting.
We should soon see the election of a new leader and deputy leader, likely to be Paula Basnett and Julie McManus
We should soon see the election of a new leader and deputy leader, likely to be Paula Basnett and Julie McManus
May 21, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Wallasey Town Hall looms in the distance as I make my way over the Mersey for tonight’s council meeting.
We should soon see the election of a new leader and deputy leader, likely to be Paula Basnett and Julie McManus
We should soon see the election of a new leader and deputy leader, likely to be Paula Basnett and Julie McManus
People are gathering for tonight’s extraordinary meeting to approve the Local Plan. Up in the public gallery are a mix of Reform and green belt campaigners
March 31, 2025 at 4:59 PM
People are gathering for tonight’s extraordinary meeting to approve the Local Plan. Up in the public gallery are a mix of Reform and green belt campaigners
We then have the Greens motion which makes reference to a decision by council officers to not apply to the government’s New Towns Taskforce. Cllr Gail Jenkinson said the battle to get the Local Plan approved was only the start and called the council to look forward
March 17, 2025 at 9:44 PM
We then have the Greens motion which makes reference to a decision by council officers to not apply to the government’s New Towns Taskforce. Cllr Gail Jenkinson said the battle to get the Local Plan approved was only the start and called the council to look forward
Cllr Mary Jordan introducing the Conservative motion on dementia said it was one of the most feared diseases and over 4,800 are affected by dementia in Wirral. She recounts her mother who had dementia, adding “there is only so much carers can take before they crack”
March 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Cllr Mary Jordan introducing the Conservative motion on dementia said it was one of the most feared diseases and over 4,800 are affected by dementia in Wirral. She recounts her mother who had dementia, adding “there is only so much carers can take before they crack”
Interestingly Labour end up voting their own motion on the NHS down. This is after a Conservative amendment gets majority support with Greens and Lib Dems backing
March 17, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Interestingly Labour end up voting their own motion on the NHS down. This is after a Conservative amendment gets majority support with Greens and Lib Dems backing
A motion by the Liberal Democrats has been voted through unanimously. Cllr Helen Raymond who seconded it said politicians needed to put a stop to the social care crisis and be honest about the costs. She said they can’t pretend to deliver five star hotel care for “backpacker hostel prices”
March 17, 2025 at 7:55 PM
A motion by the Liberal Democrats has been voted through unanimously. Cllr Helen Raymond who seconded it said politicians needed to put a stop to the social care crisis and be honest about the costs. She said they can’t pretend to deliver five star hotel care for “backpacker hostel prices”
We are now starting tonight’s economy and regeneration committee meeting after a slight issue with the webcast. Big agenda tonight
March 12, 2025 at 6:04 PM
We are now starting tonight’s economy and regeneration committee meeting after a slight issue with the webcast. Big agenda tonight
Council tax rise of 4.99% approved unanimously. This is how much each household will be paying per year from April in Wirral
March 3, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Council tax rise of 4.99% approved unanimously. This is how much each household will be paying per year from April in Wirral
He hits out at the Conservatives and the Greens for
Their amendments re Hoylake and parking charges calling them “two sides of the same coin.” He said the Greens were preempting decisions over the beach and libraries shouldn’t be politicised
Their amendments re Hoylake and parking charges calling them “two sides of the same coin.” He said the Greens were preempting decisions over the beach and libraries shouldn’t be politicised
March 3, 2025 at 7:04 PM
He hits out at the Conservatives and the Greens for
Their amendments re Hoylake and parking charges calling them “two sides of the same coin.” He said the Greens were preempting decisions over the beach and libraries shouldn’t be politicised
Their amendments re Hoylake and parking charges calling them “two sides of the same coin.” He said the Greens were preempting decisions over the beach and libraries shouldn’t be politicised
Two different amendments have been put forward on the budget - one from the Greens and one from the Liberal Democrats
March 3, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Two different amendments have been put forward on the budget - one from the Greens and one from the Liberal Democrats
Councillors have gathered for tonight’s budget meeting - with £25m worth of cuts and savings and a £9m rise in Council Tax on the agenda
March 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Councillors have gathered for tonight’s budget meeting - with £25m worth of cuts and savings and a £9m rise in Council Tax on the agenda
Protestors outside Wallasey Town Hall ahead of tonight’s Policy and Resources committee meeting including representatives of @unison.org.uk and @unitetheunion.bsky.social
Follow for more updates
Follow for more updates
February 19, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Protestors outside Wallasey Town Hall ahead of tonight’s Policy and Resources committee meeting including representatives of @unison.org.uk and @unitetheunion.bsky.social
Follow for more updates
Follow for more updates
Trees and vegetation have been cleared from an area of land in Wirral to make way for dozens of new allotments. The removal has caused some uproar on social media
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...
February 10, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Trees and vegetation have been cleared from an area of land in Wirral to make way for dozens of new allotments. The removal has caused some uproar on social media
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...