April 26, 2022

Beat the Street launches in Wirral

Beat the Street comes to Wirral on Wednesday 27th April!

Parts of Wirral are to be transformed into a huge adventure in which residents of all ages can take part.

Starting Wednesday 27th April until Wednesday 25th May, residents are asked to ‘Beat the Street’ by walking, cycling, running, scooting or skating as far as they can over the four-week period, clocking up points as they go by checking in at special ‘Beat Boxes’ placed around the areas.

The game takes place across the wards of Moreton East & Leasowe and Seacombe and can be played by individuals or teams. 

To take part, people need first to get hold of the ‘Beat the Street’ card. Under 11s, who are at participating schools, will be given these directly from their primary school, older people will need to collect theirs from one of the local distribution points – Moreton Library, Leasowe Leisure Centre, Guinea Gap Leisure Centre and Seacombe Children’s Centre.

Players then need to create an account online, connect their card to their player profile and they’re ready to start.

A map, available online or from the distribution points, shows players where each ‘Beat Box’ is situated and will help people plot their route and get going.

Once a player has located a Beat Box, they need to use their card like a contactless payment card, hovering it close to the box until the box beeps and flashes. You need to visit at least two different Beat Boxes within an hour to score points – 10 points for each box – then 10 points for each subsequent box visited within the next hour.

 

Andy McCartan, Assistant Director of Leisure, Libraries and Customer Engagement at Wirral Council, said: “This is a really innovative way of encouraging local people of all ages to get out and about, being active, using environmentally friendly ways of travelling – but most of all having fun.

“Beat the Street can bring out the competitive nature in us all, as we try to top the local leaderboard, score more points than our friends, or simply challenges ourselves as individuals.”

Points are logged in online accounts and contribute towards the production of local leaderboards where players and teams can compare their scores with others.

Beat the Streets is an initiative running in a number of locations across the country. Beat the Street Moreton East, Leasowe and Seacombe is being delivered locally by Wirral Council Leisure Services, managed by Intelligent Health and funded by the Government’s ‘Welcome Back Fund’.

The project contributes to the council’s ambition to encourage residents to incorporate activity into their daily lives – the main aim of the borough’s Sport and Physical Activity Strategy – as well as helping to form part of the Climate Emergency response.

Further information, including advice on how players can take part in the competition safely, can be here

March 24, 2022

Leisure facilities update – March 2022

At full Council on 28 February, the following leisure facility changes were agreed and will come into effect on 1st April 2022:

Golf course closures

The full and permanent annual budget to operate Brackenwood and Hoylake Golf Courses will be removed from this date. This will also mean that the service will no longer have the budget for the maintenance of the courses. .

The sites will remain closed until the outcome of the current consultation is considered by the relevant committee in the new municipal year.

Preparation for Golf’s Open Championship 2023 will be dealt with separately through the established working group in reference to Hoylake Golf Course. .

Woodchurch Leisure Centre

The  budget to operate Woodchurch Leisure Centre will be removed from this date.  Therefore, the site will remain closed until the outcome of the current consultation is considered by the relevant committee in the new municipal year.

The initial proposal for demolition of the site will not be progressed whilst the community asset transfer process is underway, and any expressions of interest submitted and considered.

Europa Pools fun /leisure pool

The budget to operate the fun/ leisure pool at Europa Pools will be removed from this date. Therefore, the leisure pool will remain closed until the outcome of the current consultation is considered by the relevant committee in the new municipal year.

Wirral Tennis and Sports Centre

The budget to operate the centre will be temporarily removed from this date. Therefore the site will remain closed until the outcome of the current consultation is considered by the relevant committee in the new municipal year.

The Council is planning to redesign the facility that will be able to cater for new, emerging sports and  the introduction of a broader range of activities for young people designed around getting active. We will also be looking to provide activities  that are in demand, such as gymnastics, an improved fitness suite offer and the addition of a second artificial grass football pitch. Indoor Tennis, Sports Hall outdoor football and outdoor tennis will still be available at the centre following its redevelopment.

 

Those sites and buildings that will be considered as surplus to the delivery of Council services following budget setting decisions and outcome of consultations, with the potential for community operation, would be selected for possible transfer to community groups.

A report was presented to the Policy and Resources Committee on 15 March which outlines  the process for community groups wishing to express an interest in taking on Council assets.

Further details will follow – More information can be found here

September 6, 2021

Customer Notice – Covid-19 Operational Guidelines Update

A number of our operating processes have now resumed from Monday 20th September, including customer access to buildings and an increase in session capacity, in most of our leisure centres. 

Customers can now directly access West Kirby Concourse, Europa Pools, Guinea Gap Leisure Centre and Wirral Tennis Centre. Capacity will increase significantly in the gym, swimming and class sessions meaning that more customers will be able to access these sessions.  

It is no longer essential to pre-book and pay for Swimming and Gym sessions prior to arrival at West Kirby, Europa, Guinea Gap or Wirral Tennis Centre, however, customers are advised that pre-booking and paying for activities online will guarantee access to the activities of their choice. 

Exercise class capacity will also be increased where possible at these sites, for both indoor and outdoor sessions. It is essential that all Exercise Classes are pre-booked and paid online, at centres or by telephone prior to the session start time.

Invigor8 Memberships can be reinstated by telephoning the central leisure team on 0151 606 2010 or email or bookingsandinformation@wirral.gov.uk  

As part of the expansion of services, we will still be retaining extensive high visibility COVID-19 safety advisory notices within our centres including advising customers to wear masks in public spaces and to give others space and time to finish their activity.   

Fitness facilities at Leasowe and Oval Leisure Centres will continue to operate within the current operating procedures and all activities at these centres must continue to pre-book and pay prior to arrival at the centre. 

Woodchurch Leisure Centre will remain as a dedicated vaccination site and the Sports Hall at the Oval Leisure Centre is also continuing to be used for vaccinations.

Further information regarding the reopening of Sports halls, squash courts and cafes will follow soon. 

The provision of services will be monitored against all local COVID-19 data, and kept under review on a six-weekly cycle. Sustainability of services has been at the forefront of the authority’s approach to re-mobilisation although business continuity may still be affected due to COVID-19; in the event of localised outbreaks at sites, or staff shortages, operations at sites may have to be suspended.