The sale of two plots of land that could net Wirral Council hundreds of thousands of pounds has been delayed.
The authority’s economy, regeneration and housing committee had been due to sign off on proposals to dispose of its freehold interest in Dominick House, Liscard, for £230,000 and land on Cross Lane, Wallasey, for £150,000 when it met on Monday evening. However, it was confirmed that owing to an impending by-election in Liscard, the Dominick House transaction would be put on hold.
The further sale of Cross Lane is now also being deferred owing to technical issues. Committee chair Cllr Tony Jones said further reports on the matters would be brought to the group.
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Cllr Ian Lewis said while he understood the deferral of the matters in Liscard, he was “concerned for a couple of reasons” about proceedings around Cross Lane being brought to a halt. The Conservative member for Wallasey said it had put doubt in the minds of people looking to buy and sell properties on Cross Lane and felt there had not been adequate notification to ward councillors.
He said: “Further delays will cause further issues for residents.” Alan Evans, director of regeneration and place, said the matter had been delayed as the council was working through technical issues relating to its local plan and it would come back to the committee at its next meeting.
An election is being held in the Liscard ward following the resignation of Dave Brennan, a little more than 12 months after being elected. Mr Brennan, who said he would continue to campaign for the Labour Party, stepped down earlier this month citing personal reasons.
Voters will go to the polls in the ward on Thursday July 14 and as a result, the freehold at Dominick House will remain under the council’s auspices until then at least. Liscard is currently a safe seat for Labour and the party will be expecting to hold it when voters go to the polls.
Wirral Council is looking to dispose of Dominick House “to generate a capital receipt from the sale of the council’s interest and to enable the lessee to have sufficient legal interest in the property to justify its refurbishment.” Its sale of land at Cross Lane would “enable a major business investment and job creation opportunity at West Wallasey Car and Van Hire (WWCVH)” according to an in-house report.
