Plant nursery closure may pave way for health centre

Nov 17 2006 By Liam Murphy Daily Post Staff

THE closure of one of the last local authority-run horticultural nurseries could pave the way for a new medical centre in a greenbelt area, it emerged last night.

Staff at Wirral's Warren nurseries, which has provided plants and floral displays for council parks and events, have been told the centre is to close within two weeks.

At its height the dedicated Thingwall Road East site was responsible for providing half a-million plants a year.

But its future became uncertain after a round of council spending cuts began in 2004.

Conservative councillor Jacquie McKelvie who fought to keep the nursery open in previous years said she was "appalled" staff were given so little notice.

"I am disgusted that this has happened in secret, she said.

"I fear the real agenda is to ensure the site is completely empty to pave the way for the new health centre.

"We have campaigned to keep this greenbelt intact for over two years, what really matters is not secret agendas but the views of local people.

"And given the cost of bringing in plants from elsewhere for the borough, questions must be asked about what savings will be made."

Local residents complained about Wirral Primary Care Trust proposals to build a medical centre on greenbelt land at the Warrens Nurseries site.