PRIVATISATION plans for Wirral’s parks could be re-thought under the incoming Labour administration.

New council leader Steve Foulkes insisted throughout last year that an in-house bid from council workers should be allowed.

However, this was dismissed by the previous administration and the contract is currently out to tender.

Last night, Cllr Foulkes said his administration would be examining the bids closely to see whether they provide value for money.

Earlier this year, the plans to hand over maintenance of Wirral’s parks and countryside services to the private sector were dramatically scaled back.

Wirral Council had hoped to save up to £10m over the next decade with its parks and countryside services procurement exercise (pacspe).

At the time, Cllr Foulkes said the savings would be drastically reduced and questioned the need for the process in the light of the changes, describing it as “privatisation for privatisation’s sake”.

The original review included all of the parks and countryside service, which is responsible for managing and maintaining 1,505 hectares of land at 272 sites located throughout the borough.

This includes 60 parks, six country parks, seven local nature reserves, 27 natural areas, 24 sports grounds, 42 green spaces, nine cemeteries, four municipal golf courses and 41 allotment sites.