Troubled estate 'just being left to die'

An estate which has been plagued by gang violence and anti-social behaviour is being left to "die", residents have claimed.

Wirral's Woodchurch Estate has problems with litter, broken streetlights, uneven footpaths, overflowing bins and dangerous broken fences, locals have said.

Lenny Fowler said: "The place just seems to be dying."

The estate came to national prominence after the murder of Elle Edwards, 26, who was shot outside a pub on Christmas Eve 2022 by Connor Chapman, who opened fire with a sub-machine gun.

Her death was the culmination of a violent feud between rival gangs on the Woodchurch and Beechwood estates, on either side of the M53 in Wirral.

Fowler, who has lived on the estate for more than 70 years, said: "The whole place is just ridiculous."

His neighbour Simon Johnson said he had dedicated hours of his time every day to picking up litter.

He said: "I was getting fed up of seeing rubbish. I hate seeing it, and I've got a bit of spare time."

Sharp, rusty pieces of metal have also been seen sticking up from broken fences.

Woodchurch has been named among hundreds of neighbourhoods across the country to receive £20m from the government over the next 10 years as part of the Pride in Place programme.

Wirral West MP Matthew Patrick said: "I refuse to see the Woodchurch written off and held back."

He added: "I look forward to driving the real change that residents expect and deserve."

Wirral Council was approached for comment.

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