AN English town is getting a huge makeover – with New York-style gardens and new hotels.

Birkenhead in Wirral has been given £51million as part of a number of developments set to transform the town.

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Also dubbed the ‘capital of Wirral’ the Birkenhead 2040 Framekwork is an ambitious project transforming the town in the next 20 years.

One of the new attractions includes turning an abandoned railway line into a £15million park, similar to one in New York.

The train line is said to be one of the oldest stretches of track in the world despite the fact it closed in the 1990s.

Inspired by High Line in New York, Dock Brand Park would be a “world-class” park with an urban garden village at the end, home to walking routes and wildlife.

Chair of Wirral Council’s Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee, Tony Jones, said: “Dock Branch Park is one of the many exciting proposals we have for bringing true regeneration across Wirral’s Left Bank, from Bromborough to New Brighton.

“Dock Branch Park will be one of the centrepieces of the revitalisation of Birkenhead.”

New hotels will also be part of the project, as well as a new event space with live music, cafe and bar.

More food and drink venues, swimming pools and green spaces are part of the plans.

There is also a new £14million Birkenhead Market which will be an indoor-outdoor attraction.

Inside the 33,000sqft venue will be food stores including bakeries, coffee stands and fresh fruit, veg and meat stalls.

There will also be shops selling books, as well as a dining area with food stands and a bar.

Both indoor and outdoor seating is part of the plan too.

Wirral Council Leader Cllr Paul Stuart said: “We will shape the new market in its new location, a space that holds great potential to perfectly meet the current and future needs of our vibrant shopping area,.”

Birkenhead waterfront will also undergo renovations, with new paths and improvements that have the ‘best views’ of the city.

The plans have said it is the “Brooklyn to the New York skyline”.

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The fund also includes building 1,500 new homes well as a school and commercial space.

Also in Wirral is New Brighton, which once rivalled Blackpool.

Once also home to the UK’s tallest tower and biggest lido – both of which have been removed – there are hopes to restore it as a tourist destination.

A new floating lido as well as beach park and 300-room hotel could soon open.

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UK TRAVELLERS risk being stuck on planes after arriving at European airports once enhanced border checks are introduced, the boss of easyJet said.

Chief executive Johan Lundgren said airlines being unable to disembark passengers and others unable to board because of congested terminal buildings is a “worst case” consequence of the Entry/Exit System (EES).

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The new system is meant to be launching around November 10 but the EU has yet to confirm if this will actually happen with a further update is expected to be made on Thursday.

Under EES, travellers from non-EU countries such as the UK will need to have their fingerprints scanned and a biometric image of their eye taken.

This will register them on a database when they enter a member state, with the data stored for three years.

There are fears this will spark queues at EU airports, as well as the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel’s terminal in Folkestone and London’s St Pancras railway station, where French border checks are carried out before people embark on cross-Channel journeys.

In an interview at the annual convention of travel trade organisation Abta in Costa Navarino, Greece, Mr Lundgren said it is possible EES will cause airport terminals to be congested with arriving passengers waiting to be processed, leaving no room for additional travellers.

“In the worst case you actually can’t disembark, you hold people on the plane,” Mr Lundgren warned.

He said: “We have to think about what can actually happen.”

Mr Lundgren predicted “there will be some disruption” from EES as “it is a new procedure”.

He called for the launch to be further delayed unless it is possible for travellers to pre-register before beginning their journeys.

He added:  “We have been clear – if the EU is not ready, change the date.”

A mobile app enabling this to happen is still being developed by the EU.

Neil Swanson, who was appointed UK and Ireland managing director for tour operator Tui last month, predicted there “could be some hiccups” with EES.

He has urged the Government to take more action to ensure holidaymakers are prepared.

He said: “We will absolutely be looking after our customers, we will be making sure they’re aware.

“But I think the Government should be doing a bit more as well to make sure that everyone’s aware of what the situation is.”

Worries about chaos at airports has seen travel association ABTA brief their members.

My view on what this means for your travel

Head of Travel Lisa Minot weighs in further on what EES will mean for you

SPEAKING to the bosses of easyJet and TUI at the ABTA travel convention this week, it was  obvious to me there is a huge frustration at the chaotic roll-out of the new EU Entry Exit System.

Delayed multiple times, it was meant to be launching on November 10 but even that is not yet confirmed.

In recent weeks, France, Germany and the Netherlands all indicated they were not ready to launch the new system.

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Airports, ferry terminals and the entire travel industry are desperate for clarity. They’ve invested millions in new infrastructure, they want to put plans in place to counter any disruption that could inevitably happen. 

An app to allow visitors to pre-register their details before they even get to a border was meant to launch at the same time as the new system.

Yet it seems the app itself will not be ready until next summer.

EasyJet boss Johan told me: “We should have had the ability to do pre-registration from the very start of the new system.”

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And the chaos isn’t helped by the fact that individual EU member states are all interpreting the new system in different ways.

What British travellers – and the industry as a whole – need is a clear indication of when the ESS will start and just how it will work.

 Chief executive Mark Tanzer said:  “It’s frustrating that there will be delays for customers. Nobody wants that.

“Because we haven’t had a clear date for when this is going to commence, we haven’t really been able to start detailed communication yet.”

His views were echoed by ABTA’s director of public affairs, Luke Petherbrige, who felt that the constant delays and changing of dates has led to confusion for holidaymakers.

 He said: “There  is still a fair way to go before the majority of travellers fully understand how the new EU Entry/Exit System will change their passport control experience when travelling to Europe.

“That’s perhaps unsurprising given that we’re waiting for official confirmation of when the scheme will go live. It’s difficult to talk to a customer about a new system without knowing if it will actually be in place for their holiday.

“So, we are urging the EU to provide clarity on when EES will go live, and to make sure the changes are clearly communicated to consumers.

In August, the Department for Transport announced £10.5 million of funding for UK ports where juxtaposed border checks are conducted to support new facilities and technology to deal with EES.

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WINTER sun seekers will soon have another destination to explore, as TUI adds Enfidha to its list of destinations taking off from London Stansted next year.

The picturesque hilltop town, which has views of both the Meditterranean sea and the Djebel Zaghouan mountain, can be reached in just over three hours from the UK.

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Thanks to its location, there is barely ever a cause to wear a coat in the region.

Autumn sees highs of 33C and even in mid-winter temperatures hit 18-19C.

Dubbed the “budget-friendly St Tropez”, Tunisia is an ideal spot for a pocket-friendly getaway, with the country known for its sandy beaches, clear waters, unique cuisine and being easy on the wallet – and Enfidha is certainly no exception.

Located in the north eastern part of the country, the quaint town is home to Enfidha is home to the Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport, which serves as a gateway for travellers visiting the region.

The town is home to traditional architecture, busy markets and local cuisine.

Couscous is a staple in Tunisia as is Brik, a crunchy, flaky, pastry dish served with savoury fillings.

Nearby beaches have also been praised by visitors, including Madfoun Beach, which is home to white sand and crystal-clear waters.

There aren’t many hotels in Enfidha but there are more options in neighbouring Hergla, where rooms at four-star hotels start from £43 per night.

Hergla is a 30-minute drive from Enfidha and is one of the smaller cities on the coastline.

Enfidha is also a good base for exploring other tourist hotspots in the area, including Sousse.

Sousse is a 45-minute drive from Enfidha, and it can also be reached on a local train service that takes just over an hour.

The once-popular tourist hotspot has plenty to keep visitors entertained like the Medina of Sousse, a busy market that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the winding narrow streets, holidaymakers can buy local souvenirs such as crafts, spices and textiles.

Other attractions in Sousse include its Ribat, an impressive fortress that dates back to the 8th century.

There’s also the Great Mosque of Sousse, Sousse Archaeological Museum and Dar Essid Museum.

Sousse has 13 beaches, many of which have white sand and crystal-clear waters like Boujaffar Beach.

Stretching for 10km, Boujaffar Beach is a family-friendly spot thanks to the ice cream vendors and beach shacks that line its shores.

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Also reachable from Enfidha is Port El-Kantaoui, a purpose-built tourist complex with a marina, golf courses, and a variety of shops, restaurants and bars.

For holidaymakers who are after a little bit more of the local culture, El Jem Amphitheatre is a 70-minute drive from Enfidha.

The El Jem Amphitheatre is one of the most impressive Roman ruins in Africa.

As the highest point in eastern Tunisia, Parc National Djebel Zaghouan is another day trip option from Enfidha.

Until TUI launches its flights from London Stansted to Enfidha, several other airlines currently operate flights to the Tunisian town.

Direct services already run from Bristol, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Belfast, Glasgow and Birmingham.

Return fares in December start from £41, with flights taking just over three hours.

Along with the likes of Egypt and Morocco, Tunisia was once one of the most popular winter sun destinations.

However, this changed in 2015 after 38 people, 30 of which were Brits, were killed following a terror attack at the beach resort of Sousse.

Travel to Tunisia was advised against by the UK government.

The ban was subsequently lifted in 2018, with flights and holiday packages resuming.

And while the Foreign Office deems the majority of beach resorts safe to visit, the return to Tunisia holidays has been slow.

In the last few months, a number of UK airlines, including both TUI and easyJet, have relaunched flights to Enfidha.

What else do I need to know about Tunisia?

The local currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND), with £10 equaling about 38 TND, while certain holiday resorts also accept dollars and euros.

Make sure to swap every dinar back before you leave because taking them outside of the country is forbidden.

Although Arabic is Tunisia’s official language, the majority of the staff in the holiday resorts will also speak English.

Tourist numbers plummeted after a terrorist attack in Tunisia in 2015, but now the UK government no longer warns against travel to the holiday resorts.

However, it still advises against travelling to locations near the Chaambi Mountains National Park, Dhehiba, and the Libyan and Algerian border.

The newest easyJet flights were launched earlier this year, from Glasgow to Enfidha in Tunisia.

If you want a package holiday, you can find cheap deals for that too with all-inclusives under £300.

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