Wirral Council's planning committee is set to decide on the future of Hoylake Beach, with recommendations to approve an application to register it as a Town or Village Green (TVG). The status would protect the land from future developments and enshrine it as space used by the public for sports, recreation, and other pastimes.
Campaigners have been pushing for the special status to help protect the beach, which has been described as the town's "back garden." For an area to be declared a TVG, it must be proven that a significant number of local people have used the land for pastimes for at least 20 years without needing permission to do so.
Public hearing and inspector's recommendations
In August, a public hearing was held in the town, giving locals the chance to tell a council-appointed inspector how they have used the land over the past 20 years. One speaker noted that for many residents, the beach serves as their "back garden," as many homes are terraced houses with little open space.
The inspector, Annabel Graham Paul, a barrister at Francis Taylor Building, has now made recommendations to the council, which are set to go before the planning committee this week. The committee is recommended to approve the application.
Committee report and potential impact
A report to the committee states: "The committee could decide to refuse the application, however it would be very challenging to ascertain sound grounds for doing so, given that the recommendations arise from a thorough process involving a consultation process and written representations and two hearings into the matter."
Those backing the TVG status hope it could help return the site to a sandy beach. In 2019, Wirral Council stopped raking and spraying the beach, leading to vegetation growing in the sand. Local councillor Max Booth previously told the LDRS that the TVG status "would give the community a legally enshrined right to the beach and it must be maintained." He added: "The title is confusing. Green does not mean grass. It's about getting the space maintained."
Opposing views on the status
However, some argue the TVG status would not lead to the beach being cleared of vegetation. Green Party campaigner Jane Turner has previously suggested that beyond preventing the land owner from stopping access to the beach, the status would not be particularly impactful. Due to the beach's Site of Special Scientific Interest status and being an area of international importance for wildlife and foreshore habitats, its species and habitats are protected, she has argued.
