People in Hoylake have rallied behind efforts to protect their "back garden" as special status is sought for the beach. Campaigners are hoping to secure Town or Village Green (TVG) status for Hoylake Beach, which would provide key protections against development.
Public hearing held
As part of the application, residents spoke at a public hearing on Friday, August 7, at Hoylake's Melrose Hall, to explain why the beach should be granted the status. TVG status would protect the land from developments while ensuring its purpose for public sports, recreation, and other pastimes.
To secure the status, the applicant must prove the land has been used by a significant number of local people for pastimes for at least 20 years without permission.
Residents' views
The independent inspector, Annabel Graham Paul, a barrister at Francis Taylor Building, heard from three speakers, including applicant Beverley Aspinall. They said people use the beach daily for activities like sports and dog walking, and no one has ever been prevented from accessing it.
One speaker noted that for many, the beach is their "back garden," as homes are often terraced with little open space.
Conservative councillor Max Booth, representing Hoylake and Meols on Wirral Council, said 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."
Potential impact
Booth celebrated that the campaign has been run by local campaigners, not politicians, though ward councillors have "supported them all the way."
However, Green Party campaigner Jane Turner has previously argued the status would not be particularly impactful beyond preventing the land owner from stopping access, as the beach's Site of Special Scientific Interest status already protects its species and habitats.
