Greens slam council and other parties for ignoring the law and wasting hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money
Natural England has rejected Wirral Council’s proposed beach management plan for Hoylake. This decision follows a public consultation started by the leader of the council, that disregarded the advice of Natural England, given in November 2022.
Labour, Tory and Lib Dem councillors voted to remove vegetation to create an amenity beach, something Natural England said was very likely to be illegal. A Green Party amendment respecting existing legislation was voted down.
Natural England has now unequivocally stated that the proposed beach alterations are unacceptable within UK law. The only permitted beach management is to ensure the safe operation of the RNLI. This decision underscores a massive waste of time and resources for the council.
The pursuit of an unviable plan has consumed two years and enough money to run 9 public libraries.
Green Party campaigner Jane Turner says, “A clear and legal alternative to raking and spraying exists: there is a beautiful sandy beach just 50 meters from the promenade. The council must now prioritise safe access for all the public to enjoy this beautiful resource.”
