This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Plans have been submitted to build an extra floor above a group of shop units in Hoylake for apartments The proposal would create six flats over two floors on Market Street An application submitted to Wirral Council states it is for “the change of use and conversion of first floor and the construction of an additional storey to form 6 apartments with external alterations to comprise roof terrace additional windows and the formation of a covered external access stair.” Four of the apartments would be comprised of one bedroom One of the ground floor units was formerly occupied by children’s store Babylicious which moved to a new location in Moreton earlier this year The ground floor will continue to be used for retail The application can be viewed at https://online.wirral.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=230835 Part of the Today News network © 2020 Hyperlocal Today - Registration no: 9710547 Wirral's independent local news website got the judges’ nod ahead of more than 100 other entries in seven categories: Brownie & Blondie “I didn’t expect it,” Abba Cakes founder and owner Laura Alejandra told British Baker of her victory “I just came for the Classic Cake category The winning product comprises layers of dark chocolate sponge and double chocolate ganache plus some dulce de leche running through the centre which its Colombian-born creator Alejandra said gave it “a little bit of Latin” Judges considered it one of the best presented products in the line-up and were enamoured by the “beautiful piping skills” done in a vintage-style (like a Lambeth cake) which has come back on trend recently so does exactly what it says on the tin,” said one judge British Baker editor Amy North praised the winning cakes “It is such a pleasure to eat our way through so many amazing cake entries so a massive thank you to everyone who took the time to enter,” she said “Our judges definitely had their work cut out for them as the standard was once again so high and passion on show was absolutely phenomenal and really came through in the products “I would also like to express my gratitude to the judges and sponsors who made the second edition of the competition such a success It was a fantastic experience to come together and celebrate the very best cakes that Britain has to offer.” British Baker said that the cake impressed with its rich and moist layers of dark chocolate sponge and “lovely” chocolate ganache Abba Cakes founder Alejandra has worked as a patisserie chef in three different countries over the past 12 years including the last three in Hoylake She revealed that she had originally developed the cake recipe for her own wedding with the idea of one day putting it on the menu of her own shop – Abba Cakes will soon open its second site in Chester Email us at news@birkenhead.news A proposal to clear an area of Hoylake beach for amenity use as part of a new management plan is in tatters after it was rejected by a government watchdog which is the regulatory body on environmental issues has sent Wirral Council its response to its plan for the beach which is a site of special scientific interest The Council’s preferred option would have seen the removal of just over three hectares of vegetation towards Trinity Road It was supported by roughly two-thirds of those who responded to a consultation which offered it as one of two suggestions It was seen as a compromise to move on from years of bitter debate which has divided the local community between those in favour of clearing grass and those who want to let nature take its course Natural England has ruled that the only clearance allowed will be at Alderley Road and Trinity Road to enable access for the RNLI to the lifeboat station This is strictly on the basis that it is “for RNLI operational access only and does not include vegetation clearance for functional amenity” It is also far more restrictive than the other option the council consulted on which proposed the removal of 1.92 hectares of vegetation primarily around the RNLI lifeboat station but also including the slipways at King’s Gap and Trinity Road; a 10m wide strip along the seawall from Clydesdale Road to King’s Gap extending around the Alderley Road slipway and Trinity Road steps and a 10m wide cleared strip from King’s Gap through the vegetation to the sandy beach The letter states: “It is within Natural England’s wider remit to consider public access to nature and RNLI operational access to the beach so allowing clearance for these two reasons is considered acceptable Natural England cannot assent to any wider amenity clearance as this is not within our remit.” It also requests that a saltmarsh creation area is implemented within five years and the monitoring and reporting of vegetation development and beach levels be under taken annually to inform future management of the beach The restrictions also include using “low ground pressure vehicles…to avoid damage to any saltmarsh/intertidal habitats for the duration of the works” The letter adds: “Hoylake beach acts as a high tide roost which supports large numbers of overwintering birds for which the SSSI is designated If saltmarsh is not removed for amenity clearance and is left this retains much of the supporting habitat for overwintering birds “As the beach management plan will improve access to the beach this could increase recreational disturbance pressure to overwintering birds By creating a saltmarsh creation area to promote saltmarsh development this provides alternative supporting habitat for overwintering birds and minimises damage from the clearance of saltmarsh for access and RNLI operations.” The letter has sparked an angry response from local Conservative councillors who say they have already met with council officials “to map out our potential next moves Cllr Andrew Gardner told us: “Whilst on the face of it the advice from Natural England is disappointing it is merely advice from an increasingly risible quango and just like we cleared West Kirby beach I’m hopeful the more than fair option two will be actioned.” Natural England does have the power to carry out enforcement action could mean the prospect of hefty fines if they believe a site is damaged the raking at West Kirby took place under a different context to Hoylake as the council already had approval from Natural England to undertake regular beach raking Local Green Party campaigners argue that the outcome of the discussions with Natural England was inevitable due to environmental laws and that the whole exercise “has been a massive waste of time and resources” Wirral Council said: “We have received the notice and advice from Natural England and we now need to take some time to consider it and develop a formal response” the former Town Hall and a postbox are among historic structures and landmarks in Hoylake that have been registered for special heritage protection The ‘Local List’ will give what are known as ‘Article 4 directions’ for each structure which will mean that any alterations to the exterior which would change their appearance would need planning permission Wirral Council says that being included on the list means they will be given special consideration in future planning applications helping to protect local sites that are of special significance but don’t meet the criteria for national listing Out of 33 structures and landmarks registered for final consideration in Wirral so far said: “It has been fantastic to see the breadth of nominations received for buildings and landmarks across all areas of the borough “It really highlights the impressive amount of culture and heritage we’re lucky enough to enjoy in Wirral and shows how important our natural and built heritage is to building a sense of place and community to keep coming forward with nominations ahead of the deadline on 30th April helping us celebrate as many of our wonderful historic assets as possible “We’re thankful for the enthusiasm and support we’ve had from the community for this important endeavour.” People have until 30 April to nominate a structure or landmark, and can find out how to do so at https://local-heritage-list.org.uk/wirral Volunteers who would like to get involved in the project can email heritage@wirral.gov.uk The Local List Assessment Panel meet every two months to review applications with the next meeting scheduled for 28 April with Article 4 directions being drafted for each local listing which will prevent work being carried out without planning permission public consultation will take place before the local list can be formally adopted a first-of-its-kind mind and body fitness space to open in the Wirral has selected Box Step Fitness as the sole supplier for its training equipment NOMAD is transforming the concept of fitness by bringing together state-of-the-art training and recovery within one facility it will serve as a complete mind and body experience designed to optimise physical and mental performance.   The 4,500-square foot two-storey facility will occupy the former Hoylake Library where a two-year project is redeveloping and re-energising the disused building into a modern Manhattan-inspired wellness hub where its members and the community will benefit NOMAD will feature an advanced gym on the ground floor with bespoke equipment supplied by Box Step Fitness Members will be able to experience a range of over 25 different lines of equipment including conditioning treadmills The venue’s wellness studio will provide a stylish space for HiiT classes While a standout feature of NOMAD is the inclusion of a recovery space where Red Light Therapy and Compression Therapy will be available to promote post-workout muscle conditioning.  “Like many people into fitness I found myself juggling multiple memberships with a gym in one place No one was truly connecting the mind and body in a single space I saw an opportunity to bring everything together creating a holistic approach to wellness that simply didn’t exist at the time.”  Box Step Fitness has been selected as sole supplier on the project based on its premium trend-led equipment and personalised customer service.  “Box Step Fitness has been the perfect partner on this project They have provided a personal approach and helped us solve any challenges in creating a truly next-generation gym so we didn’t want machines with distracting television screens We also love that we can add bespoke branding to our equipment As people seek more stylish workout spaces Box Step Fitness’ product line delivers equipment that offers Instagrammable boutique looks with high-level performance.” “We are delighted to have been selected to work with NOMAD on this progressive project Our goal was to reflect the venue’s unique concept with equipment that makes people feel good when they workout We worked closely with the owners to curate a tailored range of equipment to suit the variety of workouts a NOMAD member would be seeking – from cardio to strength training.” Another important factor for the selection of Box Step Fitness is that it is also based in Liverpool – with the NOMAD project strongly focused on working with local businesses and helping the community thrive “This facility is unique in that it is committed to supporting as many local independent businesses as possible we want to create a community where we can all thrive and ensure that money stays within the area it’s about building a space where everyone can grow and succeed together We’ve kept everything as local as possible NOMAD Gym & Wellness is currently undergoing the final stages of refurbishment before its grand opening in May 2025.  Box Step Fitness adds NOMAD to its growing portfolio of impressive clients Box Step Fitness has rapidly gained a reputation as the go-to brand for independent luxury hotels and sporting associations across the UK and Europe supplying an extensive range of over 40 lines of equipment.  READ MORE: Sainsbury’s gets the green light at Wirral Waters By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Conditions and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Explore Liverpool about news We never share your information with anyone Stay up to date with all the best articles Explore Liverpool is a central hub for the Liverpool City Region helping not only visitors and students but also residents of the city Hoylake Chamber Concert Society has been bringing Classical music to the Wirral for almost 100 years which has been interrupted only by the two world wars and the COVID-19 pandemic has seen internationally renowned world-class musicians and ensembles visit the peninsula Some recent highlights have included concerts by the Endellion String Quartet and musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra along with performances by young rising stars such as the Mithras Trio Based at St Hildeburgh’s Parish Church in Hoylake Hoylake Chamber Concert Society prides itself in celebrating established and world-famous musicians supporting the development of young artists and making outstanding Classical chamber music accessible to an ever-wider audience Their 97th series of concerts began in September 2024 After stunning performances by the Gesualdo Six (choral ensemble) and Anna Im (violin) and Chiao-Ying Chang (piano) Hoylake Chamber Concert Society are looking forward to the second half of their 2024-25 season The remaining concerts feature outstanding international musicians and a range of ensembles and soloists so do come discover the joy of chamber music 24 February 2025: Quatuor Agate (string quartet) & Jonathan Liebovitz (clarinet) For more information and ticket sales, head to www.chamberconcert.co.uk This article is sponsored content paid for by Hoylake Chamber Concert Society Josh Styles said he had hired lawyers to take on the local authority before “irreplaceable habitats are destroyed” a botanist who is campaigning to protect the natural environment at Hoylake Beach is seeking to make a legal challenge to both Wirral Council and government body Natural England over their approach to both Hoylake and West Kirby beaches He said the challenge was a warning to the local authority against taking action that may be illegal Last year, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) said Wirral Council’s clearance of vegetation on West Kirby beach may have been illegal Assent had been given for the work to take place on the beach by Natural England which is in the Dee Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest but issues were still raised the OEP said it had received assurances from Natural England that “in-combination effects of future projects for salt-marsh removal at this location would be considered should any further applications for assent.” Wirral Council also told the OEP it had taken Natural England’s advice into account and the OEP was satisfied its concerns were addressed and will not take further action Clearing both beaches of vegetation which has developed in recent years has been a controversial issue in both Hoylake and West Kirby This is particularly the case in Hoylake where the community campaign group has sought to see a large area of beach cleared for leisure despite the fact that there is now a larger area of sandy beach than before just beyond the vegetation and embryonic dunes which is supported by Hoylake’s three Conservative councillors was knocked back after Natural England rejected a proposal put forward by Wirral Council and said the beach could only be cleared for RNLI access It said the council can only clear two slipways at Alderley Road and Trinity Road maintain a bare sand strip running next to the sea wall from the RNLI slipway to King’s Gap no more than four metres wide and clear the area immediately around the town’s RNLI station A Natural England spokesperson told the LDRS “Our teams have worked hard to understand different perspectives in a matter that has understandably generated strong feelings locally and we will continue to work with Wirral Borough Council to ensure that any beach management complies with environmental law The letter makes clear that protected species like shore dock and sea-whorl grass should be left alone unless further permission is granted and there are conditions around a saltmarsh area being created Mr Styles said he still had concerns about the impact on protected species and decisions being made prompting his decision to take legal action He felt other alternatives such as maintaining vegetation to keep it in check were not being considered with Wirral Council instead seeking to clear any plants in these areas as its first option around 240 plants can now be found on Hoylake with more than 30 threatened with extinction Within a few hours, a fundraiser to support legal costs exceeded its £1,900 target with more than £2,700 raised as of publication Mr Styles said he was also being supported by Wild Justice an organisation “set up to fight for nature” by TV presenter Chris Packham and others “It should not become the new norm to destroy legally protected sites on a whim That to be honest is the tip and tail of it This has become a massive culture war on Wirral and on top of that dangerous precedents are being set that are going to put us in a really bad position “We need to give nature greater protection I really do think it sets a seriously alarming and dangerous precedent for these protected sites that we haven’t got much left of and the ones we do have are in an unfavourable condition.“We should be giving those sites the TLC and protection they need rather than stripping that back.” “I am not against RNLI access which is obviously essential but what I am saying is that there is an alternative here that can have real outcomes when it comes to that access but without that being detrimental to massively important wildlife “Wirral Council is still considering the implications of the advice and notice from Natural England regarding the beach management plan for Hoylake Beach We are talking to a range of partner agencies and stakeholders – including Natural England – before making a decision on the next steps we were clear in our response to the OEP investigation that the council acted in good faith on the advice received from Natural England and considered and addressed all the points raised by them in their advice note “Following correspondence between Wirral Council and OEP since their initial letter they have subsequently made a number of amendments to their case summary report and published a revised version This includes the addition of a line stating ‘we have therefore concluded there is no indication of ongoing failures to comply with environmental law regarding this matter’.” Josh Styles told Birkenhead News, “What’s happening at Hoylake is special “Sand dunes and salt marsh are amongst the rarest natural habitats we have left in Britain while the recovery of a sliver of this habitat on Hoylake’s foreshore is incredible where other coastlines are struggling to defend dunes from erosion “Not only are the developing habitats at Hoylake special in themselves they’re home to some incredibly rare wildlife saves the taxpayer money by catching sand that would otherwise blow into town and defend Hoylake against rising sea levels – what isn’t to like?” Natural England was approached for comment Lead image: Yellow flowers growing on Hoylake Beach The aim of the project is to reduce flood risk as well as create a new nature reserve people can visit Wirral Council was awarded £430,000 of flood management funding to create a new wetland across 60 hectares of currently tenanted agricultural land called the Hoylake Carrs The land sits between West Kirby and Hoylake and is known to flood runs through the site on its route to Meols and Leasowe before it drains into the Birkenhead docks Plans previously reported by the LDRS said areas of the land turned into new ponds water will be kept back by a small “lip” around the edge of the land which will hold water back with shallow ponds and ditches created which “aims to create an ideal habitat for wintering waders and wildfowl” This will support wildlife in the Dee Estuary which is an internationally important habitat for migrating birds The public will still be able to access the area with new board walks in the hope it will bring more people to the area The land outlined for the project sits to the northeast of the Gilroy Nature Park on the edge of West Kirby According to a council report on nature and biodiversity published before a meeting on 3 December the scheme will have multiple benefits reducing flood risk in places like Moreton as water is retained upstream and help offset loss of habitat as a result of any housing development The report said a final decision on the grant is expected at the end of this year with work then expected to take place from September 2025 over the course of three years Chair of Wirral’s environment committee Cllr Liz Grey previously said the proposal for a wetland had first been floated by members of a campaign group against luxury golf resort plans on the same land and the council had been independently working on a wetland proposal for several years Cllr Grey said the scheme would improve access to the area and protect an area of green belt land from development “It’s absolutely wonderful but important for the local community as it protects the land for the community for years to come.” The local economy could also see a benefit Places like Martin Mere in Lancashire see up to 200,000 visitors a year bringing £6m into the local economy and Cllr Grey previously suggested a new wetland could become a tourist attraction The nearby Gilroy Nature Park offers an idea of what the new wetland could look like Despite being described as “pocket-sized,” it’s considered a haven for wildlife reportedly home to 43 different types of bird while its wildflower meadow supports butterflies The council’s biodiversity net gain strategy report also highlighted work being done to create 30 new wildflower meadows across Wirral with work expected to begin in February The local authority is also working with 80 schools on environmental issues and organised 13 community planting events Wirral Council was previously rated number one for biodiversity action across all councils by environmental organisation Cllr Grey said the policy was “clearly now helping us to do even more to protect nature,” adding working with a Labour-led Liverpool City Region Combined Authority was “aiming to ensure that nature and the environment can thrive and that all of us can enjoy a sustainable future” Image: The fields that could be turned into a new nature reserve A decadent chocolate layer cake made by a Hoylake baker has been named Britain’s best it got the judges vote ahead of more than 100 other entries in seven categories at the UK Food and Drink Shows at the NEC in Birmingham “I didn’t expect it,” said founder and owner Laura Johnson “I just came for the Classic Cake category Laura started baking cakes in her native Colombia around 14 years ago before moving to Gran Canaria in Spain to study business administration She established her business under the name Abba Cakes gaining business via word of mouth and social media among the local Canarians The patisserie chef moved to the UK with her Bebington-born husband in 2020 the pair having met through a bilingual church in Las Palmas As the UK started to open up again after lockdown Laura put her skills and qualifications to use managing a cafe where she also baked the cakes and also began supplying them to businesses she told us: “It’s just so rewarding when you see smiles on people’s faces when they sample some of my cakes or they take it to treat themselves at home or to a loved one Abba Cakes is the whole idea of bringing a little bit of sweetness to the times of celebration and those other times when we don’t feel so great “Life is a great and unique event that must be celebrated The winning product comprised layers of dark chocolate sponge and double chocolate ganache plus some dulce de leche running through the centre Judges considered it one of the best presented products in the line-up and praised the “beautiful piping skills” One judge said: “It’s described as a very dense chocolate Britain’s Best Cake 2025 took place on Monday 7 April A blue plaque has been unveiled on a house in Hoylake where the late Glenda Jackson grew up It was installed on a cottage in Lake Place formerly occupied by the Oscar-winning actress and MP as part of the posthumous awarding of the Freedom of Wirral Last year Wirral Council unanimously voted to give her the Freedom of the Borough in acknowledgement of her extraordinary achievements A private ceremony was also held for Ms Jackson’s family to receive the award on her behalf The Mayor of Wirral with members of Glenda Jackson’s family said: “Glenda Jackson illustrated on an international stage the very best our wonderful borough has to offer and it is a real pleasure to be able to acknowledge her achievements in this way “It was also wonderful to be able to share some time with her family as we mark an incredible life and contribution to culture and politics.” Glenda Jackson – from Hoylake to film and TV stardom The decision is likely to reopen a controversial debate that has been rumbling on locally for nearly six years and will be a major setback for those wanting to see natural vegetation cleared from the beach Beach management was paused on Hoylake beach in 2019 and since then vegetation has developed along the seafront An ongoing row over the issue has been compared to a “civil war” with heated debates on social media ensuing One group wants to see vegetation on the beach cleared while others want to see it left to develop naturally A 2022 public feedback exercise found 41.8% of those in Hoylake wanted “a balance between a natural beach and maintained beach” while 34.1% wanted it to “look managed and maintained” Only 24.1% wanted the beach to stay completely natural and in a 2024 consultation nearly 70% of Wirral residents supported the option ultimately passed by councillors At an environment committee meeting in April 2024 and Liberal Democrat councillors voted to move forward an option seeking to clear what was described as a “large stretch” of three hectares hoping this would resolve the issue this was subject to Natural England approval as the beach is protected under environmental law the government body responded to tell the local authority it would not agree to this in a letter seen by the LDRS The letter makes clear protected species like shore dock and sea-whorl grass should left alone unless further permission is granted “this area must be cleared for RNLI operational access only and does not include vegetation clearance for functional amenity” This is subject to “a saltmarsh creation area” close to Red Rocks being introduced within five years while monitoring and reporting of the vegetation and beach levels will need to be done every year Restrictions have also been placed on what vehicles can be used to carry out the work The letter said clearing the slipways and the area immediately around the RNLI station was acceptable to ensure access to the beach it said Natural England “cannot assent to any wider amenity clearance as this is not within our remit It was not clear within the proposal what area was required for RNLI access compared to amenity access to the northeast of the RNLI station” the area that could be cleared outside the RNLI station would extend from the beach roughly opposite 45 North Parade to the public toilets in the Meols Parade Gardens Natural England said it could not work out if a proposed cleared strip from Kings Gap was for the RNLI as it had not been requested to be cleared The permission would run from 1 April 2025 to 31 April 2030 for the months between April and September If the council plans to carry out the work Natural England will need at least 28 days notice including how the work will comply with their advice minimise environmental damage to the beach and restore the site to its former condition if damage does occur If the council went against Natural England advice and cleared the beach without permission this could mean they were breaking the law and result in the local authority being sued Wirral Council may also have to get permission from other organisations and a number of plans need to be finished before work could begin The local authority has been previously accused of breaking the law by the Office for Environmental Protection over work to clear plants at West Kirby beach This was after it had been given approval by Natural England The decision by Natural England has had a mixed reaction with Hoylake’s three Conservative councillors calling it “a disgrace” The local authority has also been criticised for going ahead with two options Natural England made clear in March 2024 it could not support at the time “We have received the notice and advice from Natural England and we now need to take some time to consider it and develop a formal response.” A new saltmarsh plan was also revealed in the proposal roughly between 54 to 72 Stanley Road though Natural England said more details and further permission would be needed before work could begin on this “Hoylake beach acts as a high tide roost which supports large numbers of overwintering birds for which the SSSI (site of special scientific interest) is designated “If saltmarsh is not removed for amenity clearance and is left As the beach management plan will improve access to the beach “By creating a saltmarsh creation area to promote saltmarsh development this provides alternative supporting habitat for overwintering birds and minimises damage from the clearance of saltmarsh for access and RNLI operations.” Advertise with us Video Services One Stop Shop now being offered at Wallasey town hall Liverpool FC’s 20th league title becomes most engaged Premier League win in history info@theguideliverpool.com +44 151 702 0143 Calendar Food & Drink Picante launches new Margarita Masterclasses Liverpool restaurant week returns next weekend with hundreds of dining deals Nightlife New Kapsule music venue opening at Invisible Wind Factory this weekend 20 things you can do this week in Liverpool (28 April – 4 May 2025) Tate Liverpool unveils Chila Kumari Singh Burman retrospective as centrepiece of 2027 relaunch Mel 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the busy summer season when thousands of people head to the coast to enjoy days out with family or friends Many will not be aware of the risks and will get into danger on or around the water.’ as the RNLI relies on the generosity of the public to help us be there when we’re needed most We’re looking forward welcoming our community to this year’s fundraising car wash hovercraft and tractors thoroughly after every launch so visitors can be sure their cars will leave looking ship-shape!’ The RNLI’s Mayday national fundraiser begins on Thursday 1 May and will run throughout the month across the UK and Ireland helping to raise awareness and funds for the charity’s essential work For those unable to attend the Hoylake Car Wash The RNLI’s Mayday Mile challenge invites supporters to complete at least one mile — or more — in any way they choose: walking Find out what’s good up North on our new platform From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE. The Guide Liverpool proudly shares regular stories from in and around Liverpool Our editorial team is made up of trained journalists and media professionals meaning you will never miss a moment from the city region Sign up today to be the first to hear exclusive Liverpool news & offers Download it today to be the first to hear exclusive Liverpool news & offers King’s Gap and Meols Drive conservation areas have been extended with recommendations made to improve the frontage of Hoylake’s railway station and the town’s promenade It follows an appraisal and consultation over new management plans which took place last year – the first since they were introduced more than 20 years ago A conservation area is officially described as having “special architectural or historic interest the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance” It affords additional protections and homeowners need planning permission for some physical alternations and permission to demolish structures over a certain size without prior consent from the council The Meols Drive conservation area which covers an area from West Kirby to Hoylake The roads were added as they were “considered to contribute to the legibility of the historic street pattern and architectural influences within the area” The management plan recommends that the council look at extending the public realm for pedestrians at The Quadrant in Hoylake to run as far as the railway station improving the station forecourt and improving the visual appearance of the “domineering” street lighting The King’s Gap conservation area which covers an area of Hoylake in and around the Green Lodge now includes Queen’s Road and Cable Road These roads were included due to them being “of high architectural quality with their construction contemporary with the development of the rest of The King’s Gap area” The management plan recommends the council looks at ways to increase the visibility of the “unique” sand dune at Courtenay Road and to “identify opportunities for the enhancement of this section of the Promenade and North Parade and the reinstatement of their historic character in order to improve their appearance increase footfall and diversify uses” It also suggests traffic reduction measures A number of residents in Graham Road and Eddisbury Road say they were not aware of the consultation despite the report stating that “all properties within and surrounding the existing and proposed extended conservation area were notified by letter” Local councillor Max Booth has said he will take up the matter with the conservation team A woman and her dog were rescued by Hoylake RNLI’s hovercraft after becoming stranded on a sandbank The pair found themselves stuck near Barber’s Folly at Meols on Sunday 16 February at around 10.30am The casualty had reportedly tried crossing the tidal gutter to reach the sea wall but found herself neck-deep in water and struggling on the soft sand The vessel and crew launched and headed to the scene with the coastguard monitoring from the shore The casualty and her dog were found on a small sandbank surrounded by rising water The pair were brought safely on board the hovercraft and once the RNLI crew were satisfied they were both well said: “The tide around the Wirral coast can come in very quickly and it’s easy to find yourself cut off unexpectedly “Fortunately the alarm was raised with enough time for the casualty and her dog to be rescued before the sandbank they were on was totally covered “The RNLI launches to hundreds of incidents each year involving people cut off by the tide look out for local safety signage and most importantly check the weather and tide times before you go and know your route to safety dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.” Photo credit: Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team The man was arrested on Thursday 30 January on suspicion of racially and homophobically aggravated malicious communications and possession of a controlled drug Class B He’s been taken to police station for questioning “Merseyside Police have today arrested a man and are in contact with the victim as our enquiries continue “We will always take reports of hate crime extremely seriously and want the public to feel reassured that we will do everything within our powers to ensure that those responsible for incidents of hate crime – whether committed in person or online – are dealt with “I would also like to remind social media users intent on committing hate crimes that any belief that they can maintain anonymity online are misplaced including malicious communications and any inappropriate behaviour “We would ask anyone with information on this incident call us quoting ref: 25000072093.” Anyone with information on hate crime or malicious communications online is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC You can also call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information The project is intended to protect homes from flooding along the River Birket and is backed by £430,000 of Environment Agency funding The wetlands would be created across 60 hectares of what is currently poor-quality agricultural land prone to flooding called the Hoylake Carrs between West Kirby and Hoylake The scheme has been in development for a number of years with funding announced for the project last year following a bid by the council with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust The project was reportedly first floated by those opposed to scrapped council plans for a golf resort in the area Following committee approval on 27 January Cheshire Wildlife Trust is planning to start engaging with the public Councillors from all parties said this engagement was critically important but there was disagreement about how the council should progress after detailed plans were put forward Hoylake councillor Max Booth said the intention of the scheme was admirable but felt it fell short in a number of areas He wanted to see a more balanced approach with public engagement before a decision and maintenance of the Birket going forward He wanted to see more public engagement before a decision was made “This could be the greatest scheme in the world but without properly consulting how am I supposed to know and make an informed decision?” Committee chair councillor Liz Grey said there was scope to introduce trees on the site but surveys had already been extensively done on the site and the project would be managed by Cheshire Wildlife Trust who have experience managing similar projects elsewhere She said going in a different direction would go against the advice of experts the community you represent are fully on board with this and see the merits of it and see what they perhaps stand to lose if they don’t have it,” adding “They need to know what’s happening in their area Other councillors were concerned councillors were acting as experts and risked putting the entire project in jeopardy Officers also said there were limitations on what the site could be turned into due to its close proximity to habitats in the Dee Estuary and the Wirral coastline Cllr Booth said he was concerned about the decision being taken before any public consultation was done referencing the West Kirby sea wall which was also funded by the Environment Agency “We’re just doing to do a scheme in your neighbourhood and we haven’t told you about it We’re not going to inform you about it and just going to do it and hope you’ll be okay with it.” “I do think we need to have the experts make these decisions especially when we’re talking about something as serious as flooding and a community that is at risk of flooding.” Green councillor Gail Jenkinson said there were no trees currently on the site and the council “shouldn’t be changing things pretty much on the fly” The wetlands will see the creation of 15 scrapes a low level bund 20cm high and around five metres wide on the east of the site to hold back water and a series of leaky barriers to slow water flow water will be directed into the wetland reducing the amount of water flowing downstream and the risk of flooding in places like Meols The scrapes will provide a variety of habitats with the ability to hold nearly 46,000 cubed meters of water in these shallow pools This will be similar to the nearby Gilroy Nature Park just outside West Kirby Modelling of the plans shows it could reduce water flowing downstream during heavy periods by 21% to nearly half depending on how severe the rainfall is the reduction of water flowing at peak times was much smaller Further modelling will be undertaken to look at how the risk of flooding will be reduced for homes downstream Tere will also be engagement with stakeholders and utility companies and surveys and technical investigations undertaken Further plans for the creation of the wetland will also be developed While there is scope for more woodland to be planted on the site this is limited both because of land use constraints as well as funding conditions the site is considered highly suitable for a new wetland and wetlands are effective at improving water quality as well as creating habitats for wading birds and great crested newts The wetland is also expected to improve water quality in the Birket which is currently affected by contamination After a motion by the Conservatives was voted down and Liberal Democrat councillors voted to move the proposals for the wetlands forward The Open 2023: Royal Liverpool course guide Today’s Golfer’s 2023 Major coverage is brought to you in association with TaylorMade JUMP TO HOLE: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Rory McIlroy’s quest for a fifth Major rumbles on but this July he’ll be returning to the scene of perhaps his finest moment in Major Championships There was no record-breaking margin of victory in 2014 but he did complete a wire-to-wire victory at Hoylake finishing on 17-under-par – two clear of Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia – to claim the Claret Jug for the first time The course has changed a lot since then and has undergone a significant overhaul in a bid to make Hoylake “an even more attractive test of golf and a future-friendly Open Championship venue” We enlisted the help of local caddies and Royal Liverpool’s Head Pro to pull together a hole-by-hole guide and spoke with the man who will be in charge of course set-up for The Open they shed light on where the 151st tournament will be won or lost Bunkering on both sides of the fairway means strategic play is key means the opener plays more into the breeze most players laid up short of the left-hand bunker with an iron but the aggressive play is to drive the bunkers to leave a short wedge into an hourglass-shaped target that is deceptively tight with run-offs on both sides What they say – John Heggarty: Master PGA Professional and Head Professional at Royal Liverpool Golf Club“A sleeper hole that ends up playing as one of the toughest on the course If you go over to the right-hand side like a lot of holes at Hoylake you’re coming across a bunker onto a green where stopping the ball becomes a challenge.” ‘Stand’ is the traditional 18th hole for members but has played as the 2nd hole for The Open in the last two editions well-placed bunkers condense the driving area leaving a mid-to-long iron to a well-guarded green with three bunkers protecting the narrow entrance this is the first of two holes where the internal out-of-bounds runs down the entire right-hand side Most players will take an iron and leave themselves around 200 yards in Out of bounds comes into play again on the right of the green but there is a bail-out area to the left of what is a relatively straightforward putting surface Ranked as the easiest par 4 on the course in 2014 and the start of a gettable two-hole stretch as plenty of bunkers guard the entrance to a green set on a 45-degree angle Many players will attempt to lay up on the left-hand side of the fairway to leave a better angle in but will need to avoid small hillocks of rough and gorse What they say – Grant Moir: Executive Director – Governance at the R&A“The new green here has really enhanced the hole It’s given us more options for interesting hole locations and it fits much better for a short par 4 because the green is a little smaller now and has been elevated slightly.” The shortest of the three par 5s and arguably the best birdie chance on the course Both the drive and second shot require a right-to-left shape to reach their intended targets with the green set at a right-to-left angle Shots played up the right side may find their way down a hill What they say – John Heggarty“The par 5s represent a huge opportunity Those players who are strategic and laying it up to their favorite yardage on the par 5s will be just as likely than those who are going for the green in two and potentially short-siding themselves The greens are firm and it can be difficult to get the ball close to the hole if you’re too close or coming in from the wrong angle.” The first of four wonderful par 3s at Hoylake the 6th hole plays slightly uphill to a long and narrow green with two cavernous bunkers awaiting at the foot of the hill Players who miss right will have to contend with a bank and slope that then runs away from them The 7th plays as stroke index one for members and ranked as the hardest hole on the course in 2014 giving up just 30 birdies and a scoring average of 4.366 a 250-yard drive is required to even reach the fairway with lots of room to the right to work a ball toward the surface Shots taking on the left side of the green risk bringing two gaping bunkers into play Although the tee shot needs to carry the out of bounds the biggest challenge is avoiding bunkers on the right and gorse creeping in on the left side An approach shot that gets too cute to a right pin will likely find a tiny run-off area or two front bunkers turning a potential birdie opportunity into a bogey Once described as one of the best short holes by famed golf writer Bernard Darwin The tee shot plays to a long green that has plenty of movement and runs diagonally from left to right at an angle players will need to land the ball short to attack any front pins with two front bunkers making the entrance narrow A large gully on the left will also come into play with back pin locations the 10th will play 25 yards shorter this year to a par 4 and is likely to become one of the most difficult holes on the course though a large mound in the middle of the fairway can obstruct views to a green which has a very steep run-off area to the left What they say – Grant Moir“The 10th is definitely one of the toughest greens to hit particularly when going in with a long club You really have to find the center of the green because it’s got a wicked bunker front right so short games will definitely be tested here That’s likely to be the case on a lot of holes.” the tee shot on 11 plays to the top of a hill which players will hope to clear so they can attack the green below players can be aggressive in trying to make a birdie but need to be mindful of some steep swales on the left dog-legging that way with the fairway cambering slightly left to right while a sea of rough catches any mishit drives on the left The green is raised significantly from the fairway and very lengthy Front pins are accessible but the further back you go What they say – John Heggarty“The cut area to the left has been expanded so if you miss left the ball doesn’t finish 10 feet from the edge of the green leaving you a 20-yard shot to a green that’s sitting above you.” The favorite hole of many members at Royal Liverpool and visually one of the most attractive From the tee only far-right pins are fully visible because of mounds blocking the view The green runs diagonally from right to left A tee shot landing on the front portion of the green should feed toward the back What they say – Grant Moir“The 13th is a great hole There’s a lovely spot where you can sit on the hill The hole dog-legs significantly to the left but the camber of the fairway slopes to the right the green has a mound short that obscures the view from the fairway Right appears to be the safe miss; however there is a steep run-off area on that side making a play to the back portion the percentage play It was here that Tiger holed a 4-iron for Eagle in 2006 What Rory says“There are quite a few holes on the back nine that are right-to-left dog legs And I don’t feel like you’re too restricted in your approach shots You can be quite aggressive with your second shots There’s a few good things about the golf course and it sets up well for me.” this hole has been significantly lengthened since Rory eagled it in 2014 players can carry a portion of bunkers to the right and takes the three bunkers on the left out of play What they say – John Heggarty“The 15th is over 600 yards now and that’s a great addition because it brings the bunkers into play that the pros bombed over in 2014 We’ve got two new bunkers that are in position there on the right-hand side as well that’s going to be much more of a real par-5 than perhaps it was in 2014 and 2006.” Many players will lay up short of fairway bunkers on both sides and leave themselves well over 200 yards for the second The green welcomes a low-running shot that enters through the mouth A cross bunker 50 yards short can also come into play if entering the green from the wrong angle Hoylake’s new hole is a stunning creation and features an infinity green that plays directly out towards the ocean and North Wales The green is raised significantly above the player and is surrounded by sandy waste bunkers with huge fall-off areas on all sides Any miss will leave a devilish up and down to a fiercely-undulating surface where three-putts are common What they say – John Heggarty“The new par 3 If you don’t hit a good shot onto the green then you are going to struggle to make par if you land it on the front of the green with any sort of decent strike the spin that you’re going to create on that ball will probably bring you back down into the waste area leaving you a 40-yard bunker shot from the wasteland.” What they say – Grant Moir“We don’t see a desperate need to shorten the 17th dramatically so the reality is that the shortest it will play is about 120 yards it has the potential to see a spread of scoring – that’s what great short par 3’s do They provide a great opportunity for birdies but the jeopardy comes with missing the green There’s no doubt that a lot of memorable par 3’s are the short ones and we’ve very hopeful that after one open this will become one of them.” After navigating a long walk towards the 18th tee players face a far tougher tee shot this year on what is the 16th hole for members The championship tee has shifted right and moved 58 yards back while the out-of-bounds has come in 20 yards from the right A 240-yard carry is now needed to reach the fairway though any player who plays too far away from the out-of-bounds runs the risk of finding two dangerous bunkers on the left Going left of those traps isn’t too penal but it does remove the opportunity of going for the green in two A tee shot or lay-up to the right side of the fairway leaves the best angle to a green surrounded by bunkers on both sides Players will definitely feel like they dropped a shot if they walk off the green with a five What they say – John Heggarty“Anything can happen on that final hole A conservative play and lay-up to the left is going to leave a very difficult wedge shot where the ground is firm and there’s little margin for error.” Want to get the most from Today’s Golfer? 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Michael Catling is Today's Golfer's Features Editor and an award-winning journalist who specializes in golf's Majors and Tours By Michael Catling A planning application has been submitted for a new development of apartments on the front at Hoylake next door to a set that were recently completed which also built the neighbouring ‘Estuary View’ wants to demolish a dormer bungalow at 4 Meols Parade to make way for seven two-bedroom apartments It would bring to eight the number of residential properties on large plots that the Chester-based firm has redeveloped in West Kirby The company argues in its planning submissions that it is increasing housing supply and meeting demand by creating more units on land that was previously occupied by just one home The firm also built townhouses on the site of a former garage on Caldy Road and is currently constructing flats on the site of the former West Kirby fire station and include 14 parking spaces and room for seven bicycles with vehicle access via the recently constructed neighbouring site A computer generated image of the proposed apartments at Meols Parade A design and access statement submitted with the application states: “Blueoak have found that the size and level of accommodation proposed is particularly attractive to those looking to “rightsize” from larger family properties in the local area “All the dwellings offer the potential for home working in the form of a Home Office or a designated space in the Living area that will be provided with enhanced IT infrastructure “The new building will be 2-storeys with accommodation provided in the roof space to make the most the efficient use of the site in line with local and national guidance The ridge height of the building reflects that of the now complete “Estuary View” scheme.” The application adds: “In conclusion the scheme will make a positive impact on the supply of new single level accessible housing in the area increasing the density on a previously developed site in the urban area whilst maintaining compliance with relevant policy in terms of amenity.” The planning application can be viewed at: https://online.wirral.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=230093 Image credits: Blueoak Estates planning documents officers were called to a report of a collision on Market Street involving a pedestrian and a blue Saab the pedestrian – 83-year-old Ana Marcroft – was pronounced deceased at the scene by paramedics West Kirby has now been charged with causing her death by careless driving He appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday and is due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court for a pre-trial plea hearing on 14 April Image: GOOGLE  A large number of people are expected to attend the annual Hoylake and District Remembrance Sunday service in West Kirby on 10 November Veterans and serving service personnel will be among those heading to the Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial to remember those who lost their lives in conflicts People attending the service are asked to arrive at 10:30am for a 10:45am start and use the gardens in front and to the side of the memorial The parade will start from the top of Beacon Drive at 10:30am When the service at the war memorial ends at around 11.30am the parade will continue down Grange Hill people are also invited to sign a Book of Remembrance at the Concourse in memory of those from the 149th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery – known as the Hoylake Horse – who lost their lives in WW2 A plaque commemorating those who served is on display in the building and there will be a speech from Deputy Lord Lieutenant said: “Communities across Wirral will join others across the UK and beyond this Sunday to honour the courage and sacrifice of the fallen and all those who have helped to defend the freedoms we have today We can never forget or take their selflessness for granted Remembrance Sunday sadly takes place at a time of terrible conflict in the world which is a sharp reminder of the day’s abiding theme of hope for a more peaceful world.” A collection of seven two-bedroom apartments set in an Edwardian mansion facing the Royal Liverpool Golf Course have gone on the market with a starting price of £485,000 The apartments at Hilstone Grange on Stanley Road have spectacular views across the golf course and the Dee Estuary The period property was originally built as a family home over a century ago and has been renovated by Wirral property developer Lagom Lifestyle The restoration has seen the property retain much of its architectural character and charm The main entrance and reception area features the original oak doors and panelling decorative tiled flooring and a stained glass window Each apartment is open plan with a kitchen Ground floor apartments come complete with a private garden area whilst those on the second floor have balconies overlooking Royal Liverpool Golf Club and the Dee Estuary There is also a duplex penthouse apartment which spans the entire length of the original mansion house Agata Seara from Lagom Lifestyle said: “Hilstone Grange is steeped in history and our team has worked incredibly hard to reflect the architectural charm of the mansion house by restoring many of its original features including the sweeping staircase and a beautiful stained glass window in the main reception area “As Hilstone Grange prepares to welcome its next set of residents we’re extremely proud to have played such an important part in writing a chapter in the story of such an incredible property “Introducing elements of contemporary design whilst preserving the heritage of the building our team has tastefully reimagined this magnificent Edwardian mansion to suit modern day living creating a set of attractive homes to be enjoyed for many years to come.” They are available for sale through Move Residential West Kirby Christmas Lights and Hoylake and Meols Christmas Lights have both cancelled their planned switch-on events this Saturday The annual events are hugely popular with the local community with hundreds of people turning out for the entertainment But due to an incoming severe storm this weekend Rachel Kehoe from West Kirby Christmas Lights said: “Unfortunately a severe storm is forecast this weekend so we have taken the very difficult decision to cancel the Switch On event planned for this Saturday 23 Nov 4-6pm A lot of planning goes into the event and we have to make a decision in plenty of time to inform all parties and allow everyone to plan accordingly “We are really disappointed but we cannot take the risk of having to cancel it on the day We are hoping to get the lights on at the weekend “We cannot organise another event before Christmas but are planning to organise a community event early next year.” Hoylake and Meols Christmas Lights said: “The planning involved means people supporting us need to know well in advance and although we know weather forecasts can be unreliable at times we have to make informed decisions based on the current information available for everybody’s safety perhaps especially so for this year’s good cause Positivity Club CIC Watch this space for alternative ways in which you can support them no matter what – just not with the usual fanfare they deserve.” The wetlands would be created across 60 hectares of what is currently tenanted agricultural land called the Hoylake Carrs that is known to flood The project has had a positive reception so far amongst some campaign groups looking to protect the area from development who described it as “fantastic news” A report to a Wirral Council committee meeting on 27 November said it would reduce flooding downstream in Meols while also improving biodiversity in the area The farmland the wetlands will be created on is considered poor quality The scheme is expected to be completed by March 2027 with barriers introduced to slow water flow and redirect it onto the flood plain shallow channels and pools created to keep water back and other improvements to wildlife habitats This is expected to significantly reduce the amount of water flowing downstream when it rains and maintaining the wetland is expected to be minimal A wetland could also generate an income for Wirral Council as the local authority could appoint someone to graze the land with cattle seasonally Costs will also be kept low with as little physical infrastructure as possible and further funding could come from developments elsewhere in Wirral the Cheshire Wildlife Trust is planning to start engaging with the public The area is currently inaccessible to the public and this is expected to continue with no impact on nearby footpaths Cheshire Wildlife Trust will deliver the scheme through an agreement with Wirral Council with a commitment to establish a local group of volunteers to contribute to the long-term success of the new wetland Lead image: The fields that could be turned into a new nature reserve a personal assistant for people with disabilities who only learned front crawl last summer will swim 2km in the River Torne in July “I took up cold water swimming to cope with the unbearable grief after my dad died My brother and sister think I am crackers but the feeling I had when the cold water took my breath away for a few seconds the first time is hard to explain but I felt at peace for the first time in months.” Her father George McKenna had been in the Army for 24 years and then worked in security and as an environmental health officer He lived with Parkinson’s for a number of years and was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2016 Wendy’s mum Jean bravely cared for him at home in West Kirby with help from carers until his death in 2020 is now planning a whole year of open-water swimming events including the Cool Mile in Princes Dock Liverpool on 12 April to raise money for The Lewy Body Society The charity campaigns for improved diagnosis and treatment of the disease by funding research while supporting those directly affected Lewy body dementia is the second most common dementia in older people but is often misunderstood Wendy’s main event will be the Swim the Arctic Circle on Saturday Open water swimmers will cross the border between Sweden and Finland The River Torne’s water temperature can be as low as 15 degrees during the summer and friends Sarah Head and Alison Martin will be supported during the event by Wendy’s fiance Matthew Thompson Her three sons have been backing Wendy all the way with George – named for his grandfather – occasionally even joining her in the cold water and other outdoor locations as well as at Leasowe Leisure Centre several times a week in preparation for making their big splash “I have found friends at the lakeside and the beach people who have changed my life and made it feel like I belong I lost my Dad but found my beautiful friends by the water.” “We wish Wendy and her friends the very best of luck We know how popular cold water swimming has become and how useful it can be for people struggling with mental health The Lewy Body Society is so grateful that we have such loyal supporters.” Help Wendy and friends reach her £2,000 target in memory of her dad: https://www.justgiving.com/page/wendy-cordier-4