People fear that a popular hillside patch of green land with "commanding views" and unique wildlife could be turned into new housing.
Those who live beside Grange Hill in West Kirby fear that up to "50" houses could be built on the hillside, damaging its unique ecology and ruining a "commanding view" of North Wales and the River Dee. The site has been earmarked by Wirral Council as a potential site for some of the thousands of houses they plan to build as part of their New Local Plan.
A petition started to ensure the protection of Grange Hill by the people who live there now has just under 1,500 signatures. It has also received support from the Friends of Grange Hill, a council-recognised volunteer group who maintain the site, conserving its natural species as well as the separate Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial situated at the top of the hill.
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Derek Longman was born and raised "beneath" the hill. He is now the head of Friends of Grange Hill.
The chairman told the ECHO : "[A new housing estate] would totally destroy the best aspects of the hill and there can be no guarantee that any building work would not have a detrimental effect on the wildlife itself.
"Once those views are gone and the wildlife has been impacted it will probably never recover.
"It has the most commanding views of North Wales, the River Dee, the Mersey Estuary and even further afield. It's a great place to actually visit and take in the views.
"From a nature standpoint, the hill is home to various protected species. The hill also has a healthy population of the common lizard.
"We know that the hill is also a foraging site for bats and there are many wild birds that visit at different times of the year. It's a nice little backwater.
"Grange Hill is very important to a lot of local people. The hill itself was bought by the former council in the early 20th century, about 1920 or 1930-ish, with a view to allowing local people to wander on the hills, it had been in private ownership before that.
"In our view there are plenty of other sites within the Wirral where the housing requirements can be met."
A spokesperson for Wirral Council told the ECHO: "The Wirral Local Plan 2021-2037 Submission Draft is currently published for the receipt of representations.
"The Council will consider all representations received on the Local Plan Submission Draft document, including those relating to the site at Grange Old Road, before submitting them along with the Local Plan to the planning inspector who will hold an Examination on the soundness of the Plan.
"All representations which are received by Council the deadline of 5pm on 25th July, will be submitted to the Inspector who will consider them as part of the Examination."
Details of how to submit a representation can be found here: https://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning-and-building/local-plans-and-planning-policy/wirrals-new-local-plan/new-local-plan
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