A memorial bench will need to be repaired after an “insensitive” plaque related to a controversial beach issue was put there without permission.
The plaque that was placed on the bench reads: “In memory of Hoylake beach, from creation ‘til 2019, your sandy shores have been taken away but to get it back we will fight night and day.” It was spotted by local residents over the weekend and clearly makes reference to an ongoing row about how the beach should be managed.
Wirral Council said the bench was a paid-for memorial and it will now need to be repaired because of damage from the unauthorised plaque.
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Hoylake beach has been a divisive issue for the town since the council stopped spraying weed killer on it in 2019. Vegetation has begun to grow on the beach with Natural England saying sand dunes are likely to develop.
Two groups have formed with completely different views on how the beach should look and be managed. One wants to see a section of the beach cleared of vegetation, another for it to develop into a natural habitat.
The beach is protected under a number of environmental regulations and rare plants have been found, meaning tight controls on managing the beach are needed.
A council spokesperson said: “We will be contacting the resident who had legitimately requested and paid for this memorial to be installed on North Parade to explain why their bench has had to be taken away again.
"The damage caused by the attachment of this unauthorised plaque means it needs to be repaired before the genuine memorial plaque can be put on.
“Everyone is aware that there are opposing views on how the beach at Hoylake should be managed and there have been – and will continue to be – different ways for people to be able to express them respectfully. Doing it in such an insensitive way isn’t acceptable.”
Wirral Council is currently in the process of developing a management plan with an extensive public consultation. The plan will be subject to approval from Natural England, a government body and a recent meeting saw accusations of lying, storm-outs and personal attacks between councillors.
Cllr Liz Grey, responding to a question on the beach on December 5, argued the council was “much closer to a resolution and a management plan.” She has argued for a compromise since 2019.
She confirmed two options proposed by councillors will be fleshed out and subject to environmental assessments. The plans will then get approval from Natural England before going back to the public for the final say.
The issue continues to be divisive with Cllr Grey accused of pursuing a “personal agenda” by those who want to see the beach cleared.
Cllrs Andrew Gardner, Tony Cox and Alison Wright, who represent Hoylake, also accused those wanting a natural beach of being “eco warriors who wish to thwart democracy," adding in another post,“they now need to grow up and get their adult pants on and stop trying to create further division.” They have now turned comments off on their Facebook page.
Those who want the beach to develop naturally argue the beach cannot be cleared due to the environmental regulations in place. Natural England have said some vegetation like rare shoredock would likely have to stay under any scenario.
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