Golf expansion plans approved in time for next year’s Open Championship despite strong opposition
Plus: Town's first padel courts to be built
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Southport Lead.
This week, a decision was reached on plans to expand a golf course onto public land in order to facilitate the hosting of a multi-million pound golf tournament. A public meeting - a rare ‘urgent referral’ - took place on Monday and saw councillors vote to support the change.
Meanwhile, a much newer sport will soon become available in Southport. Read on for plans to redevelop Victoria Park’s tennis courts with new facilities to allow people to play padel as it continues a huge growth in popularity.
Birkdale Common plan moves ‘foreward’
By Jamie Lopez & Elliot Jessett
Plans to expand Hillside Golf Club onto public land used by dog walkers have been approved at an ‘urgent referral’ planning committee.
Despite significant opposition from residents and questions from councillors about an apparent lack of discussion over the plans, the committee agreed to approve the application in agreement with recommendation from a planning officer who advised there were no “significant” negative impacts and that the change would be vital for tourism purposes.
That latter point relates to the need for the change, which is said to be vital in allowing the Royal Birkdale Golf Club to continue hosting The Open. According to the Royal & Ancient Club (R&A), which organises the event, the space is needed for use as an expanded practice tee to meet the needs of modern, elite golfers.
Each year, the tournament attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators and provides a nine-figure economic boost to the area which hosts. The Royal Birkdale is due to host next year’s championship and the “urgent” meeting was arranged to allow enough time for the works to be completed before that.
No final agreement for the use of the land has yet been secured but Sefton Council has told The Southport Lead that transfer will be both permanent at at “fair market value”.
A spokesperson said: “Once the planning approval decision has been published, a 12-month license will be agreed between Sefton Council and the R&A for the site in question. The R&A will then be required to secure approval for the permanent diversion of the bridal route.
“Once approved, a formal lease would be agreed, based on a fair market value and other terms to be agreed in due course. Approval of the above will be in accordance with the council’s financial procedure rules.”
According to the meeting’s chair, Cllr Tom Spring, there were no representations from R&A as the company felt everything was covered in the council report.
The report notes the aim of the plans is to improve the existing practice tee, adding: “The works include the erection of new fencing and gates around the teeing area, introduction of new landscaping, re-profiling works of the land and the diversion of the existing track which cuts through the site which is a public right of way.”
David Marsden is a Birkdale resident who has consistently objected to R&A’s plans and spoke against the application at the meeting.
He said: “There is overwhelming public opposition to this application. R&A has not come close to justifying why it is essential for it to take over part of our public park. If this application is approved, it establishes a very worrying precedent that our public parks are at the disposal of commercial interests.”
Mr Marsden added: “If this proposal goes ahead, the area will no longer be worth visiting, and this amenity will be lost to them. Other parts of the common are not accessible for many. One wheelchair user objecting to this application tells me he can’t manage the gravel paths on the rest of the common.
“In conclusion, there is a widely held public perception that unelected officials at Sefton Council have green lighted this application from the beginning, they are now attempting to bulldoze it through using this urgent referral committee, despite overwhelming opposition.
“I would urge the committee not to bow to R&A’s bullying tactics and its ridiculous claim that failure to commence work by September could put the whole Open tournament at risk.”
Sefton Council’s planning team presented the local authority’s report into R&A’s application and recommended the proposals should be approved, stating: “There is a very significant benefit to the borough in hosting The Open. The last time it was held here in 2017, it attracted over 230,000 visitors.
“This development would help to improve the quality of the golf course and ensure that it remains in the position to attract world class events such as The Open.
“The space taken by the proposal would be less than one hectare while the overall space within the common is in excess of 20 hectares. That is less than 4% total. The proposal will include realignment of the public right of way, ensuring continued access to the common.”
Nonetheless, there were further objections to the application which were heard during the committee hearing. First to be heard was a message from Cllr Simon Shaw whose objections were presented to the committee via Cllr John Pugh.
Cllr Shaw’s message stated: “The final proposed site plan drawings, including the following worrying statement in relation to the light blue line denoting the metal fence, says a fence around the practice tree will be erected with gates which could potentially allow the area to be accessible to the public for periods in between championships potentially accessible.
“What on earth does that mean?
“If the R&A are genuinely sincere about allowing access for 90% of the time, then surely the solution is to remove the fencing they currently propose, and instead simply erect temporary wooden stake fencing.”
Cllr Pugh also had his own objections which he presented to the committee, but first made clear his support for The Open and Royal Birkdale. Cllr Pugh said he recognises its positive contribution to the borough and the wider Liverpool City Region, but added: “This is not the way to resolve a controversial planning matter which could have and should have gone to the full planning committee.”
Cllr Pugh continued: “I would be surprised that in accommodating a four day Open Championship, they can see a case for erecting a six foot permanent all year fence, and in the process denying public access to historic common land. I’d be surprised if they can see an obvious case for that.
“The fence wasn’t in the original consultation plans circulated to the public isn’t pictured on the consultation website today. The statement in your papers that’s in keeping with existing common land fencing is patently false. The current fencing separating Hillside holes from the common is appropriate, wooden and 39 inches high.”
The R&A declined to comment.
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Padel court plan unveiled for Victora Park
By Jamie Lopez
Padel courts are to be opened at Victoria Park under proposals being considered by Sefton Council.
This historic park is one of three locations across the borough - with Duke Street Park in Formby and Crosby’s Coronation Park - which are being lined up as new locations for the rapidly growing sport.
The racket sport has enjoyed a huge growth in population, with new courts being built across the country at increasing speed. It has similarities with tennis and squash, played both across a net and inside an enclosed court where the ball is allowed to strike the walls during play.
Sefton Council has agreed a deal with newly formed company Sefton Padel - run by Mike McComb of residential and commercial landlord McComb Properties - to develop and run the three new centres.
As part of the deal, Sefton Padel has promised to offer community engagement including free introductory sessions for local schools, holiday coaching camps for children, and collaboration with local tradespeople and suppliers.
Through a six figure investment, the new courts will be developed and Victoria Park’s ones will include covered ones which can be used all year round. According to artist impressions, three of the six existing tennis courts will be lost to make way for the new facilities, while the council says those remaining will be refurbished to improve facilities for tennis players.
The drawings also show a dining area with service from a shipping container unit. If planning permission is approved as expected, work could begin this year with the first venue ready to open in spring 2026.
Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson said: “I am delighted that we are working with a new Sefton-based business to deliver this exciting development, which will give people across the borough opportunity to take part in the fast-growing sport of padel.
“Padel is a sport that attracts a wide range of people from school-age to older residents looking to stay active and we are looking forward to working with Sefton Padel to ensure that is accessible and affordable for local people.”
“In line with our commitment to making sport widely and affordably accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds, our partnership includes a commitment to working closely with nearby schools to enable free access at selected times and to offer free trial sessions at discounted rates for young people, NHS workers and low-income households.
Paul McComb, Director of Sefton Padel, said: “We’re thrilled to be working in partnership with Sefton Council and with local volunteers to bring this fantastic new offering to Sefton – providing high-quality padel facilities that everyone in the community can enjoy.”