An ‘urgent referrals’ planning committee was called at Bootle Town Hall this morning
Golfers on the 18th Green alongside the Art Deco clubhouse. at Royal Birkdale. The Open Championship 2017(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)
Plans for The Open Golf Championship 2026 event were approved at an ‘urgent referral’ planning committee this morning, despite ‘overwhelming public opposition’. R&A Championships Limited is one of the most successful golf events companies in the world and its portfolio includes 21 golf championships and international matches – including The Open Championship which is being held at Royal Birkdale in 2026.
R&A has submitted a planning application which includes plans for a hitting tee and new fencing at the Birkdale golf club. According to a Sefton Council report, R&A is seeking permission for the change of use of part of the open land – linked to what is commonly known as Birkdale Common – to golf course use.
A Sefton Council officer said the reason for organising the ‘urgent’ subcommittee at Bootle Town Hall today, Monday August 18 for R&A’s application, was to ensure that should the application be approved, there is sufficient time for the works to take place on site prior to the Open Championships being held next summer.
According to the planning committee chair, there were no representations from R&A at today’s meeting 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. Mr Marsden was in attendance at today’s planning committee and presented a five minute speech to the elected members and the council’s planning officers, he said: “There is overwhelming public opposition to this application.
Sefton Council’s planning committee convened at Bootle Town Hall(Image: LDRS)
“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 a number of councillor 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.”
After all representations were made to the committee, the elected members on the panel approved R&A’s application.
