Sefton Council will assess golf firm’s plan at an urgent referral committee meetingStock image of work underway at Royal Birkdale on Birkdale Common in 2017(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)
A row is brewing ahead of the next golf Open Championship over plans for a hitting tee and new fencing at a Merseyside Golf Club.
The project is part of a planning application submitted by R&A Championships Limited which organises 21 championships and international matches – including The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 2026.
According to a Sefton Council report: “The application seeks planning 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, to improve the existing practice tee located within Hillside Golf Course.
“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.”
The report adds: “On balance, it is considered that the proposed development complies with local and national policies and is recommended for approval subject to the conditions.”
According to the council report, a consultation process included submissions from Environmental health, Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service, Natural England and Highways, resulting in no objections.
However, the plans have been met with significant opposition including a petition organised by local residents which has amassed more than 1100 signatures.
The petition states: “Birkdale Common is owned by Sefton Council and is a well-used public park. The plan as submitted proposes that a six foot high fence be constructed around the new hitting tee. This fence was not mentioned on R&A’s public consultation website during the consultation period.”
It adds: “We, the signatories of this petition, call on R&A Championships Limited to abandon its plan to take over part of our public park or alter it so there is no loss of public access with the exception of the duration of major golfing tournaments.
“We call on Sefton Council not to grant permission for this application unless public access is permanently guaranteed and a condition of the application being granted.”
R&A Championships Limited has submitted a planning application to Sefton Council to utilise open land adjacent to the practice range at neighbouring Hillside Golf Club on Hastings Road in Birkdale for golf course use. (Image: Google)
Additionally, the local authority confirmed it received a total of 89 letters from neighbouring properties and interested parties objecting to the proposals. Those objections are characterised by Sefton Council as being based around concerns about the ecological impact, character and appearance, highway safety and the desire to confirm any changes would only be temporary.
A statement released by Sefton’s Liberal Democrat party said the plans for Birkdale Common are ‘controversial’ and called out the process for ‘limiting opportunities for discussion’.
The statement read: “The plans are being treated as urgent even though the changes requested are not needed before the Open Golf Championship next summer (2026).The application will go to an Urgent Referrals Committee not directly to the full Planning Committee.
“The Common land grab is being questioned by thousands of residents and many dog walkers who use the Common. Some oppose the proposed plans outright; others seek to modify them.”
According to Liberal Democrat opposition Leader, Cllr John Pugh, the rationale for deciding the application in this way is both dubious and unconvincing, he said: “The plans are being treated as urgent even though the changes requested are not needed before the Open Golf Championship next summer (2026).
“The application will go to an Urgent Referrals Committee not directly to the full Planning Committee.
“The Common land grab is being questioned by thousands of residents and many dog walkers who use the Common. Some oppose the proposed plans outright; others seek to modify them. ”
According to Liberal Democrat opposition Leader, Cllr John Pugh, the rationale for deciding the application in this way is both dubious and unconvincing.
“Whatever decision the council comes to it has to be accepted that there are always important issues of principle in forfeiting the use of Common land that through the centuries has belonged to the people. It really should not be decided in a small room in Bootle with three councillors ringed by council officers which is what is going to happen.
“Controversial decisions have to be as open and transparent as possible and major planning matters should involve at least the whole of the planning committee, if not the whole council.
“Currently we do not even know if the council has agreed to sell the land and we certainly don’t know why the promoters of the British Open Championship are insisting on a practice ground in Southport appreciably longer than the one provided for the Open at Port Rush this year and at St Andrews where they are going to in 2027.
“It is difficult to understand why the practice tee at Royal Birkdale isn’t good enough and only suitable for hospitality tents. Consultation dates and details have changed and the fencing is a real issue.”
However, the chair of Sefton Council’s planning committee, Cllr Tom Spring hit back at Cllr Pugh’s statements and sought to provide some clarity, he said: “Cllr Pugh is fully aware of how an urgent referral committee meeting works.
“It operates in exactly the same way as a regular committee does. This means that ward members and petitioners get their democratic right to make representations. They also, vitally, get the same notice period and timescales to prepare any representations they may wish to make.
“It is a completely fair and transparent process.”