Wirral Rugby and Cricket Club in Thornton Hough could face a huge bill to remove a car park

Jan 28 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

A RUGBY club could face a massive bill to remove a car park and restore the land to its original state.

Wirral councillors will be asked tomorrow to approve enforcement action against Wirral Rugby and Cricket Club in Thornton Hough.

But chairman of rugby at the club, Dave Van der Zwan, is appalled. He said : “We have so many kids on a Sunday that residents complained they couldn’t get past.

“It cost the club £6,500 to put in. But, on top of that, every weekend traffic wardens come and book every car down the road – and all we’re trying to do is provide a facility for the kids.”

At the planning meeting, councillors will be asked to refuse a retrospective planning application for the car park. A report recommending the club be ordered to remove it within three months will also be presented.

Mr Van Der Zwan said originally they were told they did not need planning permission. The report said the car park “constitutes inappropriate development” which “results in visual harm to the Green Belt”.