Council gives Thornton Manor three months to dismantle lake marquee

Dec 3 2008 by Sue McCann, Birkenhead News

thornton manor

THORNTON Manor has three months to dismantle its lake marquee after losing its appeal against Wirral Council.

Problems began in August 2006 when the owners of the manor - Lord Leverhulme’s former home - submitted three planning applications for the siting of marquees already erected on Green Belt land by the lake, dell and walled garden.

Soon after, Wirral Council served an enforcement notice and on July 11, 2007, told the owners of the manor to “permanently cease the use of the land for the siting of a marquee or marquees within a period of three months from August 17 2007.”

The owners then lodged an appeal against this to the Planning Inspectorate, which was held at the Women’s Institute on September 8.

Jane Stiles, inspector for the appeal, made the decision on November 24, which dismissed the appeal, upheld the council’s enforcement notice and refused to grant planning permission for Thornton Manor to keep the lake marquee.

In her report, she said: “In this case, there is concern that the lake marquee has the potential to damage or disturb the habitat or wildlife interest of the site of biological importance.

“In particular, there is concern about disturbance to the herons during the breeding season - January/February to June/July - especially by fireworks, and the fact that the number of herons on the site has decreased.”

The chairman of Wirral Council’s regeneration and planning strategy overview and scrutiny committee, Cllr Alan Jennings, said: “The whole village is delighted with this decision because it means we are going to get some peace and quiet back.”

Thornton Manor was unable to supply a comment.