Tranmere Rovers’ Ingleborough playing field development plans are approved – but opponents insist they will fight on

Oct 31 2012 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

OPPONENTS of Tranmere Rovers’ bid to build houses on an historic playing field have insisted they will fight on – despite the proposals being given planning permission.

An outline application by the club for 90 homes on Ingleborough memorial field in Prenton was approved by councillors last Thursday.

A parallel application to take over part of the council-owned Woodchurch leisure centre and redevelop it as a training ground with community access was also granted.

The decision was hailed as a “significant moment” by the Tranmere Rovers Supporters Trust, which said it would help to secure the long-term viability of the club.

But Dean Johnson, who has led opposition to the scheme, said he believed the decision would only galvanise support for his campaign.

Those against the plans have maintained the field is a memorial to 88 former Birkenhead Institute pupils – including poet Wilfred Owen – who died during World War I.

Their argument was rejected by council planners who said that while the field was a war memorial, it had no legal protection.