Wirral Council resolve that super surgery site will stay as green belt land

Jul 30 2008 by Matt Hurst, Neston News

GREEN Belt land at the former Warrens Nursery in Thingwall will not be used to build a new super surgery, regardless of the planning inspectorate’s decision.

On July 23 Wirral Council’s cabinet resolved to refuse any attempt to transform the land and it will remain as “green open space”.

The decision comes in the wake of a move by Wirral Primary Care Trust to try and overturn the local authority’s October planning refusal, by going over its head and appealing to the national planning inspectorate.

Cllr David Elderton, chairman of the council’s Planning Committee, told the News: “The application, even if the appeal is heard and was to find in favour, is an irrelevance because the council will not release the land.

“The problem for the PCT is that it will already have accrued expenditure on legal advice having to pursue a course to overturn the planning refusal.

“Now it can’t possibly have the land, there is no point in wasting further money on advice.

“That’s its decision but I assume, if it appreciates the situation, the land will not be available and there is little point in pursuing the appeal.”

The council’s decision does leave room for the PCT to return to the drawing board and resubmit an application, subject to the usual planning protocols, for the western section of the site not designated Green Belt.

Cabinet spokesman for environment, Cllr Gill Gardiner, said: “It’s a response to strong public opposition.

“I think it’s a case of the council listening to the public and the demonstration garden is a greenfield site and a very pleasant and important open space.

“It’s a sensible solution to a difficult problem.”

The council says it would be willing to “dispose of the main depot site”, in the event of a further application, but only if the PCT “supports the establishment of a social enterprise”.

Cllr Gardiner says this means the horticultural scheme currently in place should continue.

Dave Hall, who was among those who objected strongly to any erosion of Arrowe Park Green Belt, said: “It’s a good step and a complete shock.”

A spokesman for Wirral PCT said: “The PCT was unavailable for comment at the time Wirral News went to press.”