Hoylake businesses say golf visitors were directed away from the shops

Sep 19 2012 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

BUSINESSES close to the Women’s Open claimed they were left out and the area left “like a ghost town”.

More than 40 local traders said they they had been told to expect thousands of visitors – but people arriving by train or park and ride were directed away from the shops.

Jo Smith of Seagrass Studio said: “They were directing people arriving at the station and from the car park up a side street and through a muddy field rather than towards the town.”

Les Bell of the Chantilly Tea Rooms added: “It killed the business in Hoylake, we may as well have closed.”

Roy Corke, who owns Spectacle Warehouse, said after businesses complained one sign was put up showing direction to the shops. He said: “Two people from the council came down and admitted they had got it wrong. But to them, putting it right was putting a little A-board up saying ‘shops this way’ The town was totally bypassed.”

Council leader Phil Davies said the Women’s Open was clearly smaller than the men’s event in 2006. He said the authority had tried to make businesses aware of the changes.