People 'feel betrayed' by plans for beauty spot
Thousands of people have voiced their anger over the plans
Thousands of people have voiced their anger as a wetland could be dug up and turned into homes. A community group said they feel betrayed over the plans.
An area of land off Ditton Lane in Moreton, Wirral was first put up for sale by Wirral Council in July 2023 as part of a mass sale of assets by the local authority to pay back the government for emergency financial assistance in 2021. During part of a Policy and Resources committee meeting not held in public, councillors agreed 12 to three “to progress and conclude the sale on the best terms reasonably possible.”
A council report at the time said the site was in a residential area but faced significant flood risks. However it was deemed to be suited for a new homes development and could be considered for affordable housing, especially if combined with privately owned land extending to the corner of Pasture Road and Leasowe Road.
In December 2024, there was a further update on the sale with a council report showing the council-owned land was now being advertised for residential development.
The ECHO reported at the time it was being marketed as “former grazing land which is now characterised by areas of washland, self-seeded grass, shrubs and trees".
Now the entire site owned by both the council and Vyner Estate is being put up for sale described by Fisher German and council-contracted Lambert Smith Hampton as well suited for new homes.
According to a brochure pitching it to developers, building on the site would be a logical extension to Moreton. This brochure promotes the site’s location close to the coast as well as shops and schools in Wallasey and Moreton.
Golf courses in Leasowe, Moreton and Bidston are also promoted as well as the close transport links with Liverpool, Birkenhead, and Chester via Merseyrail or the M53.
However the sale has prompted anger amongst people in the area with a Facebook group and posts on social media getting dozens of comments. A petition opposing the sale of the site now has over 2,500 verified signatures.
The Friends of Pasture Marsh, who are campaigning to protect the site, said they weren’t told about the council decision to sell the land. They said the land regularly floods each year and is a haven for wildlife and popular with bird watchers.
Wirral Council’s Local Plan, which will guide developments on the Wirral until 2040, has regularly been promoted as protecting the environment and only building on urban sites that have already been developed. However David Oldham believes the sale of the land for homes goes completely against this.
He told the ECHO the group hadn't been told about the sale despite lobbying the council for years. David added: "We had no idea this was happening.
"We feel a bit betrayed in that the council said the Local Plan was brownfield first. They said we have got enough on brownfield so there is no justification to build on greenfield,” adding: “It floods every year. If you turn that into housing, where is the flood water going to go?”
Wirral Council was approached for comment.