Local democracy reporting service
LDRSA protest has been held against plans to allow a golf club to take part of a beauty site before a major tournament.
The Sefton Council recently approved a bid to allow a hectare (2.5-acre) section of Birkdel Common, which was included in the Hillside Golf Club before the 2026 Open Golf Championships in the neighboring Royal Birkdel.
The protesters gathered on Thursday to raise objections to the plan, which he said that “worrying example” was set.
Open organizers, R&A, stated that the land will be used only for practice during the elite golf championship, and that the current public right will be diverted around it.
Chantle Re-Bradley, a 62-year-old resident, said: “I have objections to the common land that is being taken from us, although this has been done.
“Its other side is a tourist element, and I am happy to borrow my land four or five weeks every few years for the Golf Club.
“We can deal with it, but they cannot take it from us.
“This is ours. It belongs to the people, and it needs to be related to the people.
“We happily leave temporary access to other events by individual small companies, and some are also the only traders.
“If they can build and decompose a garden within weeks, then R&A can also be done.”
LDRSLocal resident David Marsden said: “There is a worrying example from giving this application – that our public parks are in disposal of commercial interests.”
Local democracy reporting service said that the land would be closed, a gate should be kept open to a gate to be kept open to understand that it is understood that it is understood that the Sefton Council has agreed with.
R&A does not have a golf club or course, but it is responsible for organizing major tournaments such as Open, and is one of the main glory bodies of sports worldwide.
A spokesperson of the R&A said: “Royal Birkdel and Future Championship requires a new grass practice T pad to stage the 154th open.
“Using a small parcel of land adjacent to the hillside golf club for T pads is the only viable option.
“Public access in the area will be protected and the land will be public under the planned lease system.
“The public will be able to use the pavement in general and the change will provide 10% pure biodiversity benefits.”
Chris Moore, who said that she had been walking on mangoes for 25 years to her guide dogs, said: “To think about losing the full access to this place, this is a terrible idea. I think it’s absolutely terrible.”
A spokesperson of the Sefton Council said: “A specific situation was implemented on this proposal by the referral committee immediately to address such concerns.
“We understand that the club wants to limit access to the tournaments and in the lead.
“The temporary bandh will also be applied during the bed in the period to allow landscaping and better biodiversity to be installed naturally. Outside these very specific periods, we have been assured that the club will keep the gates open to maintain public access.
“As part of this situation we have demanded to obtain a management plan from the club to ensure that this is a formal enacted policy.”
