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The Chair welcomed the officers from Natural England, who were the governments advisors for the Natural Environment, who had attended the meeting to assist Members with any queries they had.

The Assistant Director of Parks and Environment introduced the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which provided Members with the results of the initial consultation exercise relating to Hoylake Beach Management and also proposed two beach management options for further consultation. The report set out the process and results from the initial consultation and this along with ecological and geomorphic studies and discretionary advice from Natural England was used to develop a range of management options.

Members sought clarification on refinements that Natural England may make on the proposed options in order to give assent and these included things such as development of a vegetation management plan and consideration of implementation of board walks and designated walking paths to protect existing and emerging vegetation amongst other refinements.

In response to queries from Members regarding the possibility of an option of a portion of the beach being raked into an amenity beach whilst still maintaining a natural area, Natural England outlined they would not be able to say whether that would gain assent or not but that proposals would be assessed and considered against the environmental tests which must determine there would be no adverse effect on the integrity of the site.

Councillor Liz Grey proposed a motion, seconded by Councillor Steve Foulkes that -

Committee requests the Director of Neighbourhoods to work closely with NE and MEAS to refine as appropriate the following two options, which ECET committee feels better reflect the consultation findings and the strength of feeling among the local population while keeping within the law. Committee requests that both options be costed and include a thorough review of potential drainage improvement works that might be needed:

1.  An option to work with natural processes along the entire beach but with a focus on greatly improved access for all and clearance of slipways.

2.  An option, similar to the Royal Haskoning Report of 03 November 2022, reference PC2553-RHD-ZZ-XX-RP-Z-0001” option 3, but with reduced vegetation clearance. This could involve ‘do nothing’ from Red Rocks to Trinity Road and ‘do everything’ from Trinity Road to the RNLI station.

Committee urges officers and NE to consider the protection of nature but also the need to heal a sorely divided local population. Any options proposed for final public consultation must meet NE full approval.

Committee appreciates the scientific evidence that shows clearly that beach levels are rising and that this facilitates the growth of vegetation on what is now essentially dry land most of the time. Committee understands the rich diversity of plants growing in this location and the degree of national and international legal protection this habitat is given. Having no wish to break the law or jeopardise the natural world and the benefits this offers the local community, including economic benefits, Committee requests the Director of Neighbourhoods to explore with NE the possibility of best enabling as many people as possible to appreciate this beach, however they may currently understand the term “beach”, while the Council and its partners continue the process of engagement and education with all stakeholders.

Committee’s concern for the wellbeing of the local community matches our concern for best practice in beach management and long-term protection of nature. Committee believes that it is in the best interests of community cohesion and wellbeing if some vegetation removal could be considered alongside that which may need to be considered for the proper use of the RNLI hovercraft to save lives at sea. Committee also believes that in removing some vegetation, the remaining vegetation would be far better protected from the misguided and illegal activities of which we have been notified in recent years, including in recent weeks. This has included reports of diggers and strimmer’s being taken onto the beach as well as the spraying of chemicals, all without permission. People have also bragged on social media of their efforts to remove vegetation by hand. Committee believes that such behaviour would cease were a small “amenity beach” to be provided, with vegetation removed to the promenade wall. Should the level of protection afforded to any species of plants there become a barrier to this, then a buffer zone could be created to protect specific plants or habitats without highlighting individual examples, removing the necessity to completely reject vegetation removal per se.

Committee accepts the need to prepare a mitigation plan with expert advice and for this to be monitored with experts and we request that officers work closely with NE and other local environmental experts, including MEAS, to assess how and where this might be possible and appropriate and Committee requests that the Director of Neighbourhoods works closely with NE and any other relevant bodies to assess the drains that empty onto the beach and arrange for any remedial or diversion works, if needed and as appropriate.

Following a debate on the motion, the meeting adjourned at 20.08pm.

The meeting resumed at 20.26pm.

Councillor Andrew Gardner moved, seconded by Councillor Tony Cox that –

Given the overwhelming support on Wirral for a compromise, all options that have been democratically put forward by elected representatives on Wirral, be presented by officers to Natural England for negotiation and a report brought back to the Committee on the outcome of those negotiations.

The Committee moved to a vote on the motion put by Councillor Liz Grey where it was carried (6:4) (1 abstention).

The Head of Legal Services outlined that as the second motion was wider than the motion that had just carried, it then fell.

Resolved (6:4) (1 abstention) – That

Committee requests the Director of Neighbourhoods to work closely with NE and MEAS to refine as appropriate the following two options, which ECET committee feels better reflect the consultation findings and the strength of feeling among the local population while keeping within the law. Committee requests that both options be costed and include a thorough review of potential drainage improvement works that might be needed:

1.  An option to work with natural processes along the entire beach but with a focus on greatly improved access for all and clearance of slipways.

2.  An option, similar to the Royal Haskoning Report of 03 November 2022, reference PC2553-RHD-ZZ-XX-RP-Z-0001” option 3, but with reduced vegetation clearance. This could involve ‘do nothing’ from Red Rocks to Trinity Road and ‘do everything’ from Trinity Road to the RNLI station.

Committee urges officers and NE to consider the protection of nature but also the need to heal a sorely divided local population. Any options proposed for final public consultation must meet NE full approval.

Committee appreciates the scientific evidence that shows clearly that beach levels are rising and that this facilitates the growth of vegetation on what is now essentially dry land most of the time. Committee understands the rich diversity of plants growing in this location and the degree of national and international legal protection this habitat is given. Having no wish to break the law or jeopardise the natural world and the benefits this offers the local community, including economic benefits, Committee requests the Director of Neighbourhoods to explore with NE the possibility of best enabling as many people as possible to appreciate this beach, however they may currently understand the term “beach”, while the Council and its partners continue the process of engagement and education with all stakeholders.

Committee’s concern for the wellbeing of the local community matches our concern for best practice in beach management and long-term protection of nature. Committee believes that it is in the best interests of community cohesion and wellbeing if some vegetation removal could be considered alongside that which may need to be considered for the proper use of the RNLI hovercraft to save lives at sea. Committee also believes that in removing some vegetation, the remaining vegetation would be far better protected from the misguided and illegal activities of which we have been notified in recent years, including in recent weeks. This has included reports of diggers and strimmer’s being taken onto the beach as well as the spraying of chemicals, all without permission. People have also bragged on social media of their efforts to remove vegetation by hand. Committee believes that such behaviour would cease were a small “amenity beach” to be provided, with vegetation removed to the promenade wall. Should the level of protection afforded to any species of plants there become a barrier to this, then a buffer zone could be created to protect specific plants or habitats without highlighting individual examples, removing the necessity to completely reject vegetation removal per se.

Committee accepts the need to prepare a mitigation plan with expert advice and for this to be monitored with experts and we request that officers work closely with NE and other local environmental experts, including MEAS, to assess how and where this might be possible and appropriate and Committee requests that the Director of Neighbourhoods works closely with NE and any other relevant bodies to assess the drains that empty onto the beach and arrange for any remedial or diversion works, if needed and as appropriate.