News Letter - May 2025
Hoylake Conservation - Newsletter May 25
I hope this newsletter finds you well and that you have enjoyed the recent warm weather - we needed this weekend’s rain but perhaps not the wind!
Planning and associated matters are fairly active at the moment. There are changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Wirral’s Local Plan has eventually been adopted after lengthy scrutiny and, of most immediate interest, new appraisals and management plans have been adopted for the two designated conservation areas at Meols Drive and Kings Gap (MDCAAMP/KGCAAMP). In combination, these documents establish a broad and progressively detailed set of guidelines which govern planning applications. The Hoylake Conservation Areas Association (HCA) committee is doing its best to follow this welter of policies and plans and ensure that they are applied in order to protect our unique area. As a statutory consultee, the Council are required to inform HCA of all planning applications and tree work notifications and as a group we evaluate these against the relevant policies and, where appropriate, make formal representations.
AGM. We held our AGM successfully on 5 April. The reports and minutes of that meeting are shown on our new and more up to date website www.hoylakeconservation.org.uk which we encourage you to use as a source of information.
It particular, it gives important and easy access to the two up to date appraisals and the associated boundary changes and the gazetteer of buildings. Use it to check out what it says about your own property!
These appraisals, for the first time, include a management plan to guide all concerned on how to safeguard our valued features and characteristics. As importantly, we now have authoritative arguments to deploy to protect our area against unwelcome demolitions and over-development which we have lacked in the past.
We have already detected an improvement in the standard of submitted applications and - dare I say it - in the balance and quality of officer reports and planning decisions. We will continue to monitor outcomes for consistency and balance to ensure we represent your concerns as best we are able.
Conservation Workshop. As a follow up to the AGM and because the changes to the boundaries recommended in the appraisals had not been particularly well handled, a workshop to explain the advantages of living in CA took place on 10 May.
Attended by 47 residents they heard a presentation from Principal Heritage Officer Agustina Solassi followed by a Q&A. We think it was successful in resolving some of the nervousness about the implications and answering many queries. A copy of the presentation is on the website.
Local Listing. Local listing of key properties and features is underway under the watchful eye of the new Principal Heritage Officer. This Wirral wide initiative records the architectural or historic value of features from individual buildings to Victorian post boxes to historic milestones. After ratification by an expert panel, approved nominations gain an extra level of protection in the planning process. This is not as stringent as the national listings scheme as it does not impose any constraints but is nonetheless welcome. Details of the listing, which includes some notable subjects in West Kirby, Hoylake and Meols (including the clubhouse at RLGC) can be found on www.local-heritage-list.org.uk
Finances. We had a tremendous and generous response to our 2023 appeal to match fund with the Council to cover the cost of the re-appraisals. We raised just over our £10,000 target which allowed us to pressurise WMBC to commission the specialist firm of Donald Insall Associates to undertake the work. To date, we have not been required to pay anything toward the cost of the studies and the monies are held safely in the HCA bank account. I am in contact with the Council to see whether our payment is required. Meanwhile, and especially for newcomers, the website allows you to donate or subscribe to the HCA account to help defray expenses such as leaflet printing and room hire. If you agree with and support our goals please consider making a modest contribution as described.
Committee. As a reminder, the committee of local residents is:
Chris Moore (Curzon Road) (chairman)
Sue Evans (South Parade WK)
Pam Meredith Jones (The Royal) (Treasurer)
Andrew Pickering (Meols Drive)
Katie du Plessis (Meols Drive) (media)
Liz Webster (Lingdale Road) (trees)
David Webster (Lingdale Road)
All the committee would be pleased to advise on aspects of conservation if required. Pam MJ has been serving as our Hon Treasurer for quite a few years now. We owe her a debt of gratitude, but I know she would be happy to hand this task over if there was anybody willing to take it on.
Finally, our aim to safeguard the historical and distinctive characteristics of this wonderful area are as important as ever. But we can only operate within the confines of the published plans and policies. There will always be areas of contention, and we might not win all the arguments but with your support we will do our level best.
Chris Moore May 2025
Chairman
www.hoylakeconservation.org.uk
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