Protest over plan for common land to be taken over by golf club

A protest has been held against plans to allow part of a beauty spot to be taken over by a golf club ahead of a major tournament.

Sefton Council recently approved a bid to allow a one hectare (2.5-acre) section of Birkdale Common to be incorporated into Hillside Golf Club ahead of the 2026 Open Golf Championships at neighbouring Royal Birkdale.

Demonstrators gathered on Thursday to object to the plan, which they said set a “worrying precedent”.

The Open’s organisers, the R&A, said under the terms of the lease the land would only be used for practice during elite golf championships, and that the current public right of way would be diverted around it.

Resident Chantelle Rea-Bradley, 62, said: “I object to common land being taken from us, however that’s done.

“The other side of this is the tourism element, and I’d be more than happy for the golf club to borrow our land four or five weeks every few years.

“We can deal with that, but they can’t take it from us.

“It’s ours. It belongs to the people, and it needs to stay belonging to the people.

“We happily give up temporary access for other events by individual small companies, and some are even sole traders.

“If they can construct and deconstruct a garden within weeks then the R&A can do it too.”

Local resident David Marsden said: “Granting this application establishes a worrying precedent – that our public parks are at the disposal of commercial interests.”

While the land would be fenced off, a gate would have to be kept open to allow public access under the terms understood to have been agreed with Sefton Council, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The R&A does not own golf clubs or courses, but is responsible for organising major tournaments such as The Open, and is one of the sport’s main governing bodies worldwide.

A spokesman for The R&A, said: “A new grass practice tee pad is required to stage The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale and future championships.

“Utilising a small parcel of land adjacent to Hillside Golf Club for the tee pad is the only viable option.

“Public access to the area will be protected and the land will remain public under the planned lease arrangements.

“The public will be able to use the footpath as normal and the change will deliver a 10% net biodiversity benefit.”

Chris Moore, who said she had been walking her guide dogs on the common for 25 years, said: “To think of losing full access to this place, it’s a horrible thought. I think it’s absolutely awful.”

A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “A specific condition was applied to this proposal by the Urgent Referral Committee to address such concerns.

“We understand the club wish to limit access during and in the lead up to Open Tournaments.

“Temporary closure would also be applied during the bedding in period to allow landscaping and improved biodiversity to become naturally established. Outside of these very specific periods we have been assured that the club will keep the gates open to maintain public access.

“As part of this condition we have sought to attain a management plan from the club to ensure this is a formal enacted policy.”