A RAFT of measures designed to manage traffic flow during the Open Golf’s return to Hoylake have been revealed.

The eyes of the world will be on Wirral in July, and no stone is being left unturned by organisers tasked with the mammoth job of ensuring the event runs hitch-free.

More than 230,000 people are expected to descend on the town, for an event that is worth more than £75m to the area.

Motorists coming through Wallasey Tunnel are now greeted to the borough by a sign reading 'Welcome to Wirral - home of the Open 2014'.

During a press conference at Wallasey Town Hall this morning Mark Camborne, Wirral council’s lead officer for Open Golf Planning, said: "The traffic management plan is similar to that of 2006. Feedback from 2006 was that the traffic management measures worked incredibly well. So, we see no reason to change them.

"Our message to visitors is please make use of public transport.

"Ninety-nine percent of the population in Hoylake are in support of the event. There are people who don’t like golf.

"We are keen to assure them that we are protecting residential roads by implementing these traffic measures.

"There will be various road signs in place that will alter the road landscape of Wirral. Protecting the main route through Hoylake is a key part of our red route philosophy.

"I have attended four public meetings in Hoylake and we have been working with businesses to reassure them it will be business as usual for them."

Among the plans is the provision of three main routes into Hoylake.

The first, for use mainly by buses and coaches, will take traffic along the M53, through Moreton and towards Hoylake.

Junction two will take motorists along Saughall Massie Road to a public car park in Heron Lane, Meols.

Junction three will take drivers to the main parking area in Hilbre School in Newton and Greasby Road. A team of 100 volunteer marshals will be recruited to ensure the traffic measures are adhered to.

In Hoylake there will be no parking on either side of Market Street or Birkenhead Road.

This restriction will be in place from midday on Saturday, July 12 to Tuesday, July 22. Access to Stanley Road will also be restricted during this time.

On The Kings Gap it will be one-way traffic only for traffic from the roundabout at Meols Drive to Stanley Road.

On Barton Road, there will be one-way traffic along its full length between Beach Road and The King's Gap.

Permits will be issued to all residents of Stanley Road, Beach Road, Barton Road, Barton Close, Penrhos Road, St Margaret's Road, Courtenay Road, Curzon Road, Cromer Road, The Royal, Coronation Road and King’s View. Cars parked illegally in the town will be towed to a secure compound for collection.

On the issue of parking permits, Mark Camborne continued: "Residents' parking during the Open is a very sensitive issue.

"I have no doubt that people will write in to local press about this in the run up.

"Last time it was one or two who complained, and I expect it will be the same this time."

An information centre will be set up at the town hall chambers in The Quadrant, Market Street in the summer, to deal with residents’ enquiries on traffic management measures.