COUNCILLORS will be asked to agree moving controversial plans for Hoylake Golf Resort to the next stage when cabinet meets later this month.

The proposed complex would be built on the town's Municipal Golf Course and is a central part of the "Golf Coast" project created by the Jack Nicklaus Joint Venture Group.

It will also see an 18-hole championship course - designed by the American golf legend - a luxury five-star Celtic Manor hotel with health club and spa, new clubhouse and training academy.

A housing estate would also be built and there also plans for a link road.

If approved by cabinet when it meets on Monday, December 18, a full planning application will be submitted next year.

A public meeting on the resort, organised by Wirral West MP Margaret Greenwood, will take place at Hoylake Community Centre this Saturday from 9.30am-11am. It will be a chance for people to express their views about the proposals.

Those against the scheme had accused the council of carrying out a weak consultation exercise and called on the public to back its campaign to scrap the idea.

But leader of the Council, Cllr Phil Davies, said: "The Hoylake Golf Resort will be a flagship development which will create hundreds of jobs for local people and support businesses across the borough.

"As a globally-significant tourism and leisure attraction, it will support growth in our vibrant tourism economy and attract thousands of additional visitors to Wirral every year.

"Building on the success of the 2006 and 2014 British Open Championships at neighbouring Royal Liverpool Golf Club Hoylake, the Golf Resort will cement Wirral's leadership position with the international golf community, benefitting from the visitors, tourism revenues and global attention that recognition will bring with it.

"However, it is more than simply two new golf courses. Hoylake Golf Resort will be a key leisure destination with a high-end hotel, restaurants, spa and conference facilities.

"It will prove to be an attractive offer for international conferences and similar events."

The report to cabinet on December 18, details the next steps to progress the proposals, including the council's expectation that the developers complete planning and various site investigations at their cost and risk.

It also details proposed funding options and the full financial proposal for how the development will be delivered.

The full planning application would include the results of environmental and transport studies, and will also involve extensive public consultation with residents to ensure local views are considered and included in the final plans.

Cllr Davies continued: "Working with partners with the expertise and reputation of Celtic Manor, arguably the strongest brand in golf hospitality today, and north-west based Story Homes means we are confident we will deliver a resort of the highest possible quality.

"This is another example of Wirral Council being commercial, ambitious and innovative.

"By using our resources and skills to secure major private sector investment into our borough, we will create jobs for residents and generate revenue for the Council.

"The revenue this development will generate each year – significant sums in council taxes and business rates – will be reinvested in supporting our frontline services, and will go some way to start replacing the funding Wirral has lost since austerity policies began in 2010."

Further public consultation on the proposals will take place prior to the planning application being submitted and then undertake further statutory consultation as part of the planning process.

Local campaign group, The Stop Hoylake Golf Resort Action Groupsaid in a statement recently: "There are so many issues and commercial risks associated with this resort; it is our firm belief that the many negative impacts massively out way any 'perceived' benefits.

"We are against development on Green Belt Land, which is totally against current planning policy.

"Building on a flood plain will increase Flood Risk in the Birket Valley.

"We are also concerned about the environmental Damage to biodiverse farmland which is home to a wide variety of species, many of them nationally and internationally protected.

"Previous consultants' reports have stated that the resort is not viable, without the enabling development of 200 luxury houses.

"The council have carried out only a weak public consultation exercise and the majority of the local community are against the resort.

"Already costs are spiralling, there is no detailed financial business plan and no cost and benefit analysis has been undertaken."