A ‘compromise’ solution to the future of Hoylake beach is being suggested, after campaigners called for golden sands to return.

A petition signed by more than 1,300 people asked Wirral Council to reverse their policy of not raking or spraying grass on the beach.

Cllr Liz Grey, cabinet member for the environment, presented the petition to a full council meeting and said she wants a solution which will keep all sides happy.

But Anne Murray, from the campaign group Love Hoylake, said: “We are not satisfied with her current position, she is definitely stalling.

“One thing I would like to stress is we have never had meaningful dialogue with Cllr Grey. She is not working with us at all.”

Cllr Grey rejected the idea she was not engaging with local councillors and residents, saying she is open to meeting them to find a consensus.

She suggested a “part-amenity, part-natural beach” could form such a consensus.

This would involve part of the beach being maintained as golden sands and part of it being left to nature, Cllr Grey said this is something that works at nearby West Kirby beach.

Cllr Grey also said that while there is a well organised local campaign in favour of a sandy ‘amenity’ beach, the debate is not one-sided.

In the summer, Wirral Council was subject to an uproar for its spraying of the beach.

Figures such as the journalist George Monbiot and Dragons Den star Deborah Meaden tweeted their anger.

However, Ms Murray is not content with this solution. She said: “We are also not happy with this compromise of part amenity and part natural.

“[The beach] has only become in this sorry state because of [Cllr Grey’s] decision not to spray or rake, time is of the essence, we need the beach raked and cleared before it gets out of hand.”

Ms Murray believes Cllr Grey only represents a small minority of people locally and that most people from Hoylake want a golden beach.

Tony Cox, Tory councillor for Hoylake and Meols, said he believes the decision to stop raking Hoylake beach was implemented as a diktat and that he has not had any meaningful dialogue with Cllr Grey.

Cllr Cox added: “As far as I am aware, she has made no attempt to engage with the action group who delivered the petition to her, and they want to see the beach raked.

“To reiterate, again, 95% of the local population of Hoylake want to see this done. With regard to a ‘part-amenity part-natural beach’. This has never been suggested, and as such is still not an acceptable solution.”

“We already have this situation. From Red Rocks to West Kirby, [things have] been left and [the council] has provided this ‘natural’ beach option already. Residents do not wish to see any further encroachment into the Hoylake amenity beach.”

Cllr Cox also noted that the outcry against Wirral Council in the summer was primarily to do with the spraying of the beach.

In Cllr Cox’s opinion, raking is a less controversial matter and should go ahead once again.

One point of controversy is the advice given to Wirral Council by Natural England, the government’s adviser for the natural environment.

Cllr Grey said Natural England gave the council permission to spray and rake the beach earlier in the year, but once the council voted to end spraying and the national-level outcry began, she decided to halt all activity on the beach until Natural England were able to clarify what is currently best practice.

She also opposed Cllr Cox’s claim that 95% of locals are in favour of a natural beach, saying 95% of locals have not been asked.

On Natural England’s advice, Cllr Cox said his understanding is that Natural England advised the council to avoid raking one type of grass, spartina, and that the major issue on Hoylake beach is meadow grass, not spartina.

Therefore the council should be able to clear the grass.

Natural England were approached for comment.