Residents in Bromborough have set up a community Facebook page after it emerged that a property investment partnership are proposing to build houses on the former site of a popular sports and social club.
Around 400 homes around the Bridle Road area received a letter through their door advising that the land is currently owned by Aurora 2 Limited and Euro Property Investment Limited and of their intention to shortly submit planning permission to build 106 homes in place of the now closed OC Bar, which was formerly the Octel Sports and Social Club.
The letter says that the two companies are currently working with a "reputable housebuilder which prides itself an building high quality properties."
Aside from building on the club's recreation grounds, which provided the local area with football and cricket pitches and tennis courts, the plan also appears to include the demolition of Knockaloe Hall - the main building of the club and a manor house that is understood to date back to 1852.
The land owners are asking residents for their views on the proposed plans with a deadline to respond by August 28.
Most of the site is designated by Wirral Council as recreation ground and should the development go ahead, a financial penalty will be incurred.
But that does not appear to have deterred Aurora 2 and Euro Property Investment, who as part of their proposal, are offering to make a contribution to sports pitches and facility provision in the local area.
In response, residents have quickly created the Octel Development Community Group on Facebook and have secured cross-party representation on their committee in the shape of Liberal Democrat Councillor Phil Gilchrist, Conservative Party Councillor Ian Lewis and Labour Party representative Julie Crossley.
Residents have already raised a number of concerns about the proposal, including overdevelopment of the land, the increase in traffic and polution caused by it, the strain on public services such as primary schools and GP surgeries and the permanent loss of the sports and recreation facilities to the Bromborough area.
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