CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a Wirral golf course are 'sorely disappointed' after plans to pull funding as part of council budget savings were passed.

During a full council meeting on Monday night, councillors voted in favour of a £20m cuts plan which will see it pull funding for Brackenwood and Hoylake golf courses on April 1.

Wirral Tennis Centre will also close for a 12-month period.

The budget will see the council withdraw funding for Woodchurch Leisure Centre and nine of its 24 libraries, after a period of several months in which local groups can bid to take them over on a community asset transfer scheme.

The budget was passed by 52 votes to 11, with Labour and Conservative councillors in favour of the plan, while the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats and Independent councillor Jo Bird voted against.

Keith Marsh, secretary of Brackenwood Golf Club told the Globe today: "Brackenwood Golf Club were sorely disappointed that Labour and Conservative groups could not see the validity in maintaining Brackenwood Golf course during the summer months ready for a new operator to take over the course as a going concern.

"We were once again present at the meeting and have worked so hard to demonstrate to the council the public feeling about the importance of the course and the land in Bebington."

Wirral Globe:

Brackenwood Golf Club campaigners at the Floral Pavilion ahead of meeting on Monday. Picture: Craig Manning 

"There are several operators that have shown significant interest in running the course and we now need the council leader, Janette Williamson, to stand by her commitment from the meeting last night to ensure that any transfer happens with haste.

"The course is not just a leisure facility, but a greenspace that is loved by many - golfers and non golfers alike.

"We are, obviously, disappointed that Brackenwood was not afforded the same level of support and protection that Woodchurch leisure centre has been given following agreement that £330,000 would be ring-fenced to support community asset transfers for the site.

"It can sometimes seem that all our work to raise the issues to councillors went ignored, a 3600 strong petition, an extremely well supported residents meeting at Brackenwood, protests against the closure, inclusion in the rally through Birkenhead on Saturday and of course the many communications with councillors but our fears of not being fully listened to transpired last night.

"From a public perspective, it seems nonsensical to have a public consultation on proposals about the budget running on the council website until March 27 when decisions have already been made at the budget meeting last night.

"We were highly disappointed that the outcome of the meeting seemed to be decided before anyone had even attended with both Labour and Conservatives agreeing the set budget in what appeared to be a 'whipped' decision by leaders.

"It is also highly-disappointing that ward councillors from across the Wirral, in particular from Labour and Conservatives were not in a position truly represent people who elected them but spent the majority of the meeting having a slanging match with each other.

"Our group representing Brackenwood Golf Club, as I am sure members of the public at the meeting and at home watching on the webcast, observed a spectacle that was embarrassing, un-professional and not what residents want to see on such an important night where local issues should have been high on the agenda not attacking the opposing party.

"Brackenwood Golf Club can only hope that the council has the determination to ensure that services affected by the savings within the budget can be fast tracked into alternative operator hands and not left to fall into disrepair.

"Brackenwood Golf Club's 87-year-long history is on the line here, we will wait and see but rest assured, as a organisation at the heart of the local community, we will be holding councillors to account for the promises made by the leader of the council at last night's meeting".