THERE are plans to form a Hoylake and District Conservation Society to protect the character of the town.

This follows the demolition of the Orange Grove pub and the sale of an old school building, which Minto House nursing home is to close, after being bought by a developer.

Residents, councillors, traders and other interested people are invited to St Luke's Methodist Church Hall, on Wednesday, April 7, at 7pm.

Planning applications for the Hoylake area include 15 detached homes on the former Leas School site, Meols Drive, a departure from the Council's UDP plan in a Green Belt area.

Other proposals include the demolition of 5,7, 9 Trinity Road, and construction of 15 apartments.

The Planning Inspectorate has dismissed an appeal against the council's refusal for planning permission to demolish a cottage and build a farm manager's house at Hillstone Cottage, Oldfield Lane, Meols. "It would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt."

He also dismissed an appeal against the council's decision to refuse demolition of storage buildings to build a bungalow at Long Hey Road, Caldy. The overall conclusion was that the proposed development would harm the character of Caldy Conservation Area.

Hoylake Councillor and Conservative Group leader John Hale is lobbying Wirral Council to make Hoylake a conservation area and supports residents' moves to protect the character of Hoylake. "We have lost some lovely old buildings," he says.

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