PLANS to turn the former Hoylake lifeboat station into a museum are a step closer to becoming reality today after a Wirral businessman bought the building.

The building, on Hoylake promenade, was bought by Peel Ports and has been vacant since the new lifeboat station opened across the road in November 2009.

The building's sale to Hoylake-based Hylgar Properties, owned by Tony Crane, was confirmed by Peel Ports today.

Hylgar plans to lease it to a group who hope to open the museum, housing artefacts from the town's lifeboat history, by the spring.

There will be a public meeting at Hoylake Sailing Club tomorrow, Thursday, at 7.30pm. Its purpose is to recruit members for a committee that would be responsible for the museum's running.

John Parr is head of the group that plans to open the museum. He has been in talks with Peel Ports about the possibility of buying the currently vacant site for more than a year.

He told the Globe: "Peel have recognised the community's need for a lifeboat museum.

"A white knight has come to us in the shape of Tony Crane, from Hylgar Properties, who has bought the building.

"We are going to lease this and open the museum, hopefully by the spring. We would also like to work closely with the council, too. The hard work starts now, of course."

Mr Parr, who lives in Caldy, first proposed the idea of the museum in 1998, as a member of then Wirral West MP Stephen Hesford's Hoylake Regeneration Group.

His ancestors were members of the Hoylake lifeboat crew who lost their lives on December 22, 1810, after it had gone to the aid of a ship called "Traveller", which had been driven ashore in the Mersey.

The idea for a museum was strongly supported at a public meeting and since then John has spent time restoring two lifeboats that would feature in the museum; the 1901 Hilbre Island lifeboat and 1970s lifeboat "Thomas Corbett."

Both boats are listed on the National Register of Historic Vessels.

Mr Parr continued: "The museum is a massive undertaking, which will obviously take time to develop. We will also need to work on a business plan and there will be plenty of roles for people.

"There will be lots of people who will have lifeboat-related artefacts in their attics and wardrobes, and we would welcome their inclusion in the museum."

A spokesman for Peel Ports said: "We are pleased to announce that the former Hoylake Lifeboat Station on North Parade has been sold to Hylgar Properties to facilitate the development of a lifeboat museum.

"Following representations from Mr John Parr, Hylgar and the local community in general, the site's future use will be reserved to create a lifeboat museum for use by both locals and visitors alike.

"Peel Ports wishes everyone involved in the lifeboat museum venture every success in the future."

If you have any artefacts for inclusion in the museum, email John Parr at hilbre1948@aol.com