'Hugely exciting'

Controversial plans for the revitalisation of 60 acres of land along the north Wirral coast have been submitted to Wirral council's planning department by development company Neptune and if the green light is given construction work is expected to start next summer.

New Brighton Cllr Pat Hackett warned that acceptance of the proposals was the only realistic way forward for the resort.

He commented: "After so many false dawns for New Brighton this is an opportunity we dare not miss. It will bring increased business investment, jobs and a quality development that will bring the leisure facilities that people have been crying out for this last 40 years.

"The time for talking is shortly coming to an end and the time for doing is here. The majority of residents are rightly saying: 'Let's get on with it.' "

Plans for the seafront include relocation and enhancement of the marine lake, a major refur-bishment of the Floral Pavilion Theatre with new conference facilities, bars and restaurants, an outdoor lido, cinema complex and health and fitness facilities.

Much of the development is dependent on finance from a supermarket and around 120 apartments.

A new pier on the River Mersey will be subject to a separate planning application and environmental assessment.

Planned as phase two of the Neptune proposals the new pier is earmarked for the same site of the previous pier, demolished in the early 1980s.

'Hugely exciting'

Neptune Developments manag-ing director Steve Parry said: "This is a hugely exciting project for us and we have reached an important milestone in transforming our vision into reality.

"I was born and brought up in Wirral and can remember when New Brighton was a thriving and successful destination."

The planning application for the regeneration of New Brighton reflects two years of intensive work and extensive public consultation.

After the local authority have studied the plans there will be a further period of public consultation. Steve Parry said: "It is right that the council take time and care in reaching their decision. We have already conducted extensive public consultation and will continue to talk and listen to local people. These are credible and deliverable plans that will deliver very significant benefits to the community."

As owners of the land Wirral Council cannot give the go-ahead to the proposals itself. The scheme will need the approval of the Government Office North West.

Rusty Keane, chairman of New Brighton Community Partn-ership, said: "People can see for themselves that these are positive and sympathetic plans that will improve leisure facilities, enhance the environ-ment and bring people and prosperity back to this comm-unity."

But the recently-formed New Brighton Heritage Group remains unconvinced about the benefits of the transformation.

Chairman Leslie Parker-Davies said: "We are not a destructive group but we shall be raising objections.

"We will be lodging a petition and, if appropriate, we will be writing to the office of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to have the proposals called in for public inquiry."