CONTROVERSIAL plans for a 'fun factory' pub and restaurant go before Wirral Council tonight (Wednesday). Public and press could be excluded from the debate under the 'exempt information' ruling when the Labour-controlled Council deals with protests by councillors.

Wallasey Tory councillors Kate Wood and Lesley Rennie, however, expect a full debate in public. They call for 'full consultation with residents' and want to see a model made of the proposed development at the former Derby Pool site.

Lib Dem leader Coun Phil Gilchrist, with colleague Coun Pat Williams, wants the exempt tag lifted 'in order that the public have an opportunity to establish the full facts of the matter.'

New Brighton Community Partners and Wallasey Civic Society are also objecting to the approval of plans for a licensed restaurant, children's fun factory, flat and car parking.

Planning chairman Coun John Cocker (Lab) says the site was earmarked for tourism development. In 1990 a planning brief was prepared indicating a hotel or restaurant. "Don't forget the adjacent site was orginally a swimming baths and therefore has a history of being a public place with a potential for noisy fun. The Council has no money to develop the site and therefore relies on the imagination of the private sector. The preparation of the formal plans for an area is the time for wider consultation."

Last night's meeting of the policy committee also had an 'exempt information' tag on controversial plans by Wirral Met College to use the former Withens Lane college site, Wallasey, for housing.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.