copy of e mail sent to developer and ward cllrs - for info. Should anyone else wish to comment, the ward councillors are:
Councillor Geoffrey Watt (Con) - West Kirby & Thurstaston Ward
41 Croome Drive, Grange, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 8AD no email address available so you'll have to post it!
Councillor Jeffrey Green (Con) - West Kirby & Thurstaston Ward
Leader of the Conservative Group
181 Irby Road, Irby, Wirral, Merseyside, CH61 2XE
EMail :jeffgreen@wirral.gov.uk
tel: 0151 648 5913 fax: 0151 648 8926 mobile: 07766 725 125
Councillor David M Elderton (Con) - West Kirby & Thurstaston Ward
Ennis House, 11 Roman Road, Meols, Wirral, CH47 6AG
EMail avidelderton@wirral.gov.uk
tel: 0151 632 3195 mobile: 07973 662395 fax: 0151 632 3875 business email: davidelderton@aol.com
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Andrew
With reference to
http://www.wirral.gov.uk/pe/hwkmp/westksailing.aspI'm sure you're going to get inundated with mails about this development, from concerned windsurfers, boaters and other water sports enthusiasts. I've just had a quick look at the 'masterplan' and must admit to being a tad concerned myself.
West Kirby marine lake is a fabulous spot for water sports and has featured in magazines worldwide because of its almost individual characteristics. It also undoubtedly raises a significant revenue for Wirral MBC through annual memberships and day licences. West Kirby itself benefits greatly from the number of visitors who appear there on a weekly basis throughout the year to take advantage of the conditions.
I commend the decision to work towards the regeneration of west Kirby, it does indeed look a bit 'tired' and could benefit greatly from a suitable scheme (as would those people using the marine lake). However, it is essential to design a scheme which will not spoil the ideal conditions which exist there, as doing so may have an effect opposite to that which is intended. There are other venues not so far away that also benefit from good winds (Crosby marina for one), and which are also popular venues, and I feel it likely that if the conditions at West Kirby were spoilt then a significant number of visitors to that area may well abandon it in favour of other spots.
Any structures built around the marine lake must be carefully considered - I already hear people complaining about the wind shadow caused by cars in the car park when the wind is blowing in certain directions - now imagine what would happen if an "80 -150 bed hotel building with an integral quality restaurant and bar facility" were put there instead.... I think you'd find there was a distinct lack of sailing going on from the sailing club - even more so if the water sports enthusiasts were required to carry their equipment a considerable distance to get to the water due to the fact that the hotel will have taken the place of the existing car park.
There's not much else I can add to this that you won't hear again, suffice to say that I'd prefer to drive to Anglesey every weekend than have to carry a load of kit down the road at West Kirby and go sailing behind a huge hotel.
I'd love to hear your comments on the matter and have posted a copy of this email on
www.iwindsurf.co.uk (whom it may be beneficial to consult before progressing the scheme any further) and also forwarded a copy to the West Kirby & Thurstaston Ward councillors . We'd all love to see West Kirby improved, but not at the cost of the excellent conditions there.
............................and here's the reply..............................
David
Many thanks for your comments and observations on the proposals at West Kirby Marine Lake titled 'The Sail'.
We are aware of the issue of wind shadowing and have highlighted the potential impacts in our final recommendations to Wirral MBC. Any further development of 'The Sail' project by Wirral MBC, which includes the potential for a hotel, will require further detailed feasibility on such impacts.
Regards
Andrew Teage
For Building Design Partnership
Senior Consultant
0161 8362216
a-teage@bdp.co.uk
edited by: Shawn, Jul 23, 2004 - 05:58 AM