Row over hotel promotion mix-up by council

Sep 22 2007

IT IS one of Merseyside’s most prestigious hotels and has hosted high-profile events like the 21st birthday party of football star Wayne Rooney’s fiancee, Coleen McLoughlin, in April.

The historic Thornton Manor, former home of William Hesketh Lever, who built Port Sunlight, is considered one of the “hidden jewels” of Merseyside. Now Wirral Council has been forced to defend its decision to promote the hotel’s conferencing facilities – before it has been granted planning permission.

On Wirral council’s Visit Wirral website, the Manor is said to make “the ideal location for all corporate events from conferences to product launches”.

What the website doesn’t point out is that the council is currently considering a planning application to allow a change of use for the Manor House to include conferencing and other facilities.

Local councillor Isabel Moon said it was “absolutely diabolical” and added: “One department of the council does not talk to the other. Tourism never seem to check details – even some- thing as important as this.

“People in the village are very upset about it already – I’ve had calls from people wondering what is going on. I think it’s been remarkably silly of the council’s promotions department not to even think about planning regulations when they should have thought about that before advertising this on their own website. It’s very upsetting for the community.

“Planning applications are the local people’s opportunity to have their say. This makes it look like a foregone conclusion when it is not.”

I think it’s dreadful that the council are promoting something they are in the process of considering – It gives the impression that people who may be against will not have their opinion listened to.”

David Elderton, Conserv- ative spokesman for planning, said it appeared to be “a silly thing to do” but as a member of the planning committee said, he and other members would “not be leaned on by other council departments”.

Cllr Elderton said the committee would remain impartial and only consider planning applications on “strictly planning terms”.

Emma Degg, Wirral’s head of tourism and marketing, said: “The council’s tourism department is responsible for promoting Wirral as a great place to visit. Part of that role is to promote the borough’s excellent tourism businesses.

“The Visit Wirral website includes a section that highlights conference venues and extends that same facility to Thornton Manor.

“Any planning application submitted to Wirral Council by Thornton Manor will be subject to the same planning conditions and legal strictures as that submitted by any other applicant.”

A spokeswoman for Thornton Manor said they had no comment to make, but architects Mike Paddock, who repre- sent the owners, said the current planning applicat- ions would make the least impact on this important historic building and its gardens but raise enough money to maintain it. He added: “It’s one of the few remaining buildings of its generation left unspoilt. Our clients are more than anx- ious to work with the author- ity to achieve the best possible planning outcome for the house.”