AN EXCLUSIVE country club in west Wirral could be given permission for helicopters to land and take off from its grounds each day.

The Grange in Thornton Hough had made a renewed application despite protests from locals for its guests to fly there.

A report to Wirral Council’s planning committee, which meets next Thursday [JAN 29] recommends the application be approved.

According to the report eight letters of notification outlining the application were sent out and eight letters of objection received, along with a petition from 53 households.

They objected to the proposals on grounds that it would be noisy, is "inappropriate development in this area" and could be dangerous.

The report said: "The proposal will allow helicopter landings within the hotel complex to provide an additional service for guests of the hotel.

"The application states that the landings will take place during daylight hours and they expect no more than one helicopter landing and take off per day."

The report continued: "The proposal provides a service that supports an existing tourism development within the Green Belt, which is appropriate to the character and use of the existing building.

"Due to the existence of the hotel as a tourist and recreational facility, the impact of an additional service at this site would not be considered detrimental to the Green Belt."

In the original application Clive Barnes, whose family has owned the club since 1989, said: "At the moment, weddings can arrive by car only, but today’s bride wants more from her wedding.

"We would like to offer them the opportunity to fly in as an alternative to arriving by car, which will form part of their wedding package with us.

"With competition in the area already, we need to update ourselves."

Last night no one from The Grange was available for comment