CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a hotel at a key beauty spot in west Wirral have come under fire from local politicians.

The Sail project for the marine lake, in West Kirby, would see a new boutique hotel built on a council-owned car park along with a new sailing school.

Last night, Tory leader Jeff Green blasted Wirral Council for trying to push the scheme through “behind closed doors” and said the council was denying local people the opportunity to be involved in decision-making on the project.

Cllrs Gerry Ellis and Geoffrey Watt have also criticised the cabinet for pushing ahead with the scheme.

Details of the report were revealed in the Daily Post after the report was leaked.

Cllr Green said he was concerned that councillors had been told not to comment even though “the facts have been reported in the paper and are deemed to be pretty accurate”.

He said: “I think it’s absurd that the director of law at the council should be trying to prevent any discussion of what the authority is planning.

“The decision is being taken behind closed doors so that local residents will not be able to influence what is being done. The whole process stinks.”