A FORMER lifeboat station is to become a museum devoted to the history of lifesaving in the seas off Wirral’s coastline.
Following a lengthy campaign spearheaded by local businessman John Parr the deal to secure the former RNLI station in Hoylake has been sealed.
It has followed a long-running battle to use the building – formerly owned by developer Peel – to celebrate the lifesaving efforts of the lifeboat volunteers.
Mr Parr said it was “very exciting” but a lot of work remains to be done before the museum will open.
He added: “We still have a long way to go, but this is a great opportunity.”
Plans for the museum in the former station building on the promenade were first revealed last summer.
Hoylake’s lifeboat service was founded in 1803 and is one of the UK’s oldest.
The RNLI moved out of the station after 110 years in November 2008 when a new custom-built lifeboat station was opened 500 yards away.
With spectacular views of the Dee Estuary, the empty building had been seen as an irresistible development opportunity, along with the council-owned car park next to it – at various points it has looked like becoming anything from offices to a carpet warehouse. Instead constant pressure from the local community has seen the lifeboat museum plan gain ground.
The deal has followed a series of public meetings and lengthy negotiations with the building’s owner Peel, and originated with a suggestion Mr Parr had put forward some 12 years ago to help with the regeneration of Hoylake.
He said: “Back in those days the town was rather down on its luck.
“A lot of life has been breathed into it since, especially with the Open returning to the Royal Liverpool.”
He had always hoped that if the new lifeboat station was developed, the older building would be used for a museum, and he paid tribute to Peel for allowing the idea to have a chance, along with local businessman Tony Crane who, through his company Hylgar Properties, has helped the scheme move forward.
Mr Parr himself has already bought two historic lifeboats linked with Hoylake and had them restored.
He is now organising a committee to oversee the next stage of the museum, but said there remains much work to be done before it can open. He said: “The building was built to store boats, and will need a lot of money put into it. But without the help of Peel, Tony Crane and particularly the local community and local councillors who really won the day, we would not even be where we are now.”
