King’s Gap and Meols Drive conservation areas have been extended, with recommendations made to improve the frontage of Hoylake’s railway station and the town’s promenade.
It follows an appraisal and consultation over new management plans which took place last year – the first since they were introduced more than 20 years ago.
A conservation area is officially described as having “special architectural or historic interest, the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”.
It affords additional protections and homeowners need planning permission for some physical alternations and permission to demolish structures over a certain size without prior consent from the council.
The Meols Drive conservation area, which covers an area from West Kirby to Hoylake, now additionally includes Drummond Road, Stanley Road, Coronation Road, Morpeth Road, Airlie Road, Lingdale Road, Graham Road (pictured, top) and Eddisbury Road.
The roads were added as they were “considered to contribute to the legibility of the historic street pattern and architectural influences within the area”.
The management plan recommends that the council look at extending the public realm for pedestrians at The Quadrant in Hoylake to run as far as the railway station, improving signage, replacing later shopfronts, improving the station forecourt and improving the visual appearance of the “domineering” street lighting.
The area around The Quadrant in Hoylake
The King’s Gap conservation area, which covers an area of Hoylake in and around the Green Lodge now includes Queen’s Road and Cable Road.
These roads were included due to them being “of high architectural quality, with their construction contemporary with the development of the rest of The King’s Gap area”.
The management plan recommends the council looks at ways to increase the visibility of the “unique” sand dune at Courtenay Road and to “identify opportunities for the enhancement of this section of the Promenade and North Parade and the reinstatement of their historic character in order to improve their appearance, increase footfall and diversify uses”. It also suggests traffic reduction measures, public art, improved way finding, street furniture and public art.
A number of residents in Graham Road and Eddisbury Road say they were not aware of the consultation, despite the report stating that “all properties within and surrounding the existing and proposed extended conservation area were notified by letter”, and that it received 23 responses. Local councillor Max Booth has said he will take up the matter with the conservation team.
