Councillors previously approved the sale in a secret vote
The Friends of Pasture Marsh protesting against the sale of the land for homes(Image: Copyright Unknown)
An area of marshland has been controversially sold off by a Merseyside council following approval by councillors. The decision could see the land dug up and turned into homes.
An area of land off Ditton Lane in Moreton, Wirral was approved for sale by Wirral Council in July 2023 as part of a mass sale of assets by the local authority. During part of a Policy and Resources committee meeting not held in public, councillors agreed 12 to three “to progress and conclude the sale on the best terms reasonably possible” with the land labelled as “suitable for residential development”.
The report before elected members at the time said it could be considered for affordable housing, especially if combined with privately owned land extending to the corner of Pasture Road and Leasowe Road. Councillors of all parties were also updated in December 2024 on the sale.
However listings for the site sparked anger in 2025. A petition gained thousands of signatures and David Oldham, who campaigned against the sale, told the LDRS: “We had no idea this was happening. We feel a bit betrayed”.
Land in Moreton that could soon be redeveloped(Image: Google Maps)
Now council officers have approved the sale of the site to Persimmon Homes following that greenlight from councillors. The council will now enter an initial exclusive agreement to carry out investigations on the site.
A report said a revised proposal will be brought forward including a net purchase price, adding: “Entering into an initial exclusivity agreement and then a contract to sell the site will contractually commit the council to the sale, subject to the conditional elements being satisfied, namely the buyer securing planning consent.”
The report added: “The site has not been used by the council for many years and is not actively maintained. The nature and location of this site has now generated some support to prevent the sale, although it should be noted that the council only owns a portion of the whole site and would not have any sway over the adjoining owner’s land.”
Moreton West and Saughall Massie Conservative councillors Colin Baldwin, Gary Bennett and Vida Wilson have claimed “shock” at the news the site is being sold having previously asked for a halt to plans.
However the party’s leadership was present when the greenlight to sell the site for housing was given in 2023.
Council records show only three councillors opposed the sale but the Conservatives had four representatives on the committee. The vote was held in secret during an exempt part of the July 12 Policy and Resources committee meeting.
The party also had elected members present when the December 2024 update was given on the sale.
The Friends of Pasture Marsh, who are campaigning to protect the site, said they weren’t told about the council decision to sell the land. They said the land regularly floods each year and is a haven for wildlife and popular with bird watchers.
Wirral Council’s Local Plan, which will guide developments on the Wirral until 2040, has regularly been promoted as protecting the environment and only building on urban sites that have already been developed. However Mr Oldham previously said the sale of the land for homes goes completely against this.
In May 2025, he told the ECHO they had been lobbying the council for years, adding: “It floods every year. If you turn that into housing, where is the flood water going to go?”