Plans to close a "lovely" Wirral golf course may cause fly tipping and anti-social behaviour, a petition claims.

The proposal has come about as Wirral Council needs to save £20m this year to address its budget black hole, with two damning government reports published last November saying the authority must spend less on leisure services.

The cuts plan, which could change following a public consultation and further council meetings, would see 11 libraries and Woodchurch Leisure Centre, as well as two public golf courses, closed down.

The current plan would see Arrowe Park Golf Course and The Warren, in Wallasey, remain, with Brackenwood Golf Course, in Bebington, and Hoylake Golf Course to close.

The latter is vital to The Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, next year, because part of the municipal course is used as The Open's practice range - but Wirral Council has stated that its closure will not affect what is arguably the greatest golf tournament in the world.

Wirral Council estimates that the plan will save the authority £328,000 per year.

A petition to save Brackenwood has gained more than 700 signatures at the time of writing.

The golf club's petition, on change.org, read: "What would you rather see Brackenwood Golf Course used for? An open green space for all to enjoy or a neglected area of wasteland?"

The statement continued: "There is another way apart from closure. A lovely well maintained golf course or an area of land left to rewild, [and become] overgrown that could attract fly tippers, motorbikes and anti-social behaviour."

Making the case for it to remain open, the petition added: "The golf industry has seen a boom since the sport returned on March 29 [2021] and as such clubs, individuals, societies and groups enjoy the outdoor space and sport that can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life and of all ages right through to well past retirement.

"Many do not have the financial resources to afford joining many of the private clubs at £1,000 plus per year and many call Brackenwood their home."

In last year's budget, all four municipal courses in Wirral were up for closure, but the plan was eventually ditched.

While this plan would retain two of the four courses, Brackenwood wanted Wirral Council to consider two ways that it could remain open.

One way is for the council to produce a new plan for golf which removes the subsidy it provides to the sport, while the other involves the authority allowing another operator to run the course on a licence agreement or through a community asset transfer.

Laurence Evans, one of the many who has signed the petition, said: "I have used all of the municipal courses, particularly Brackenwood, since I was a boy. It would be awful if these were closed."

Mr Evans added that the last two years have shown the importance of green spaces to promote a healthier society, noting walkers and dog owners also use the courses.

He thought it would be "shortsighted and foolhardy" to close any of the four public golf courses.

There is also a petition to save Hoylake Golf Course, the other course which is up for closure, which has attracted 509 signatures at the time of writing.

A section of Martin Jones' petition read: "There has been a course on this site since 1898.

"There are currently six golf clubs based at and using this James Braid designed course as well as other casual users. It would be a massive blow to the community if this course were to close."

On how the course might be saved, Mr Jones' petition added: "We would agree that there is a need to introduce a new pricing/membership model for municipal golf.

"We would also suggest that alternative models for keeping the course open are urgently sought including the possibility of external provision."

Commenting in favour of saving Hoylake Golf Course on change.org, Charles Hillock said: "This is an important facility for the local community, offering golf at a reasonable cost. It is also of historic value and a green space that must be retained."