WikiWirral its great, register, enjoy and welcome.
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics76,352
Posts1,033,280
Members14,560
Most Online16,551
Feb 2nd, 2024
Who's Online Now
12 members (ArranGirl13, 3 invisible), 7,886 guests, and 533 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters
sunnyside 45,164
MattLFC 22,315
Mark 21,269
granny 17,788
_Ste_ 16,345
Newest Members
Kalena1962, rattus, Lisrush, Emotecreative, ArranGirl13
14,560 Registered Users
New General Forums
New Wirral History
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
D.I.Y. / Building Shop
by mharford91 - 3rd Mar 2024 8:53pm
1970's Murder in Central Park, Wallasey
by cutespam - 4th Aug 2018 10:28am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by Rhoobarb - 25th May 2010 5:55pm
Oleo Works
by Ducko - 14th May 2008 3:09pm
Top Posters(30 Days)
granny 14
casper 13
bri445 4
Topic Replies
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 3:50pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 2:33am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 5:43pm
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 3:09am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by diggingdeeper - 24th Mar 2024 5:58pm
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
This is Elvis
by GingerTom - 21st Mar 2024 9:27am
March
M T W T F S S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Top Likes Received (30 Days)
cools 1
Kylix 1
Top Likes Received
bert1 14
Mark 4
Gibbo 3
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,557
kimpri Offline OP
Forum Guardian
OP Offline
Forum Guardian
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,557
Community group launches ambitious bid to open Bidston tunnels to the public
Sep 30 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

1 2 next
AN ambitious project has been launched to open a network of tunnels under Bidston Hill to the public.

Wirral was given funds to establish two deep air raid shelters in 1941, one in Tranmere and another under Bidston Hill’s Rhododendron Garden, its entrance facing Hoylake Road.

The Bidston shelter had 2,213 bunks and 793 seats, as well as a canteen, staff dormitory, toilets, medical aid post and a ventilation shaft which could double as an emergency escape hatch.

The tunnels, which were 7ft wide and 6ft 6in wide, were rarely used and the entrance was eventually sealed up.

Now consultants have been asked by a Bidston community group to look at how the shelters could be brought back into use as a tourist attraction.

Peter Crawford, of Bidston Preservation Trust, said: “Our plan would be for the rhododendron garden to become a memorial garden to all those killed during the war.

“Hopefully we would be able to open up little sections inside the tunnels and recreate it as it would have looked
“It would be easier to open the Bidston tunnels than the ones in Tranmere because there is no industry. We have got open space in front of them and you could get people in. I think it would be stunning and there’s huge potential to turn it into a tourist attraction.

“We’re very determined and we want to see them brought back into use.”

Mr Crawford said it was too early to say how much the project would cost.

In the 1960s the shelter was considered as a place that could be of use because of the Cold War, but there was a lot of dry rot in the timberwork, and it has lain unused ever since.

Bidston councillor Jim Crabtree, who remembers playing in the tunnels as a child, said the idea of opening the shelter as a tourist attraction was originally suggested in 1984.

He said: “The tunnels are absolutely huge and it was built in a big H-shape.

“I think it’s a brilliant idea.” thumbsup



Does your vacuum suck? Get a Dyson!!


Google Ads
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,024
Forum Guide
Offline
Forum Guide
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,024
I hope they do open them,it's a long time since seeing the inside of them as kids,so they were "closed" at the time,but as kids we thought we were the only ones to have seen the inside of them,even explorers have to start somewhere. :-)

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19,446
Wiki Master
Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19,446
Yerr! Good find kimpri1. Wonder if they got a petition on the go?

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,797
Wiki Veteran
Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,797
yeerrrrr! laugh

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
Wiki Veteran
Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
They could open them and have some library's and shops in there or is that too far fetched.


God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19,446
Wiki Master
Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19,446
Peter crawford 0151 652 3141
Lets volunteer to get petitions going in the 4 corners of wirral!
Theres a website but too small for me to see, on my phone.

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,557
kimpri Offline OP
Forum Guardian
OP Offline
Forum Guardian
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,557
shop/cafe/information desk? I'm sure that everyone would benefit from it..


Does your vacuum suck? Get a Dyson!!


Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267
Addict
Offline
Addict
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267
i would sign a petition, but you would have to come a long way to see me laugh
or e-mail it to me and i will sign and i'll fax it back(thats a maybe)

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,444
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,444
With a bit of imagination it could be some sort of adventure playground with trade outlets in it as well. Kids are in to dungeons and hobbits and other troggy creatures (not you Robbo) so it could work.


Birkenhead........ God's own Room 101.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267
Addict
Offline
Addict
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267
or an underground shopping centre

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,557
kimpri Offline OP
Forum Guardian
OP Offline
Forum Guardian
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,557
there not that big inside dude


Does your vacuum suck? Get a Dyson!!


Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,487
Green Meanie
Wiki Master
Offline
Green Meanie
Wiki Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,487
yerrrrr joe nice post mate tunnneeeellls smile


[Linked Image] Please do not adjust your mind, there is a slight problem with reality
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 871
Wise One
Offline
Wise One
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 871
i hope this pulls through and everyone can gain access to it instead if having to either squeeze through metal barriers or dig through thick soil just for a nose.

P
Pinzgauer
Unregistered
Pinzgauer
Unregistered
P
Mightn't be the most popular bunny in the hutch for saying this but....... IMHO Tranmere is by far and away the better location. Bidston is much smaller than Tranmere. It's suffered much more from the brainless numpties with their graffiti etc. It has standing water (damaged drains). The reinstatement of the exit shaft (the H&S mob would insist on that) wouldn't go down a bomb on Biddy Hill now.

Holborn Hill Quarry would make an ideal entrance. It's a right sight at the moment with dead cars, junk etc. A visitor centre incorporating the entrance (think Stockport shelters) would be more acceptable there than building on the "green" site off Hoylake Road.

The emergency way out would be through the re-opened shaft in Frodsham St. (Re-build the shaft head "as was" only yob proof)
Tranmere has oodles more space and it's (mostly) in pristine condition. No standing water to speak of either.

Tranmere could be Birkenhead's "Stockport" ie. a great tourist attraction !!

Sorry Mr Crawford - you're backing the wrong hole in the ground !

I'll stand back and await the flaming !!!


Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,024
Forum Guide
Offline
Forum Guide
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,024
Not bothered which ,both are now in the history book of Birkenhead.I think that's more important,but I would like to see one of them open,imagine history for the kids in schools (do they still do history in schools or has that been downgraded),going to see where their grandad and grandma spent time underground because of the blitz.

Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4

Moderated by  Mod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Random Wirral Images

Click to View Topic.
Newest Topics
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
For Sale & Free
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
This is Elvis
by GingerTom - 17th Mar 2024 2:37pm
Member Spotlight
diggingdeeper
diggingdeeper
Wirral
Posts: 14,343
Joined: July 2008
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
New Wirral Info
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Get your Money Tree ready
by keef666 - 22nd Mar 2023 12:27pm
Restaurant/pub with outdoor seating - Bromborough
by CarterUSM - 7th Aug 2020 7:59pm
News : New Topics
Gaza
by diggingdeeper - 29th Oct 2023 9:28am
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by Excoriator - 10th Sep 2019 8:50am
New Enthusiast Forums
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Xbox
by TudorBlue - 3rd Mar 2024 8:48pm
Wiper mechanism needed
by Peter0787 - 20th Feb 2024 4:07pm
Popular Topics(Views)
5,067,823 WIKI WALK CHAT
4,013,760 Spotted!
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5