Forums Forums Local News bidston tunnels reopen bid launched

Community group launches ambitious bid to open Bidston tunnels to the public
Sep 30 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

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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.”

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. :-)

Yerr! Good find kimpri1. Wonder if they got a petition on the go?

yeerrrrr!

They could open them and have some library's and shops in there or is that too far fetched.

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.

shop/cafe/information desk? I'm sure that everyone would benefit from it..

i would sign a petition, but you would have to come a long way to see me
or e-mail it to me and i will sign and i'll fax it back(thats a maybe)

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.

or an underground shopping centre

there not that big inside dude

yerrrrr joe nice post mate tunnneeeellls

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.

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 !!!

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.