Forums Forums Wirral Information Ask - Wiki Wirral what could revive Birkenhead town centre?

It is very sad to see the way it has gone down so much over the last couple of decades. I don't know either what could be done to save it now, that's assuming even if someone wanted to. The last time I was there was last July and we only went because daughter wanted to sell her xbox and although the place was actually really busy, it just smacked of depression and despair

I know I harp on about things in USA but it's very similar in regards to how town centres here too have suffered huge decline due to massive shopping malls offering much better facilities and of course free parking, restaurants and pleasant piped music.
The centre of town near me here is all but a ghost town now, full of pawn shops and the £1 shop equivalent. Most folk avoid it like the plague as it's riddled with violence after dark with murders happening frequently and gangs hanging around everywhere.
I doubt there's hope for B'head in the near future and it would take a huge input of cash and redevelopment planning to even stand a chance against Liverpool and the ever popular Cheshire Oaks Very sad

Give it a few more years and you can kiss goodbye to a whole load of other shopping places too.

The Internet is killing it off slowly, online shopping is the big thing now.

Thank the Internet for the latest blockbuster liquidation, asif piracy wasn't already hitting it hard along comes these online rental company's!

Technology is causing a major disruption to social life as we know it.

First the mobile phone, now the Internet.

I know. and I'm doing just that now as I'm reading your post. It so easy to order online and also because most of the things I want are free delivery too.

It's a shame really, shopping is not how it used to be.

I will admit that I do most of my shopping online, mostly electrical items tbh.

I'm sorry to see blockbuster go as I use them to buy games all the time, it's very unfair on the staff there.

Why is everybody talking about Birkenhead shopping centre as though it's the Bronx? Ok it can't compete with Liverpool which has got a lot of other tourist attractions, but it's not exactly the bowels of hell!

Many of the shops that've closed have closed all over the country not just Birkenhead.

I was there shopping today, it was busy and clean. And at least you don't have to walk miles to get to different shops.

the rents are the biggest problem with birkenhead.

I only really go to central Birkenhead to pay my rent and thus end up doing my food/ 'general' shopping there.

I believe that the biggest loss to the town is HMV.:( but with saying that,I do prefer shopping online for music/ dvds etc and so I am one of thousands that led to their downfall, unfortunatley.

I do use the Market occasionally for fresh meats/ cooked meats and that stall near Max Spielmans etc for fruit and veg.

How to improve the shopping centre?

No idea- its a shit pit and my motto is to 'Get in and get out' asap.

I used to prefer Birkenhead to Liverpool, because it was less busy, and had more of the shops I wanted, but it's not quite the same anymore!

Online shopping is killing the high streets everywhere tho, it won't be long until its only designer outlets left!

I agree, Cate. Sadly, the High Street is dead.

Where I live in Seacombe, my nan in law used to refer to Borough Road area as 'the village'. I used to think wtf?

There is a 'fading' newsagent,(another did set up but lasted 3 months- if that), a flower shop,a charity shop and a chippy- not the 'village'that this dear old lady spoke off.

I do recall a bakery, two or three other chippys, a pet shop and a butchers being there in the late 80s/ early 90s- all gone now. Razored down and houses built.Same as the C.O.S.A club.

I forsee more closures of small businesses come April, not just in Seacombe but everywhere.

I find it hard to find sympathy for the likes of HMV and Blockbusters and they ripped people off for far too long. I used to buy white label records for over £15 from HMV and rent DVD’s from Blockbuster for about a fiver a night. CD’s were way overpriced too. I think the pair of them had it coming for a very long time as they kept prices too high when there was little other choice than buying in the high street.

Quite agree there Neil_c.
I suppose another thing about Birkenhead is the drive into town.
Its like driving through Bosnia - boarded up windows, houses half demolished or set on fire, roads like a patch work quilt, women walking around in pyjamas.
It all adds up to a totally disgusting experience and thats even before you get in town.
To say Birkenhead is like the capital of Wirral so to speak, i am very embarrased to mention i even live anywhere near the place

Yes, I know what you mean about the journey to get there and yet less than a mile or two away are the very exclusive areas like Pine Walks, Golf Links Rd and the surrounding locations where you need to be mega rich to live.

Liverpool is the same, a doss hole once out of the tourist friendly areas.

Dont worry too much there is big change happening to this part of the wirral with all the money being pumped into wirral water ways by chinese investment. And now the northend has had a facelift and all along claughton road. I have faith in Birkenhead it has been great once it can be great again plus we have so much history. if the people of birkenhead had pride in where they live it would be a better place.