Forums Forums Local News Alterations in front of Birkenhead Town Hall

Sorry Granny - your post thudded in whilst I was hammering away on the electric mangle.

I'm not sure if Wirral Chamber of Commerce has kicked the trams out of Pacific Road, I understood that the Pacific Road rescue package included retaining the tram sheds for MTPS but I have a suspicion this hasn't fully happened.

The Hong Kong trams were handed over to MPTS when they also took over the tramway in early 2014. The trams and tramway are wholly run by MPTS with no involvement from the Council.

A number of years ago it all came together. Birkenhead Town Centre Management put masses of effort in to the area.
The immediate attractions which were mainly only open at weekends or Bank Holidays and listed as such on various brochures etc. They included,Ferry, Trams, Tram Museum , Wirral Museum at the Town Hall, Priory, St.Mary's Tower, Pumping Station(Grasshopper) , Egerton Bridge, Historic Warships and a little yellow electric bus which ran up and down to the town centre from Woodside terminal. Apart from the Ferry and the trams (£1 or something like that) they were all free to access.
First thing to go was the little yellow bus. That really put the cap on things..at the same time fewer buses were going to the terminal. It seemed as if it was a deliberate act to make the area fail, but I don't know and certainly wouldn't know why, but I'm sure someone had their reasons.

Apart from the trams, Priory and Ferry, they are all closed now, and to get a bus up to the Williamson is a bit of a fag..

Oh yes, I remember the little Eco bus! I don't think it was very well used - probably subsidised by some sort of short-term funding.

On the odd occasion I've been to Woodside recently, it just makes me sad. I remember it when the station was active, it was the bus terminus and the ferry, every 10 minutes, cost 2d.

Chris, it is a sad place now. Change on top of change . The little eco bus was used by people who would take a trip down to the front, have a cup of coffee at the café or something to eat and enjoy the view across to Liverpool. They didn't bother after the eco finished. It took people off the ferry up to the town centre and of course to the market. One little removal or change can affect so many.

I wonder about the cenotaph opposite the Town Hall. At this moment, I cannot visualize it's precise location and wonder how close to the road it will be. Is it likely to get dirty from passing traffic, I wonder ?

Posted on Facebook..(wirral network)


Ive just been to a consultation about the Council's proposed changes to Hamilton Street in front of Birkenhead Town Hall. It was rather confused, I thought. Firstly, it was held in a room ('the family room') with no proper lighting, so it was difficult to see the plans properly. Secondly, the chap from Mott McDonald who is the highways expert said their transport modelling has indicated that HGVs and buses would not use the road but it would be open to them. If there are problems in the future they could put a weight limit on vehicles using the road. Why open the road to buses and HGVs if they are not going to use it? The justification for the scheme is evidently to increase footfall for businesses in Hamilton Square at a time when businesses are moving away from the Square and residential conversions are increasing. It took a taxi driver to tell them that they had sited the new taxi ranks on the wrong side of the road, which would have meant loading wheelchairs from the carriageway, which is obviously very dangerous. The whole scheme seems badly thought out and I was not convinced at all that it is the best scheme. Apparently there were 4 options put forward but the public has only been shown one of them. Not very satisfactory. If you can get down to Birkenhead Town Hall tonight, the consultation is open until 7pm.

Things to do after stepping off the ferry at Woodside.
1 Submarine.
2 Pint in Gallagher's.
3 The Priory.
4 The Tram Museum.
5 Another pint in Gallagher's
6 A stroll around Hamilton SQ (Taking in the beautiful architecture).
7 Wilfred Owen exhibition.
8 Haircut in Gallagher's.. Followed by
9 Another pint.
10 Crawl back to the ferry..

Ha ha ! nidgynoo.

What ever happened to the Old Colonial by Taylor Street. That was all part of the 'Heritage Trail' package too. Pint and a pie to keep you going.

Found this. Draft copy.(2013) Page 4 gives a brief outline of possibilities for Hamilton Square.

http://www.wirralgreenparty.org.uk/files/other/2013-12-wgp-Draft--Greenprint-for-Birkenhead.pdf

....and who is Dr Paul Fiztpatrick,when he's at home ?

Ha - he mentions the bus terminal should be at Woodside and the Town Hall should be a museum - deja vu!

This document was produced by the Green Party.

The proposal to put smaller shops along Argyle Street and Market Street is hardly new (and was promoted by the Hamilton Quarter scheme) but where is the parking going to be for that area?

if you want to object, today (Thursday) is the last day. Go to the highways section of the council website and click on 'comments and objections to a traffic scheme'; the name of the scheme is 'Hamilton Square redesign' and the scheme number is DC-STEP-1516-2. Don't just put 'waste of money' as that will be regarded as a comment rather than an objection. You have to give reasons why you object.

my objection has been lodged tonight

What a load of rot in that Green Party document: I can't respect anything he says when he says this.
Quote: Such an investment can be presented as a natural and consolidating extension of its museums and galleries in Liverpool scarcely a quarter of a kilometre distant. /quote.
The river from Woodside to the Liverpool shore is 1 kilometer.

Similar to a few years ago, Chris. Different matter but Westminster thought it a good idea to link Wallasey and Kirkdale for electoral purposes. Flabbergasting

These are the muppets who sit in high places and make important decisions on our behalf.

Oh, I so agree, Granny.