SHAME ON YOU, WIRRAL COUNCIL - 29th Jul 2008 5:10pm
Well, today I had a nice little train ride to Stockport to visit the re-opened WW2 air raid shelter tunnels. Very interesting, in view of the fact that we've recently been discussing the Tranmere tunnels. The scanned info. sheets give a lot of information, but just to point up some of the differences between Tranmere & Stockport.
Overall, Stockport was not as big as Tranmere; about 1600 yards compared with 2200 yards at Tranmere. Also, they were not as deep (but at about 40 Ft., plenty enough to serve the purpose). The tunnels at Stockport are not brick lined & for the most part are not floored. The pictures show them pretty well. There were nowhere near as many bunks provided at Stockport, it was mostly seating & standing. The website is on one of the sheets. It's about 10 minutes walk from the railway station & less than 5 from the bus station. In the central area of the town, there are signposts to the tunnels. Although it was in theory a self-guided tour, in fact there was a guide giving a tour. The whole tour took about an hour, but that included taking pics.
I've left some of the pics. as links in case they need enlarging.
I enjoyed it, but kept wishing that the council could be persuaded to open Tranmere. I'm pretty sure there would be government/EU money available, so, SHAME ON YOU, WIRRAL COUNCIL. Get off your ar*ses & make an effort. The recent pics. show the tunnels to be in a not disastrous state & we'd love to see them opened like Stockport.
Overall, Stockport was not as big as Tranmere; about 1600 yards compared with 2200 yards at Tranmere. Also, they were not as deep (but at about 40 Ft., plenty enough to serve the purpose). The tunnels at Stockport are not brick lined & for the most part are not floored. The pictures show them pretty well. There were nowhere near as many bunks provided at Stockport, it was mostly seating & standing. The website is on one of the sheets. It's about 10 minutes walk from the railway station & less than 5 from the bus station. In the central area of the town, there are signposts to the tunnels. Although it was in theory a self-guided tour, in fact there was a guide giving a tour. The whole tour took about an hour, but that included taking pics.
I've left some of the pics. as links in case they need enlarging.
I enjoyed it, but kept wishing that the council could be persuaded to open Tranmere. I'm pretty sure there would be government/EU money available, so, SHAME ON YOU, WIRRAL COUNCIL. Get off your ar*ses & make an effort. The recent pics. show the tunnels to be in a not disastrous state & we'd love to see them opened like Stockport.
Description: The entrance
Description: Plan of the tunnels
Description: Near the entrance. Some walling & sandstone flooring
Description: Typical tunnel
Description: Restored benches
Description: Some passages have been bricked up
Description: A narrow linking tunnel
Description: Must have been a door here
Description: First aid post
Description: Canteen