Wirral theatre deal in doubt

Feb 9 2011 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

A KEY element in Wirral’s bid to sell off unwanted assets is in doubt after preferred bidder Merseytravel knocked back the deal at the last minute.

Wirral had hoped to sell the Pacific Road theatre and the transport museum and tramway to the transport authority.

The sale is understood to have been for a notional sum but with Merseytravel taking on the running costs – but the Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority (MITA) voted not to go ahead with the deal.

The plans could also have seen a tramway connecting Seacombe and Woodside.

Deputy leader of Wirral Council Simon Holbrook slammed the 10 Labour members of the MITA who voted against the deal – including Wirral Labour councillor Ron Abbey whose party had initially instigated the Strategic Asset Review.

Cllr Holbrook described Ron Abbey’s decision to side with his Labour colleagues in Merseytravel as a “betrayal”.

.But Cllr Abbey defended his decision to vote against Merseytravel’s purchase of the theatre and museum. He said: “We were asked to spend £1.2m of public money on a project which seemed not to add up.

Cllr Mark Dowd, Chairman of Merseytravel said: “In this economic climate it is impossible for Merseytravel to commit to this kind of project.”