Birkenhead Central Library faces closure in huge Wirral Council spending review

Nov 26 2008 by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

birkenhead library

BIRKENHEAD Central Library will close and cultural activities will be shifted from Pacific Road Arts Centre under council plans to cut £3.7m in annual expenditure.

Cabinet will consider radical proposals on Thursday, put forward as part of a major review of Wirral Council’s strategic assets.

Among the wide-ranging recommendations are:

l Closure of Pacific Road Arts Centre and transfer of performances to the £11.5million Floral Pavilion in New Brighton

l The closure of Woodchurch Leisure Centre and Grange Road Sports Centre

l “Alternative uses” sought for Wirral Museum and the Transport Museum

l Libraries at Prenton, Upton, Ridgeway and Beechwood to close

A report on the proposals claims Wirral Council “cannot continue to maintain its current estate in anything other than a state of decline” and improvement of existing assets is “unsustainable and inconsistent with best practice”.

The council wants to spend £20m developing 12 ‘multi-purpose complexes’ across the borough, including five ‘major multi-purpose complexes’, preferably in partnership with organisations like the PCT, Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire Service.

To replace Birkenhead Central Library, Europa Pools will be “remodelled” as a ‘major multi-purpose complex’, in conjunction with Wirral PCT, to provide a healthy living centre alongside library facilities.

Williamson Art Gallery and Birkenhead Priory will remain, becoming the “focus for future investment”.

Community Centres at Beechwood, Gautby Road, Livingstone Street and Noctorum would transfer to community management.

The report by council chief executive Steve Maddox says “buildings will be disposed of as quickly as possible”, with £800,000 earmarked for demolition and £850,000 for mothballing of buildings.

Councillor Steve Foulkes, leader of Wirral Council, said: “If we leave things as they are we will be left with crumbling buildings, mounting repair costs and escalating levels of council tax.

“Change is never easy and we understand that people can become attached to the buildings that they use and which are familiar to them.”

Wirral Conservative leader Jeff Green said the plans were “disgraceful”.

He added: “Cabinet have put Wirral up for sale and as usual the approach is not about residents or what the young and old need.

“Once again it’s the public that has to pay the price.”

Cabinet members will consider the proposals tomorrow night (Thursday).