Time for action on Wirral’s historic buildings

Jul 29 2009 Birkenhead News

SINCE the News put the future of Wirral’s historic buildings under the microscope last week, our team has been inundated with calls.

It is now even clearer that members of our community are worried their heritage will be lost unless something drastic is done soon.

Owners of listed buildings have called us expressing their concerns over the affordability of keeping these buildings on.

An owner of a grade two listed building said: “I have had enough now, it is so much hassle owning a listed building because there are so many restrictions about what you can do. I have invested so much money into the building – literally thousands and thousands of pounds – but it now needs even more work and I can’t get any funding to help me do it, so I feel like washing my hands of it.”

Earlier this month the Catholic Church was issued with an ultimatum to repair the crumbling Ss Peter and Paul’s Church, New Brighton, or face legal action.

And pubs including The Great Eastern, New Ferry, which was built in 1862 has been left unoccupied and over the last year has fallen into disrepair.

Meanwhile the owners of St Luke’s Church, Wallasey, have started fundraising to build a brand new church because running costs in the current one are becoming too high.

At the moment about £10,000 needs to be spent on the building with another £30,000 to be spent in about 10 to 15 years time, apart from ongoing routine maintenance.

It is believed that a new building, costing around £400,000, with low running and maintenance costs offers the best hope for preserving a church in the area.