Birkenhead Landmark Faces Closure After 137 Years of Service

People are upset about a possible town hall closure. Birkenhead Town Hall might shut down due to budget cuts. The council needs to save £25 million overall. Closing the hall would save only £100,000. The total budget gap is £34 million.

The council considered selling both town halls earlier. Birkenhead and Wallasey halls were both options. Services already moved from Birkenhead to Wallasey hall. The Birkenhead building is historic and needs upkeep.

Closing it could cause more problems later. Turning off heat might lead to dampness and mold. Officials said they would still check the building often. A report says the hall needs £9.5 million in repairs over 15 years, just to keep it closed. Wallasey Town Hall needs £12 million, too.

People near Hamilton Square feel disappointed. They call the plan sad and short-sighted. One business fears fewer visitors if it closes. People use the town hall often.

One person dislikes the idea of it closing. The hall is part of local history. Its architecture is gorgeous. Seeing weddings there is wonderful. The hall is vital to the area.

Why remove such a beautiful building, she asked. Find the money to keep it open, she urged. Birkenhead could be a great destination, as it is very close to Liverpool by train.

A local resident thinks it’s a popular attraction. She worried it might become derelict. The Wallasey hall is less popular, she stated. The Birkenhead hall is lovely in summer.

Another person thinks the area will decline. Birkenhead is losing more and more. Shutting the hall would be a step back. She feels pride in the historic landmark.

A heritage campaigner suggests a community takeover. He believes the building could thrive. Weddings happen often at the hall. The council must work with local groups.

He worries about the council paying to maintain it. They have a legal duty to maintain the building. This costs the council millions with no return. This is just dead money.

Closing the hall would be terrible for Birkonians. The hall represents Birkenhead’s history. It connects people to past generations. It is vital to local identity.

The Echo asked the council about the cost of the closed hall. They also asked about interest from outside groups. The council did not immediately comment.