A lights fantastic show for Wirral

Jan 23 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

WIRRAL’S waterfront will be lit up in a £50,000 “spectacle of light” under plans expected to be approved by regeneration leaders today.

Mersey Waterfront Regional Park is likely to approve a plan which will see stretches of the borough’s Mersey riverbank illuminated later this year as part of the Capital of Culture celebrations.

The temporary lighting spectacle will also give people an idea of how the proposed River of Light scheme may eventually look.

It is expected to take place during November, potentially stretching from Woodside to New Brighton, although a site on the Liverpool side is also being considered.

A presentation to the MWRP board today will outline the proposed format of the project.

The plan at the moment is to “install temporary projects on both sides of the river in November 08” and provide the opportunity to pilot night- time river cruises – which the report describes as “a major potential visitor attraction”.

The scheme will also allow MWRP to evaluate the impact of lighting on the waterfront for the full River of Light project.

Deputy chairman of MWRP and New Brighton councillor Pat Hackett said he believes the project would “truly enhance the Mersey waterfront and in particular the Wirral side”.

He said although the project is in the earliest stages of development, he hoped it would emphasise landmarks such as the ferry terminals at Seacombe and Woodside, the ventilation shafts for the tunnels, SS Peter and Paul’s church in New Brighton and Vale Park bandstand, which can all be seen from the river.

The River of Light plan would eventually see cross-river laser displays between the four Mersey tunnel ventilation shafts to mark key events.

Sara Wilde, chair of Mersey Waterfront, said: “We've been looking at the use of lighting for some time to create a new and unique attraction which would enhance the appeal of the waterfront at night.

“The proposed lighting project for November would be a small scale demonstrator display to help showcase our waterfront in a completely new way.”

liammurphy@dailypost.co.uk