A MAJOR U-turn on controversial plans to cut cultural services in Wirral was last night being considered, as a senior Wirral MP launched a blistering attack on council proposals.

Wallasey MP Angela Eagle said the recent consultation exercise “appeared to people more of a fait accompli than a meaningful process”, and urged the council’s leadership to “listen to local people and think again”.

Her comments came as sources in both the coalition parties which run the borough’s council indicated that some of the more controversial elements of the unpopular proposals could be shelved or dropped altogether.

Late last year, the Labour and Lib-Dem led council revealed the results of a “Strategic Asset Review” with plans to close a dozen libraries, as well as leisure centres, museums and the Pacific Road theatre.

In their place, the authority had outlined a plan to create new centres which they argued would be more useful to the communities they serve, as part of a £20m investment over four years to develop a network of “state-of-the-art multi-purpose complexes”, some newly-built.

But among those which could now be reversed are the proposed closure of Woodchurch and Guinea Gap leisure centres, and the loss of Bromborough Civic Centre and Birkenhead’s Central Library.

Senior councillors are also looking at the possibility of transferring ownership of some libraries currently marked for closure to community groups.

The possible change of plan follows a series of public meetings across the borough.

Last night, Ms Eagle said she recognised the pressure on the council’s budget and the need to develop services for the future, but said: “The stated aim of the proposals in the review is to encourage ‘the regeneration of the poorest areas’, yet in Seacombe, which is one of the poorest and most deprived areas in the borough, the community faces losing swimming baths and a library.

“In Wallasey Village, residents also face losing a well-loved and well-used library facility.