THE future of Wirral’s town halls in Wallasey and Birkenhead is in doubt as the authority considers a new report on its office space.
The council will look at a range of options from retaining all buildings as they are now to a complete replacement of all local council sites, to save up to £1m a year on office accommodation.
Deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for corporate resources, Simon Holbrook, ruled out the most extreme options as unlikely – but left the possibility that the town halls could be replaced.
Of the six options outlined in the report, which will be presented to the council’s ruling cabinet next Thursday, most suggest variations on use of the town halls, Cheshire Lines, Acre Lane, Solar Campus and Westminster House.
The option recommended to councillors would see Wallasey Town Hall retained, along with Cheshire Lines, Acre Lane, and better use made of Solar Campus, and a refurbished Westminster House. It suggests the rest of the office space needed for 1,150 staff be “new build”. Several options would see the north and south annexes buildings, which house offices adjacent to Wallasey town hall, closed.
But others could see Birkenhead town hall become the main civic centre – or a newly-built “town hall” created for councillors.
The report also suggests a number of possible locations for any new council buildings, including Wirral Waters, Woodside, central Birkenhead and Bromborough.
Cllr Holbrook said: “I think we have to look at combinations of modest investment and making the best of the buildings we’ve got.”
He said the views of councillors would have to be taken into account and refused to be drawn on his favoured alternative, but said: “I think we will be looking to progress with one of the middle options.”
In December, Wirral Council gave the Hamilton Partnership six months to prepare a business plan for Birkenhead town hall to create the John Peel Centre for Community, Innovation and the Creative Arts.
Cllr Holbrook said the transfer process for Birkenhead Town Hall is continuing but, given that it is still owned by the council, “it is only proper that we include it in any options for future office accommodation”.
