Light at the end of the tunnel for Birkenhead town centre works
The green shoots of change are starting to take root along Birkenhead’s ‘future high street’ with the planting of a number of new trees on Grange Road symbolising the progress being made on this transformational project.
The trees are just a small part of the environmental and public realm improvements that will be made to two distinct parts of Birkenhead town centre once the project finishes, but they are a sign of better things to come.
And there is also light at the end of the tunnel for motorists with the traffic management arrangements currently in place at the Charing Cross junction due to be lifted in June.
No-one who has visited or passed through the centre of Birkenhead over the last 10 months could have failed to notice the extensive works taking place around Grange Road, Grange Road West and Charing Cross, and along Conway Street and Europa Boulevard.
Funded from a combination of sources, including the UK government’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF) and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Active Travel fund, the two programmes are designed to make those areas more attractive to visitors and shoppers and improve accessibility and safety for all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians.
More widely, they complement and are an important part of the comprehensive regeneration of Birkenhead, which is now moving from a long-term strategy into delivery in multiple locations.
Such a large-scale transformation of a busy town centre cannot happen without some disruption being caused to traffic and local traders.
However, the council – and its partner in this project, the highly-respected firm, Graham – are continuing to plan and deliver works in a way that keep disruption to a minimum. Graham continue to keep local businesses informed about the progress and whenever possible the message is reinforced that Birkenhead remains very much open for business as usual.
In the coming weeks, people can expect the car park at Europa Square to be completely closed temporarily to cars to allow the contractors to safely complete the scheduled works taking there by September.
In June, the temporary traffic lights and the traffic management arrangements in place at Charing Cross – the junction of Grange Road, Grange Road West, Oxton Road and Whetstone Street – will be removed. Also by June, the work around the entrance to the Pyramids shopping centre on Grange Road should also be finished.
The majority of the traffic restrictions on Conway Street are due to have been lifted by September, although there will need to be short-term lane closures again in November to allow for the new planting to take place at the optimum time of year.
The ‘Scouting Square’ themed paving and public realm area is due to be complete in November – and the good news for businesses and shoppers is that the whole of Grange Road should be fully clear before the busy Christmas period.
We fully understand that people are frustrated that their journey times through Birkenhead are a bit longer, or they may have to walk around safety fencing to get into their favourite shop. But the end is now in sight.
It would be impossible to carry out such extensive works without managing traffic and cordoning off areas being worked on – this is a significant project and it has to be carried out safely and appropriately.
However, once complete, residents and local businesses will see the benefits of the quality, attractive public realm, environmental and safety improvements that are being made.
The improvements are designed to provide a more attractive place for people to shop, live, visit or work and to support the regeneration of Birkenhead town centre by providing an improved, better connected and more sustainable experience for all who use this area.
