Plan to move market 'would keep community together'

Kim Roberts said roadworks in the town centre had led to a drop in footfall at the current site

Traders have welcomed a proposal to move the loss-making Birkenhead Market to an empty TJ Hughes store.

Wirral Council abandoned a previous plan to move it to an empty Argos building on Princes Pavements, despite having spent more than £1million on the proposals, after a furious backlash.

Despite relations between the council and traders being damaged by the row, the latest proposal appears to have generated more positive reaction.

Greg McTigue, owner of mobility equipment supplier Wirral Mobility and vice chairman of the Market Traders Association in Birkenhead, told BBC Radio Merseyside the proposal was a good idea "in the main".

"The council have changed the parameters now," he said.

"So what they're looking to is utilising assets that they've already got."

Greg McTigue said the move would "keep the market community together".

He added: "In the main, it's a good idea because it keeps the market community, if you like, together."

The market's current location in Grange Precinct has been earmarked for demolition, after becoming run down and dilapidated while running at a loss of £750,000 per year.

However the move to Argos had been roundly panned by traders and local politicians, who feared the location would keep customers away and a lack of space would force many traders to close.

Councillors on the economy and regeneration committee will be asked to move alternative plans forward next week.

The TJ Hughes building is one under consideration as a new home for the market.

Boowy Latham said traders were cautious after a series of controversial proposals had eroded trust

Boowy Latham, who runs clothing and curtain alterations service Just So, said she was not getting too excited yet.

"It'd be nice if it goes ahead," she said.

"But the way the traders feel at the moment is that nothing has ever been positive."

Kim Roberts, who runs Louki's Festival Wear in the market, said the current location had been suffering due to roadworks in the town centre.

"For the last year it's really declined," she said.

"I think people's shopping habits are changing slightly, but also because of what's going on inside Birkenhead itself, with all the roadworks and everything else.

"I think people are a little bit peeved with coming into a bit of a dump site."

Asked about a potential move to TJ Hughes, she said: "I think the market itself will look quite fabulous, if it's done rightly."

Wirral Council leader Paula Basnett said recently she was meeting with traders on a regular basis to get their views and "rebuild trust".

On the TJ Hughes move, she said: "I am listening to what the market traders want rather than imposing my ideas on them."