Wirral Council yet to spend £19.3m levelling up cash

About £280,000 of the money has been spent so far

A council has only spent 1.46% of the £19.6m levelling up funding it received over two years ago.

Wirral Council received it in the first round of levelling up funding from the government in October 2021 towards several major regeneration projects.

These would be in the area outside the Woodside Ferry Terminal.

However figures released by the council show much of the money has not been spent with none so far on some projects.

Two years on, £19,361,123 has not been spent with £287,748.18 spent so far by Wirral Council - the vast majority, £267,948 towards the re-development of the International Battle of the Atlantic museum.

A planning application recently submitted for this scheme and conservation work is under way to preserve the U-Boat 534 submarine with the roof now restored.

A total of £2,665,177 is expected to be spent on the project going forward.

The transformation of the Woodside Ferry Village has also seen £19,800 spent with £376,200 expected to be invested in the future.

This aims to "create a space for independent businesses, events and performance where people can enjoy Woodside Ferry Village and the waterfront location" and "develop a programme of events for the local community using music, art, exercise, theatre and play".

'Project paused'

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said no money had been spent on improving the public realm around the One O'Clock Gun and the bus station, refurbishing the landing stage, or reconfiguring outside the terminal to "support active travel, reallocating space to pedestrians and creating a coherent movement corridor between Birkenhead town centre and the waterfront".

These projects are expected by the end of March 2025 and the Woodside ferry village project is expected to be delivered by April 2024.

A planning application has been made for The Battle of the Atlantic Museum is planned for the area

The Battle of the Atlantic museum should be ready by March 2025.

A Liverpool City Region Combined Authority spokesman said last year Mersey Ferries services to Woodside Terminal were temporarily paused in advance of planned works to refurbish the landing stage and terminal building.

He added following a project reassessment it was decided to seek a new contractor to "deliver the high quality improvements while providing best value for money".

The overall plans for Woodside may change as the local authority rethinks a £6.395m project to create a new transport museum along an old Birkenhead trainline due to delivery challenges over land ownership and inflation.

The council and National Museums Liverpool said they were "both very keen to continue exploring options for a significant visitor destination" and think a location should be explored to be delivered in the medium to long term including a site in the Woodside area.

Wirral Council declined a request for comment.

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