Heritage group seeks £6m to double size of Wirral Transport Museum

The museum is home to a variety of vintage vehicles, including trams and buses

A heritage organisation has sought £6m in funding to "completely transform" and double the size of a museum.

Work has been taking place at Wirral Transport Museum since it was closed on 20 April when "hazardous substances risks" were found in the building.

Big Heritage, which took over the museum from the council in November, said it was addressing the problems.

It said at present, only 20% of the museum was accessible and it wanted to create more space for visitors.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the social enterprise organisation's plans also include "a heritage bus network" which would take people to nearby areas on vintage buses.

The agreement between Big Heritage and Wirral Council was put in place to help secure the future of the museum and could create up to 10 new full-time roles.

The organisation also hope to finalise an agreement with the volunteer group which previously ran the museum, Mersey Tramway Preservation Society, to allow them to continue looking after their trams.

The society has agreed in principle, though the transfer has not been without controversy after volunteers were shut out for months due to serious health and safety issues.

The museum on Taylor Street in Birkenhead has been closed since 20 April

The museum's new managers said they wanted to "completely transform the museum" using between £5m and £6m of investment over the next five years.

Under the plans, it would be extended on to the yard area of the site and join to the existing building.

The organisation said the "heritage bus network" could operate at peak tourist times, and would transport people to Birkenhead Priory, New Brighton and Port Sunlight.

"We will need to balance this service with a responsibility to protect the historic vehicles, but the potential is considerable," a representative said.

"We would also seek to use these buses to offer free transport to Wirral schools wishing to make school visits."

They added that Big Heritage expected to make an announcement about a reopening in early January once funding was confirmed.