Community company to run Wirral Transport Museum – but volunteers will still play a part
Council report claims change in operator has potential to create a ‘compelling visitor attraction’.
A REPORT to Wirral Council’s Tourism, Communities, Leisure & Culture Committee says that transferring operation of the Wirral Transport Museum in Birkenhead to a community interest company could lead to a “compelling visitor attraction” welcoming up to 40,000 visitors a year.
The council has approved proposals for local not-for-profit firm Big Heritage (BH), which is already responsible for historical sites and museums, including the Western Approaches World War 2 underground control centre in Liverpool and Deva Roman Discovery Centre in Chester, to take on a 25-year lease. It is, however, envisaged the infrastructure of the heritage tramway, which runs from the museum for just over half a mile to Woodside, will remain under the council’s control in the short term, with BH expected to take this over within a 10-year period, subject to the Transport Secretary’s approval. This is intended to give BH an opportunity to recruit and train sufficient staff for the tramway to operate on multiple days of the week.
More visitors needed
The report states the museum and tramway cost the council £85,000 to run last year. Outside school and bank holidays, opening hours have been limited to Saturday and Sunday afternoons, which the council says has in-turn restricted footfall to around 6,000 people a year.
Members of the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society (MTPS) currently look after its day-to-day operation, but there is concern that a declining volunteer base, combined with the council’s inability to offer anything but a very limited staffing resource could make this arrangement unsustainable in the longer term.
MTPS supports Wirral Council’s negotiations with BH. Society members will retain their current access rights to the site and BH expects to work with it and grow its membership. All year round opening is planned, but BH has told the council it does not expect that volunteers will have to commit more time to manage this.
First steps
It is predicted that offering tickets also giving access to other local attractions, including the Battle of the Atlantic Centre (currently under construction next to the tramway’s Woodside terminus) could help achieve an ambitious target of 35,00040,000 visitors annually within the first two years of operation.
The immediate priority, however, is the reopening of the museum and tramway following temporary closure since midApril for maintenance work following a scheduled inspection by the Office of Rail & Road.
Tram services were temporarily suspended in late 2021 and since their resumption in February last year, due to track condition have only run as far as Shore Road.
David Armstrong, assistant chief executive of Wirral Council, said: “Work has already started resolving the issues raised and will continue in cooperation with the ORR.”
The RM asked Wirral Council for clarification regarding how long the museum building and tramway are expected to be closed to the public but was still awaiting a response as this issue went to press.