Traders react to stunning images of what Birkenhead’s new market could look like

New images have been released showing what Birkenhead’s brand new market could look like.

Traders will move temporarily to the former House of Fraser building on Grange Road before moving into the new site by the end of 2024.

Wirral Council’s original plan, to move traders from the current location to a temporary market in St Werburghs Square before a permanent facility was ready, got ditched after a backlash from traders.  

The new scheme for the market is not yet set in stone as consultation with stall owners and more design work must take place before it is finalised.

Birkenhead Market is set for a major overhaul, with the brand new images showing what the finished product might look like.

Traders react to Birkenhead Market images

Kevin Goodman, who runs a clothing stall at the market, said the picture looked “very modern”, which he thought was not a bad thing.

Mr Goodman did worry that the new market would be out of the way, but thought the brand new image looked very open and said the market may be seen from many directions in the future, something which he felt was important in boosting passing trade.

One part of Wirral Council’s plan for the market is to open it up and improve access to it, through moves such as removing the flyovers and making it easier to walk to the market from Birkenhead Central train station.

While agreeing that the image of the new market looked appealing, Mike Eccles, from Billy Hill Curtains, mentioned another key concern for some traders.

Mr Eccles said his issue with the proposal was space, he wanted to know that the new stalls would be big enough for a business like his.

Jas Sidhu, who runs Sidhu Fashion, said more people would see his stall in the new market, but he insisted he was going to wait and see exactly what happens in the future.

Mr Sidhu’s comments reflect a sense of nervousness which exists among many traders, after the difficulties of the pandemic and the ditched plan to move the market to St Werburghs Square.

But it is clear that stall owners are far more positive about the future than they were this summer, when the temporary market plan was still on the table.