Community group in Wirral gears up to fight the sale of an historic building, one of a number of disposals proposed by cash-strapped Wirral Council. Tony McDonough reports
In December 2024 Wirral Council proposed the sale of a number of buildings to raise much-needed cash but in one case it may have a fight on its hands.
Community group Brighter Bebington is gearing up to fight the sale of Pennant House in the centre of the village. Currently housing council offices, the property was originally built as a Victorian Villa in the early to mid 19th century.
Sandwiched between the Rose & Crown public house and community facility Mayer Hall, Pennant House was the home of noted antiquarian, goldsmith and collector Joseph Mayer from 1860 to 1886.
A renowned philanthropist, Mayer established the Mayer Free Library, Mayer Park, and Mayer Hall, and donated multiple collections of art and antiquities for the public benefit.
However, although the building is part of the Lower Bebington Conservation Area it is not designated as a listed site by English Heritage. This means the council is free to sell for new development which could include new homes.
Late in 2024 the cash-strapped authority’s Policy and Resources Committee recommended the disposal of a number of properties, including Pennant House. A small number of staff from the council’s adult, health and social care teams are based there.
The list also included the Conway Centre, Ivy Farm Cottage, land at Upton Bypass and the former Laser Engineering Centre, Campbeltown, Birkenhead. They are expected to generate millions of pounds. Wirral Council has declined to say how much it expects from the sale of Pennant House.
In its report the committee said: “The council needs to continue to make savings on its property portfolio and to generate capital receipts.
“The disposal programme, along with further reviews of the estate, is considered the best way to achieve this. As a consequence, no other options have been considered.”
Now Brighter Bebington is urging people living locally to lodge objections to the sale. They are particularly unhappy that the sale will include land at the back of Pennant House that has become an extension of Mayer Park.
In a Facebook post the group said: “You will notice that on the rear entrance that is in Mayer Park, the outline encroaches into the land belonging to the park itself and in fact divides a part of land that has been recently cultivated and beautifully planted by the friends of Mayer Park.
“We think that this is unacceptable. If you feel strongly against the council’s intention to sell off Pennant House, which is a part of Lower Bebington’s history and heritage, and at the very heart of the Lower Bebington Conservation area then you can make your objection by emailing (the council).
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It recommends people email HR***************@********ov.uk quoting reference DC/Legal 10721996 or write to Director of Regeneration and Place, Wirral Borough Council, PO Box 290 Brighton St. Wallasey, Wirral.CH27 9FQ quoting reference DC/Legal 10721996. It adds people have until September 5 to register their objections.
Already struggling for cash, Wirral Council has now seen another setback with costs for the improvement of public realm in Birkenhead doubling from £12m to £24m. Council leader Paula Basnett called the cost rises “completely unacceptable”.