WIRRAL Council has shelved plans to re-open historic Hamilton Square to traffic after a public backlash against the idea. 

The authority had proposed opening up parts of the square to two-way traffic while keeping the pedestrianised area outside Birkenhead Town Hall.

But after public consultation it was decided the best way to improve the town was to hold off on undertaking plans in isolation, but instead implement wider plans for the town's regeneration.

Council leader, Cllr Phil Davies, said: "Based on our conversations with businesses, residents and other partners we have decided that the changes to Hamilton Square are not the best use of this money at the moment.

"We are fully behind anything that brings more people, more jobs and more businesses to Birkenhead.

"We have a series of projects in the pipeline at the moment; covering the Woodside area, developments in Hind Street and the major regeneration work planned for the Europa Pools area.

"A new Growth Plan for Wirral – setting out a new approach to drive £250m of new investment, support small businesses and grow our tourism economy, is coming before the council’s Cabinet later this month.

"We also have the Birkenhead Improvement District, led by Wirral Chamber, which will drive huge improvements to the town.

"It's our view that we should capitalize on all of those opportunities as part of a fundamental regeneration of Birkenhead, and we will be using the council capital funding earmarked for this project to support extra regeneration work in the town.”