Conservation group English Heritage has placed historic Hamilton Square on its "at risk" list.

The square features in the latest edition of the annual "Heritage At Risk" register, launched on Tuesday.

The document reveals that one-in-seven English sites is at risk of neglect, decay or damaging change, and many more are giving cause for concern.

The group says the square - one of the the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the country - is presently facing an uncertain future.

Its listing is as a result of English Heritage's first ever survey on the condition of conservation areas.

The review shows the top five threats to be:

Plastic windows and doors (83% of conservation areas affected)

Poorly maintained roads and pavements (60%)

Street clutter (45%)

Loss of front garden walls, fences and hedges (43%)

Unsightly satellite dishes (38%)

English Heritage chief executive Dr Simon Thurley said: “To find out for the first time ever what condition the nation’s conservation areas are in, we asked every local authority to complete questionnaires for each of its conservation areas.

"Hamilton Square is a wonderful example of formal Georgian town planning.

"Many of the terraced buildings are underused, with pressure growing from unsympathetic conversions and the museum, located in the former town hall, has recently been closed.

"An uncertain future now confronts one of the most important setpiece historic townscapes in the country."

The town hall was deemed surplus to requirements as a result of Wirral Council's controversial Strategic Asset Review, which also recommended shutting down 11 of the borough's libraries.

The well-known landmark was put up for sale or rent recently by the authority, which advertised it on the internet.

The advertisement urged people to come forward with ideas for the building's future use.

One of the proposals floated so far has been a scheme to turn it into an arts centre.

Dr Thurley continued: "We want councils to protect small but important original details such as windows, doors and front gardens.

"Lose these and slowly but inevitably you lose the character and the history that made the area special in the first place.

"And where there are neglected or derelict buildings, councils should use their powers to encourage owners to repair or sell them."

“We also want council departments to work together to take better care of the public areas. Conservation areas should not just be the responsibility of the council’s conservation officer.

“Thirdly, we want local people to get involved.

"Our survey shows that conservation areas with community support are more than twice as likely to have improved over the last three years as those without.

"And there are countless instances where civic societies and residents' groups are helping councils by finding out what local people value, by doing street clutter audits, commenting on planning applications or helping to prepare local lists of historic buildings.”