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Vibrant Birkenhead indie quarter plans revealed

Ed Barnes
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Rumeana Jahangir
BBC News
LDRS Anthony Poldervaat, from Make It Happen, speaking at the launch of the Argyle Independent Quarter in Birkenhead.LDRS
The plans were revealed at a recent launch event

Businesses in part of Birkenhead said they wanted to turn their area into something that emulates the success of Liverpool's Baltic Triangle.

They hope to create an independent quarter - including bars and restaurants as well as creative, arts and music spaces - in Argyle Street and Market Street, with funding from the government and local authorities.

Speaking at the Argyle Independent Quarter project's launch, they said they wanted to build on what is already in the area and to fill as many empty retail unit as possible.

The once-thriving area declined after World War Two. Now, though, some locals said it was on the up, with several businesses being attracted.

'Exciting'

The Baltic Triangle, a former industrial area around Liverpool's Jamaica Street, is now home to independent creative and digital businesses.

The Argyle Independent Quarter is being spearheaded by five local businesses.

Wirral Council has invested £44,000 to boost the area's visual appeal and to allow shops to improve their look.

Ruth Rundle, who founded Wish Upon a Party in 2022, said her party-organising company had painted its premises pink after receiving £5,000 from the local authority.

"It's not a huge amount of money," she acknowledged. "But the difference it's made to brighten up that whole side of the street is huge and it's now a visible business to people. People want to come to use it because we look exciting."

But Chris Lee, who runs business hub Start Yard, said that while the Argyle Quarter had much potential, Liverpool was still a huge rival because of its night-life, bars and restaurants.

"We want people to identify there is something happening here," he said.

"That people think 'I should move my business here'.

"If we want to attract and keep employers and get them living on the Wirral, we need to help Birkenhead deliver that.

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