Wirral Council said it was reviewing procedures to make sure it didn’t happen again
Birkenhead Market.(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Wirral Council said it is reviewing security procedures after a member of the public was able to camp out in Birkenhead Market over the weekend and help themselves to jars of honey.
Birkenhead Market traders told the ECHO a shutter was left open on Saturday, May 24 which allowed a member of the public to enter the building and camp out over the bank holiday weekend. They said the issue was found when the market reopened following the bank holiday weekend on May 27.
Traders said a makeshift bed was later found and a number of good were reported stolen including jars of honey, t-shirts and other merchandise.
When approached by the ECHO, a Wirral Council spokesperson said: “We are still looking into the circumstances of what happened last weekend.
“However, it does appear as though a member of staff has not properly secured one of the shutters and someone has been able to access the market, despite the presence of 24-hour security on-site.
“Three stalls have reported a small number of products missing from their outlets over the weekend and we are working with those traders to assist them with compensation for their losses.
“We will be reviewing security and shut down procedures at the market to ensure as much as possible that this kind of incident does not happen again.”
The former site of Argos in The Pyramids Shopping centre in Birkenhead, Wirral.(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Wirral Council is planning to relocate the market out of its current building in the Grange Precinct and move it to the former Argos on Princes Pavements. The new market is expected to open in 2026 and once traders are relocated, the current market building will be demolished.
The new market is one of several regeneration projects put forward by the local authority as part of its plans to revive Birkenhead town centre.
Former council leader Cllr Paul Stuart previously said: “Progress on the new Market is an important part of our wider plans for Birkenhead so it’s great to see this continuing to move forward.
“We are committed to delivering a vibrant and popular new Birkenhead Market and this is part of a massive investment in the town and its central shopping area.
“Our intention is to ensure Birkenhead is a destination people want to visit as part of attracting the inward investment which will bring high-quality jobs for our residents, give extra stimulus to the local economy, boost business opportunities, and through all this foster economic growth.
“In this way we can make Wirral an even better place where people want to live, work and raise their families.”