A strategic asset review by Wirral Council has sealed the fate of several leisure facilities in the area.

The council is closing a number of public buildings, including a museum and a leisure centre, in order to save £3.1m.

The Guinea Gap Baths and Recreation Centre in Wallasey will close in two years, though the Woodchurch Leisure Centre in Woodchurch will be retained.

Grange Road Sports Centre in Birkenhead may also be considered for transfer to the community ownership, while the Beechwood Recreation Centre in Greenfields will definitely be transferred.

The Wirral Museum will be closed and the Wirral Transport Museum, both in Birkenhead, will be transferred to a Community Development Trust.

The Pacific Road Theatre, also in Birkenhead, will likely be passed onto a community or charitable trust or a commercial operator in order to keep the centre open.

In a statement, the council said: “Cabinet recognises the clear commitment of staff, residents, local musicians and artists and young people to maintaining good cultural facilities and suitable performance venues on the Wirral.

“However, cabinet is also mindful of the current economic climate and the hardship it will create for many Wirral people. Definite action is required to tackle Wirral’s budgetary problems and the recession will also impact on the council in a number of ways, increasing the need for firm financial control in order to protect taxpayers.”

The news was not well received by locals however. The Liverpool Echo reported that when council leader Steve Foulkes delivered the announcement at a packed meeting at Wallasey Town Hall, he had to compete with “chants of ‘who are you?’, several paper planes and a blood-soaked placard of his face”.