Bizarre 'Giant Wotsits' Road Markings Baffle Birkenhead Residents

As of October 12th, 2025, the town of Birkenhead, Merseyside is grappling with a peculiar road redesign that has left many residents scratching their heads. The local council has implemented a trial for a Low Traffic Neighborhood (LTN) on Grange Road West, which has resulted in the addition of large, lozenge-shaped orange and yellow road markings that have been likened to "giant Wotsits" by bewildered locals.

The colorful, eye-catching designs cover the pavement and half of the road, with orange planters placed at intervals. The council claims this is an "straightforward way" of "changing the dynamics of the street" and creating a more pedestrian-friendly shopping area. However, many residents and business owners are not convinced, finding the new look to be messy, garish, and potentially confusing for the visually impaired.

One local woman, Joy Longshaw, described the markings as looking like the result of "Pollock and Dali had a child," while a customer at the nearby Charing Cross Pub said the orange blobs "reminds me of giant Wotsits." Several others have gone so far as to call the redesign a "waste of money" and a "laughing stock" that makes the town look like a "children's playground."

Businesses on Grange Road West have also voiced their concerns, with some reporting a loss of foot traffic due to the ongoing roadworks. Shop owners worry the planters and benches being installed will only encourage anti-social behavior, and they feel they had little say in the rollout of the scheme. As the council's Birkenhead 2040 Framework continues to reshape the town, it seems the bold new look of Grange Road West has left many residents and traders baffled and dissatisfied.