Controversial ‘Wotsit Street’ in Birkenhead to go, council boss says

Bright orange markings which led to a road being nicknamed “Wotsit Street” are to be removed after residents condemned them as a “diabolical mess”.

The controversial road markings and planters on Grange Street West in Birkenhead, Merseyside, were introduced as traffic calming measures in 2025.

However, Wirral Council leader Paula Basnett has conceded local people were right to criticise the £300,000 scheme, and said she had asked officers to remove the features by the end of the month.

She said the street furniture and planters would be donated to schools and community groups.

The temporary traffic calming measures were introduced in 2025.

At the time the council said the “coloured surfacing design represents an eye-catching but straightforward way of changing the dynamics of the street without the need for major civil work”.

But the road quickly became known as “Wotsit Street” after locals said the orange shapes painted on the tarmac resemble the cheesy corn puff snack.