Demand for Childrens Centre's in deprived communites of Tuebrook, Anfield and Fazackerley

At the Education and Lifelong Learning Srutiny Committee Liberal Party Cllr Steve Radford and Labour Cllr Steve Rotherham protested at the lack of planning for Childrens Centres in their Wards.

Moving a formal motion they pointed out that 47% of Tuebrook's under 16 childrens were in families obtaining state benefits, in the case of Anfield this was 46% of children and in Fazackerley 30%

They deplored that their communities were not scheduled for Childrns Centres in the first phase of planning (up to 2006)

The Lib Dem Executive member announced , during the debate , that discussions were on going between Health and Education officials to look at these areas as part of phase two provision

Cllr Radford said he regretted that the correspondence from Education giving excuses for this omission of large parts of the North East of the city were limp in the extreme

Fairfield and Stoneycroft Area Committee - Thursday 8th January - Mersey Tram Presentation

The next area committee will be at the Fairfield Police Club , Prescot Road, at 6.30 for residents living in the Tuebrook, Kensington and Old Swan Wards.

The key theme of the meeting will be Transport Issues including:

Proposed Tram Scheme and impact on side roads to West Derby Road

Need to integrate plans for Football Parking and Traffic calming for residents in the Months Roads, Townsend Lane and Clifton Road Areas

Need to improve Safety on Muirhead Avenue Roundabout

Other Issues raised by the Liberal Party Councillors will be the request to CPO waste Land around the Clifton Arms Pub to provide quality housing to complement the development at Breckside Depot

If you have any key concerns or additional items to table why not e mail us on northwestliberalparty@hotmail.com

Disabled Access to City Centre Appeal

Considering the plans for extensive pedestrianisation of Liverpool City Centre Liberal Party Councillors Steve Radford, Hazel Williams and Chris Lenton have asked serious consideration be given to the needs of the disabled in a formal letter to the Executive Director for Regeneration

At the Social Care Committee, Cllr Radford hit out that Disabled representatives, parking outside Millenium House with Disabled badges in reserved places for the disabled , were fined by the Traffic Wardens of Citilink.

No concession was made for the fact that the committee meeting exceeded 1 hour ,so the disabled representatives were expected to "leg it out of the meeting , drive round the city centre looking for another place and leg it back for the debate! This just shows Liverpool City Councils real attitude to the disabled " blasted Cllr Radford

Roscoe School - Clubmoor Building Appeal

Liberal Party Councillors Steve Radford and Hazel Williams have written to Education officials urging measures to mitigate overcriowding at Roscoe School, Clubmoor.

Rob Gilland of the Education dept responded that all capital programmes are committed for 2003/2004 and he has promised to carry out an inspection at Roscoe. It is envisaged woork at Anfield Infants and Blueberry School (Dovecot) will take priority in 2004/2005

Having visited the school several times Cllr Steve Radford commented that the corridors were dangerously crowded due to a real shortage of store room facilities, also the school lacked a Libary IT facility

Street Lighting Survey

Working in their local communities Clubmoor Liberals Mike Williams and Debbie Tilston have reported faulty Street lights in Cherry Lane, Larkhill Lane, Grenfell Road and Daneville Road.

Over in Anfield Mike Butler has reported faulty lights and a broken in vacant shop in Esmond St.

If you have any concerns over street lights or other issues telephone 259 5935 or 259 5475 or e mail us at northwestliberalparty@hotmail.com

The next Planning Committee on Tuesday 6th January , 10.00 in the Town Hall, Dale Street will hear the case of the Academy Application, Newsham Park.

Please come and put your objections or concerns, see how Lib Dem Cllrs run away from their election pledges to preserve our Conservation Area and Green Spaces.

See if the overwhelming view, expressed by 83 residents at the last area committee, count for anything

Lib Dem's Reject Site Visit Request to Breckside Park

On Tuesday (9th Dec) Breckside Park residents supported by Liberal Party Cllr Chris Lenton ,asked the Planning Committee look at sites in Tuebrook where Barretts flats had now been left derelict and neglected, before they agree to over 30 flats at the Breckside Park depot site. ( For example New Road Court)

Over the last five years Liberal Party Councillors had pushed for this site being made available for a quality private housing.

 So there was disapointment that the quality of the site being compromised by flats, when there is clear evidence of Barretts persistent  failure to maintain such properties and an already established excess supply of flats in the Tuebrook/Anfield Area

As usual, all the Lib Dem councillors could do was to ignore their own housing market plans and surveys and blame the government rather than take their own responsibilities seriously

Mental Health Provision Under Fire at Avalon Unit, Rathbone Hospital

At the Social Care and Health Committee, Liberal Party Spokesman Steve Radford protested that plans to provide new accomadtion for long term health patients had been left swining since 1998. the current conditions he described as Dickensian.

Mersey Care Officials at the Committee (thursday 11th Dec) admitted the patients had been treated secondary to the needs of acute hospitals for too long. The Mersay Care Management were now progressing a bid to redevelop the Rathbone site and possibly extend onto the former Ian Skelly site on Edge Lane

Housing Benefits - In Liverpool in Crisis with 12,000 backlog

At the Resources Committee Cllr Steve Radford protested that private tenants are having, on average waiting 112 days to have claims to be processed in comparison to a government target of 35 days.  In May this year the average preiod was 133 days just showing how little real progress has been made

At the insistence of Cllr Radford a report on all customer complaints will be brought to the next  Resources Committee. Liberal Party Councillors Steve Radford and Hazel Williams circulated two local cases to colleagues showing how deplorable standards of service were !

With the very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year from the Liverpool Liberal Team!

The Anfield Big Lie Exposed - Liverpool Lighthouse Monday 8th Dec

At a special meeting of the Anfield and Walton Area Committee,  Cllr Steve Radford rounded on council officials when they claimed 58% of residents supported the stadium being built on Stanley Park.

Cllr Radford retorted that 58% of people voted for substantial housing investment and were misled into believing they had to sacrifice the Park for this investment.

In response to a formal question by Cllr Radford,  Executive Director ,Charlie Parker confirmed that Housing Monies were available independent of the Stadium Proposal, as they were being made available for the renewal of cities throughout the North

Newsham Park Debate, Lib Dems vote to compromise Park Green Space.

After two hours of debate ,over 80 local residents were infuriated to see the 4 Lib Dem Councillors vote against the Liberal Party motion at the Area Committe(Fairfield Police Club- Thursday 4th Dec)

. The Liberal Party Group had voted to request the Academy be built outside of the Newsham Park Conservation and Green Space Area. The Liberals also exposed the inadequacy of the 18 car park places for a school of 900 plus pupils and staff

Lib Dem Cllrs were embarassed when Cllr Steve Radford read out a letter confirming members of the Planning Committee had inspected the site without local councillors and residents being advised

Cllr Chris Lenton demanded to know where the traffic impact survey outcome was, a council official said the city engineers had not replied

Cllr Hazel Williams demanded that the enviromental impact survey be read out and she exposed that Lib Dem leaflets claiming no trees were to be felled were profoundly dishonest

The Lib Dems asked that the developers withdraw the application to refine details, whilst The Liberal Party, supported by residents throughout the area, demanded the Planning Committe reject the application and ensure the integrity of The Park and uphold the councils conservation policy

Following the debate Liberal Party Councillors are calling upon all residents to show their determination to protect the park by attending in force the Planning Committee when the apllication is scheduled

In the meantime please send petitions back to 16 Elm vale L6 if you want more blank petitions e mail us at northwestliberalparty@hotmail,com.

Why not write to the local papers or telephone radio stations demanding to know why the Lib Dems have reversed their policy ,declared in 1998 when they took power ,to protect our Parks in Trust for Ever

Anfield and Walton Liberals - Urge Public Attend forthcoming Area Committee Meetings

Members of the public in Anfield and Walton are encouraged to attend future Area Committees by Anfield Spokesperson Mike Butler, future dates are:

16th Feb and 5th April 2004

East Prescot Nursery Saved

Cllr Steve Radford had actively supported parents who wanted to retain the East Prescot Road nursery recognising that Queens Drive was a natural and major barrier between West Derby and Stoneycroft communities

He welcomed news that the nursery will not be closed over next 3/4 years and that the nursery will be part of planned provision of a childrens centre for the West Derby Area, as confirmed by education officials this week

Appeal for Alcohol Ban Debated at Town Hall

At the city council meeting on Wednesday 3rd Dec , Liberal Party Councillors Steve Radford and Hazel Williams pressed an amendment that the street alcohol consumption bans for Woolton and Norris Greeb be welcomed and that the council , give active consideration to extending the bans to the areas of Tuebrook, Anfield, Breckfield, Stoneycroft, Larkhill, Old Swan, Fairfield, Kensington and Newsham Park

These areas covered by 3 Police Neighbourhood Inspectorates were support had been expressed at Police Community Forums and the Area Committeee had agreed to support this  Liberal Party  Initiative

Cllr Flo Clucas after much hesitation agreed the amndment ,subject to the condition that Merseyside Police support the request

After the issue was debated and agreed Cllrs were surprised that the Labour Leader stated he did not support the move,  he wanted a city wide policy approach.

Cllr Steve Radford said he recognised the areas of Woolton and Norris Green were selected by The Home Office as a pilot to contrast areas of wealth and neglect, he strongly made the case that the Tuebrook /Anfield Area would provide a pilot being an area of dense population and terraced housing were anti-social behaviour on the street had most detrimental impact

Street Lighting Survey - Residents Feedback

Dozens of local residents have feedback to The Liberal Party appeal and complaints have now been registered for faulty lights at locations including Muirhead Avenue Central Reservation, Maxwell Road, Clifton Road and The Coppice.