Edge Lane order stops bulldozers

as reported by Alan Weston of the Daily Post

AN INJUNCTION was served on Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley and others last night to stop bulldozers moving in to demolish hundreds of homes as part of the Edge Lane road-widening scheme. Solicitors acting on behalf of campaigner and local resident Elizabeth Pascoe - who brought a successful High Court challenge to prevent the scheme from going ahead - obtained the injunction over the weekend. It means that if the council, and other parties involved with the scheme, press ahead with the demolition as planned this morning, they could be found in contempt of court. The action was taken after the council and lead organisation Liverpool Land Development Company announced at the end of last week that they were pressing ahead with the demolition of 265 derelict properties which are already in public ownership to pave the way for a multi-million pound facelift for the area, including new homes to replace the rundown buildings. The council's Liberal Party leader Steve Radford, who is supporting Ms Pascoe in her campaign, said last night: "We believe the council is undermining or seeking to undermine the High Court ruling. "The authority has not gone through a fresh, transparent planning process to take account of the legal judgment. "What we are seeing is the council trying to bully working-class districts into submission." The stretch of land, in the Edge Lane West area, is being cleared to make way for major road improvements to remove the traffic bottleneck at St Cyprian's Church. It includes realigning the road, widening it to a dual carriageway, and introducing a central reservation The project is being delivered by Liverpool Land Development Company (LLDC), the Northwest Regional Development Agency, English Partnerships and Liverpool City Council, all of whom were served with a copy of the injunction. Last month, a High Court judge refused to rubber-stamp a compulsory purchase order forcing residents fighting the plans to leave. Ms Pascoe, of Adderley Street, Kensington, argued the plan to buy up her home was a breach of her human rights. A further ruling is expected next month. Ms Pascoe said last night: "When we couldn't find out which properties were going to be demolished, we were left with no alternative but to take out an injunction. The council is still playing dirty and trying to carry out the demolitions before the judge has said what is going to happen." Cllr Bradley was unavailable for comment last night. -----------------------------------------------------------------On Radio City and Merseyside Cllr Steve Radford reiterated that the Edge Lane road extension could go ahead without the demolition of hundreds of homes in Edge Hill and appealed to Cllr Bradley to compromise

Letter to Daily Telegraph on Edge Lane CPO Battle

On Sunday Evening Cllr Steve Radford delivered a set of the injunction papers to the home of Lib Dem Leader Cllr Warrenn Bradley on behalf of all the residents fighting to live in their homes

Cllrs Steve Radford, Hazel Williams and Chris Lenton
Liberal Party Group
41 Sutton Street
Tuebrook
Liverpool
L13 7EG

0151 259 5935

07920090322

Letter for Publication

Dear Editor

May we start by thanking the Daily Telegraph Team for its excellent coverage of the heroic stand by Elizabeth Pascoe resisting the demolition of her home and fighting right up to the High Court

We had hoped that, following her victory, Liverpool City Council would accept the legal ruling and  at long last progress a scheme of extending the M62 /Edge Lane corridor without the needless demolition of hundreds of homes and businesses either side of the route

Instead the council officialdom ran out a press release stating they were to start demolition of 246 homes regardless.

Once again Mrs. Pascoe had to rush to the courts and issue an injunction to prevent this

Many readers and residents of Liverpool may not realise that the council's housing strategy is built upon the presumption that they seek to demolish over 12,0000 terraced homes they consider "surplus"

It is not about these houses being structurally unsound . it is about social engineering on a grand scale. Their solution to poverty is to demolish the homes of the poor

At today's prices the council intends to demolish 500 homes in the Welsh streets of Toxteth for the sum of £33million . What the cost of demolishing 12,000 homes over 15 years does not bear thinking about

What a phenomenal abuse and waste of tax payers money !

We publicly challenge the LIberal Democrats, how they have the cheek to describe themselves as liberals with this policy of mass demolition forcing people out of their homes

The Liberal Party constitution commits us to a society where every citizen posses property, liberty and security. The right to live in one's home seems pretty essential to those beliefs

Under our  Lib Dem / Labour Demolition Coalition in Liverpool, people  can't live in their terraced homes without fear of Compulsory Purchase and their community blighted by the deliberate empting of public sector homes

Cllrs Steve Radford, Hazel Williams and Chris Lenton
Liberal Party Group
Liverpool City Council

Coming Events : Homotophia at 18.00 hrs Hope Street Hotel,

Monday 30th October

Housing Committee , Tuesday,31st October at 16.30 Millenium House, Victoria Street

Tuesday 7th November, Planning Committee with visits to Lisburn Lane and Beech Street

Clubmoor and Norris Green Area Cmte Wednesday 8th Nov at Ellergreen centre

Saturday 11th November . Liberal Party NEC at Civil Servce Club

22nd November Tuebrook Central Residents Association

28th November Inquiry over Tunnel Road Village Green application at Mount Vernon

29th November Tennants Stakeholder Panel 13.00 hrs at Walton Clubmoor Centre

30th November Tuebrook, Stoneycroft, Anfiled and Old Swan Area Committee

Letters to the Editor - 25 October 2006   Demonisation of Muslims THE most sensible contribution on the "veil debate", I feel, has come from Ken Livingstone. He expressed the view that the vast majority of British residents would prefer Muslim women not to feel the need to wear a veil which inhibits facial expression. However, such a change in lifestyle is, in fact, a matter for Muslim women to determine. It is certainly not helpful for politicians to lecture or lambast any part of the community. Liberal Party members gathering at our assembly regretted the outburst of Jack Straw, and felt it would only inflame a sense of alienation among Muslims. For years, Orthodox Jews in communities such as Golders Green have kept their traditional clothing and customs. It has not created a crisis nor caused ministerial pronouncements. We respect their right to dress differently, just like any other lifestyle choice.   The demonisation of Muslims is totally destructive to our internal cohesion and our global interests.   The overwhelming majority of Muslims in the UK are law-abiding citizens who contribute to the commercial vitality of our country. The profiling of a few grotesque exceptions could be equally applied to non-Muslims.   The Muslim world has genuine and legitimate grievances such as the treatment of the Palestinians and the invasion of Iraq. Jack Straw would be far better focusing to correct these policies than whipping up tensions within the UK.   Cllr Steve Radford, President of The Liberal Party

On Monday 30th October from 3.30 until 4.45 at the Liner Hotel on Lord Nelson St (next to Lime St station) Liverpool City Council are making a presentations called The Life Model.
It is about their "living Through Change" service to people in areas affected by demolition.
In the Welsh Streets we were promised increased security, anti pest and rodent services, extra street cleaning and security patrols to prevent fly tipping , burglary, squatting and arson as houses are emptied and tinned up. We know living through change had a generous budget to perform these tasks.

Burglaries are increasing, arson is easy, squatters come and go, the rats are enjoying the rubbish and we have never seen a security patrol in our area. Only after residents make repeated requests for rubbish removal or security services do we see any services.  The difficulties of living with these problems are now forcing people to leave even though they have great homes, and have always objected to the demolitions. People are quite simply under siege and unable to cope with these problems.

You may be experiencing similar problems in your areas. You may have been made similar promises. You may wish for your experience to be available to the press when they come to see the LCC presentation.

If you are interested in seeing how the city council promote and present their 'Living Through Change' service, and in presenting the real life version of these events you might like to turn up at the Liner Hotel. Councillor Steve Radford has informed us about the event and has encouraged attendance by residents in the hope that a balanced and accurate view of what is taking place. He calls it Living Through Hell and so do we...... If you have photos of rubbish and rats etc, you could print them out as big as you can and take them with you. We think placards on sticks are seen as a security risk, so carry your photos mounted on cardboard, rather than on a stick.

Tuesday 31st October 6pm until 9.ish

Liverpool Lantern Company are again presenting a halloween parade in Sefton Park.It is a very beautiful event in which hundreds of people walk with lanterns they have made to a firework show, through performance , dance, original music and poetry.
It starts at 6pm from the obelisk in Sefton park and continues to a grand finale at the lakeside. The theme this year is 'Displacement" and deals with the demolitions.
We are organising volunteers to collect signatures on petitions, gather new supporters, discover more people who want to buy and renovate terraced houses, or rent houses in condemned areas. It is a good contacting opportunity as the audience will be primed by the event and probably open to groups seeking support.  Our treasurer Barbara Smith is co-ordinating L8 volunteers. we are planning to do a leaflet which could include contact groups for other areas . If you would like to help lobby for support in the park, or if you would like to help Barbara organise this, or if you would like contact details for your group to go out on the leaflet please contact her on  barbarasmith9@yahoo.co.uk  

If anyone has e-mail contacts for the Bottle or Kensington Groups or any other Groups on Merseyside please forward the contacts to me asap.  The deadline for returning contact details will be this Friday by 10am .
If you need additional information my number is 07971 472707.

all best wishes

nina edge
secretary welsh streets home group

Planning Committee:

The Planning Committee heard objections by Cllr Steve Radfotrd and local residents as to real parking problems in Lisburn Lane, as a consequence they have agreed to carry out a site vsit on 7th November ,rather than approve the request for a takeaway at the former credit union office

Local Residents presented a 131 signed petition, Cllr Radford spoke of the horrendous level of accidents at this section of Lisburn Lane which would be aggravated by additional parking

The Committee also supported a request for a site visit to 1-3 Beech Street, Kensington. An application was on the table for a bed and breakfast for 30 rooms for tradesmen with only 8 parking places. Labour Cllr Baldock and Liberal Party Cllr Steve Radford spoke against aggravating parking on this major road

The ward two kensington Lib Dem Cllrs didn't show up , however the site visit will also take place on the Tuesday 7th Nov

In the case of Utting Avenue the Committee agreed the flats to be built. Liberal Party Cllr Steve Radford was thanked by residents for speaking for their objections. Anfield's three Lib Dem Cllrs didn't show up

Licensing hearing for 67 Rocky Lane,  will be on Monday 6th November at 10.00 in Millenium House. Residents are encouraged to attend.

 If residents wish to have councillors speak on their behalf they will need to give written letters stating this .This new repressive Labour legislation  has contempt for the role of ward councillors speaking for their communities

Letter calling for revew of House Crusher Programme in light of shortafge of affordable family homes recignised by Minister :

Cllr Steve Radford
Leader of The Liberal Party Group
41 Sutton Street
Tuebrook
Liverpool
L13 7EG
0151 259 5935

Letter for Publication

Dear Editor

We are most grateful for the report in The Observer last sunday which stated that:


"The government is to demand a return to the 'traditional, family terraced home' after fears that a drought in house- building is gumming up the market and stopping people from moving.
Ministers believe a chronic shortage of three-bedroom properties suitable for families is leading to soaring prices and forcing people with children to stay on reluctantly in places they have outgrown. The lack of families moving also means that younger people trying to buy their first home are also finding it harder to enter the housing market.

Now councils which fail to ensure sufficient priority for family-friendly accommodation will have their plans rejected by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The change will be announced on Tuesday by the Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper"

So what is happening, here in the north west and north ?

We see tax payers money be ploughed into Pathfinder schemes ,where exactly that sort of family and starter home terraced property is being eradicated ,at an obscene public expense ,to be replaced by an excessive supply of flats.

Why ?, because the privileged building companies can generate greater profit by flats and apartments than family homes

The demolition "Pathfinder - House Crusher" programme will alone add another 6000 families onto the Liverpool City waiting lists in the next three years as well as dramatically reducing the current  supply of affordable homes

Government should pull the plug on the northern Pathfinder projects and we should not be forced to repeat the mistakes that the South has finally woken up to

Cllr Steve Radford
Leader Liberal Party Group - Liverpool

Cllrs Hazel Williams and Steve Radford

Liberal Party, 41 Sutton Street,

Tuebrook,Liverpool

L13 7EG

0151 259 5935 / 0151 259 5457

Letter for Publication

Dear Editor

During the recent council debate concerning the future of Liverpool's parks we were very anxious at one clause on Page 27 which described the council putting Parks in an order of priorities to identify "surplus provision"

Having seen this Lib Dem Council already go bandit on its pledge to protect our parks in cases like Stanley Park and Newsham Park to name but a few we were determined not to let this wedge open the door further.

So we moved the amendment that the council's objectives include:

1) No further encroachment of our Victorian Parks

2) That the proportion of parks and green spaces across the city be maintained and enhanced

3) That regeneration initiatives do no compromise the historic character of our parks

We were deleted this protective amendment of our was accepted, however not before The Labour Leader declared that this policy should not apply to Anfield

So can some one in The Labour Group could tell us who leads Labour on this issue,?

Cllr Paul Brandt or Cllr Joe Anderson , as they appear to have a bewildering different approach concerning the recycling of Stanley Park into a football stadium

Cllrs Steve Radford and Hazel Williams

Liberal Party Councillors

Liberal Party defend our Parks and Open Spaces:

At the full city council meeting , 18th October Liberal Party and Parks campaigners were very worried at the silence of the Lib Dem council's proposed Parks stratergy on key issues, even more so that page 27 of the report suggested the council priority list ordering parks and open spaces was a means to identify surplus provision

To prevent or deter further loss of park space the Liberal Party moved the following three points be added to the Parks Stratergy Objectives

1) No more encroachment of our Victorian Parks

2) The council should maintain and enhance the proportion of Parks and Green Space across the city

3) Regeneration Initiatives should not compromise the historic quality and character of our parks

This amendment was agreed , even though the Labour Leader demanded the policy did not apply currently to Anfield

Housing Committee Tuesday 31st October

Items scheduled for debate following initiatives by The Liberal Party include:

# Impact of inadequate compensation for families effected by Pathfinder/House Crusher

# Vacant Council homes in Fern Grove and Maple Grove ,Toxteth

# Poor performance of sweeping services for Newsham Park, Tuebrook, and Abingdon Road area of Clubmoor

# Delays in sale of council long term vacants

# Prescot Drive/ Prescot Road dereliction

# Council action or lack of it tackling private long term vacants

# Street wardens scheme

# Need for fencing around Brainerd Street / Lister Drive flats

We have also invited the Cairns Street Residents to attend

This Scrutiny Committee is open to the public and has a question time , please come along

Special Health Committeee to discuss Venmore Residential Home, Anfield ; Tuesday 24th October at 15.00 hours

Liberal Party and Labour Councillors are trying to persaude the council not to close Venmore Residential Home with its specilaist care facilities for Stroke Victims

This Scrutiny Committee is open to te public

Support grows for gay area - as reported by Nick Coligan of the Liverpool Echo  A LIVERPOOL gay quarter is a step closer today after councillors agreed to consider banning traffic from a city centre street. Stanley Street between Dale Street and Victoria Street, could be either permanently closed, or just closed at night with rising bollards. The road has become the focus for Liverpool's gay scene, and is home to popular bars and clubs. Supporters of the idea hope it could mean Stanley Street becoming "Canal Street on the Mersey", a reference to Manchester's gay village.

Labour councillor Paul Brant, who jointly proposed the idea at a council meeting last night, said: "There has been a feeling for quite a while that Liverpool has lost alot of business and tourism to Manchester's gay village.

 

"Stanley Street does seem to be developing along those lines, and one way to make it a more friendly night-time environment is pedestrianisation.

 

"It is not a key vehicle route, and as the council is already changing traffic flows through the city centre, it is an ideal oppor tunity."

 

Cllr Brant and Cllr Steve Munby had suggested banning traffic from the entire length of Stanley Street, but the council instead voted to examine a smaller stretch between two alleyways.

Liberal councillor Steve Radford, cochairman of Liverpool's Gay Business Association, said: "Some businesses in Stanley Street are worried about deliveries, and pedestrianisation just between these two entry points would let those continue.

"It makes it far more viable than a proposal thatsome businesses want and others oppose.

"We have surveyed all gay and gay friendly businesses in this area and they support that idea, along with the pedestrianisation of Eberle Street, where Garlands is based."

The amended proposal was supported unanimously by councilors.

Traffic is already banned from the Mathew Street quarter, while roads around Wood Street and Fleet Street are closed to vehicles at the weekend, when revellers converge on pubs and clubs.

Cllr Steve Radford has called on the Housing Committee on Tuesday 31st October investigate impact on personal debt of thePathfinder/House Crusher relocation and inadequate compensation just read this

Fyson on ... latest criticism uncovered by pathfinder study

"Demolition and relocation processes need to be managed sensitively, efficiently and equitably," say academics studying the housing market renewal (HMR) pathfinders. Admittedly, they find several examples of good practice where pathfinders give advice and support to affected residents.

This must come as a relief to those responsible for the much-vaunted attempt to revive markets in residential property by reducing housing supply.

The phasing and funding cycles of HMR programmes are to blame for creating "barriers to developing good practice in community empowerment" and the provision of support to households. As for the "affordability gap" between the compensation value of demolished homes and the purchase price of alternative property, affected residents need financial help. Fortunately, "in some cases these packages have been used". But the report finds resident owner occupiers affected by clearance tended consistently to lose out, facing an equity gap on average of £35,000 to find equivalent accommodation.

Rarely has a Joseph Rowntree Foundation-sponsored study produced such an understated but deeply critical evaluation of a government scheme.

Sheffield Hallam University was asked to examine the support and financial assistance provided to residents during clearance and demolition and to explore housing affordability issues facing uprooted households. It recommended ongoing community engagement, support and financial help for residents, including maximising choice of housing post clearance - measures that will require extra resources from government.

Whether or not performance in these areas improves, the report recognises that the scale of demolition and relocation is likely to increase. Mismanaging these operations damages "relationships between pathfinders and local communities", it warns. The considerable controversy surrounding demolition suggests that "building a sense of attachment" to the programme among the local community has hardly been a success either.

Empowering and informing people are difficult and programmes face considerable challenges in meeting diverse housing circumstances. It is difficult to balance the empowerment of residents with strategy. Variable property valuation methods are a source of considerable concern. Advice has to be "consistent, free, independent and tailored" to each household - characteristics rarely attained. Grants are inadequate and loans are offered without being sought.

A complex and demanding policy environment is no excuse for the shortcomings that this report identifies. Although it concludes that systems should be improved, it correctly states that the immediate problems do not undermine the programme's rationale. Perhaps practice will make perfect, but meanwhile how many more communities must be unwillingly disturbed?

- Anthony Fyson is a freelance writer on planning issues.

********************************************************************

Published in Daily Post 18th October

Cllr Chris Lenton
Liberal Party
18 Kerman Close
West Derby
Liverpool
L12 5NH

Tel 07745993038

To the Editor

The news over the last week has illuminated the reality of the governments
so-called ‘respect’ agenda. With the prisons full and a thousand crimes
committed by criminals released early, it should be obvious that Labour
talks though on crime but fails when it comes to substantive action.

From 1997 onwards we have seen many eye-catching proposals and a hyperactive
desire to pass legislation in the hope that hot air could combat crime.  The
problem is that we have not seen the material substance to put much of this
new law into practice. The growth in Police numbers has been endemic and new prison building limited. Without more Police and proper provision for those sent to gaol new law is little more than a public relations stunt. Gimmicks
such as the merger of geographically distant forces have wasted much needed
time and managerial energy.

Home affairs have been lacking any consistent approach or vision able to
sustain the government through a considered programme of legislation and
resource allocation. As with the rest of New Labour’s history the public has
heard much sound and fury supported with little of value for nine years in
office.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Chris Lenton, Liberal Party NEC.

Forthcoming Council Meetings:

Council Stakeholder meeting at Walton Clubmoor Centre -Wednesday 25th October 13.00 - 15.00

Housing Committee 31st Oct at 16.30

Clubmoor/ Norrs Green Area Committee 8th November at 18.30

Published Daily Post Letters 16th October

Stanley Park plans

I AGREED with the many valid points Cllr Paul Brant made concerning the deliberate neglect of Stanley Park and the fact that neglect was manipulated to justify handing over a major part of the Park for building a stadium.

However, this must beg the question as to why did the Labour Party group on both planning and regeneration committees vote solidly with the Lib-Dems to inflict an increased stadium on one of our Victorian parks, despite the absence of any coherent or robust traffic strategy or any environmental health assessment

It was the Liberal Party working with the Anfield residents who led the battle against this short-sighted plan in the face of the Labour/ Lib-Dem Coalition on undermining our parks and green spaces.

Even at this late stage, we ask Labour to call for the stadium to be built where there are adequate rail and motorway links, rather than in Anfield - one of the most densely populated parts of the city.

Cllr Steve Radford, Leader, Liberal Party Group

Liberals call for action over vacant Properties in the Groves, Toxteth

Both Griff Parry and Cllr Steve Radford have written to the Government Department for Communities and Local Government to step in to tackle Liverpool City Council holding onto vacant properties in "the Groves" Toxteth

The council has confirmed they own 16,18,23 and 45 Maple Grove, 5,7,9,42-44 Fern Grove. The council have asked the department not to intervene as the Lodge Lane Neighbourhood Assessment has recommended that for the "Groves" there would be selective demolition, house swaps and opportunities for other occupation and investment.

The council claim they are progressing plans with Gleeson plc. but failed to give any timeframe

The Liberal Party are urging the process of renovation be opened up to more private builders and speeded up.

What do you think?

Write to Griff Parry at 14 Grove Park , L8 OTL e mail g.w.parry@blueyonder.co.uk

 or Cllr Steve Radford at 41 Sutton Street, Tuebrook. L13 7EG

STOP PRESS : THIS ISSUE WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR DEBATE AT THE HOUSING COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 31ST October , Millenium House

Planning Committee :Tuesday 24th October

The Planning Committee on Tuesday 24th of October from 10.00 hrs in the Town Hall , Dale Street will be considering several local issues including:

Take away at 69 Lisburn Lane, Tuebrook

Flats and Houses to be built at rear of Utting Avenue, Anfield

Former Petrol Station, Queens Drive / Moscow Drive

 

Need For Professional Witnesses

Letter for Publication

Cllr Steve Radford
Leader of The Liberal Party Group
41 Sutton Street Tuebrook
Liverpool
L13 7EG

0151 259 5935

07920090322

Dear Editor,

Recent events in Old Swan, Norris Green and my own immediate neighbourhood of Tuebrook have reinforced my believe that the city desperately needs to employ professional witnesses, when dealing with extreme cases of violent anti-social families/households

It is unrealistic to expect residents many of whom live in the immediate vicinity of these professional thugs, to be witnesses in a legal justice system ,when throughout the process they are vulnerable to intimidation and retaliation

We need to expand our Anti Social Behavior Unit with trained able bodies persons who would patrol and carry out surveillance, outside the districts where they live, if we are ever to get on top of the extreme cases of families who can destroy whole communities

Cllt Steve Radford
Leader of The Liberal Party Group

Tuebrook and Stoneycroft NRF Bid for this current year:

To clarify for residents, officers have been asked to progress schemes for the Tuebrook and Stoneycroft Ward over and above the main citywide programmes as follows:

£25,000 Security measures for Brainerd Street / Lister Drive Flats

£33,000 for extra police hours to combat anti-social behaviour throughout the ward

£39,000 for extra alleygates at: Rector Road/Westcombe Rd entry, Free Church of England , Buckingham Road  and Rear of 128-130 Moscow Drive

Also the remaining allocation will be used to upgrade Street Lighting in Quarry Road, Marlborough Road, Osborne Road and Buckingham Road

If monies are not sufficient we would cary over street lighting upgrades to next year

If you have suggestions for next years ward allocations please write to us at

The Liberal Party, 41 Sutton Street, Tuebrook

or e mail us at northwestliberalparty@hotmail.co.uk

Please note the main city alleygating programme has already been committed to cover gates at :

Rocky Lane/Hampson Street passageway from Sunlight Street to Scorton,

The entries off Clarendon Road Area to the Anfield Sports Centre.

Rear of 67-91 Sutton Street

Private funds have secured gates at 2 Gradners Road, we are also working to secure private funds for gates by 2 Bowley Road and 133 Moscow Drive

Tunnel Road Road Closures : Council Withdraws :

At the Magistrates Court , Thursday 12th October Cllr Steve Radford supported Pat Maddocks and other residents objectors

The council was seeking to undermine the residents campaign for Village Green Status by closing down the footways; however local residents supported by Griff Parry and Cllr Steve Radford swiftly rumbled the plan and presented their case to the Magistrates. In light of the objections the coucnil agreed to withdraw at this time until after the Village Green aplication had been heard

The whole issue has now been adjourned till 1st Feb 2007. The Village Green application for Tunnel Road fields will be going to a hearing on 28th November

Woburn Hill Planning debate for Take-away

On Thursday 12th October Liberal Party Councillors Steve Radford and Chris Lenton obtained the area committees support in objecting to a take-away on the site corner Green Lane /Woburn Hill.

The councillors argued to retain the residential nature of Woburn Hill and Tynwald Hill and that the site entrance onto Woburn Hill for drive through traffic, would not be in the best interests of safety

The matter will now be considered by the planning Officers and possibly Planning Committee 

Open Letter from Cllr Chris Lenton : Respect Agenda

18 Kerman Close
West Derby
Liverpool
L12 5NH

To the Editor

The news over the last week has illuminated the reality of the governments so-called ‘respect’ agenda.

With the prisons full and a thousand crimes committed by criminals released early, it should be obvious that Labour talks though on crime but fails when it comes to substantive action.

From 1997 onwards we have seen many eye-catching proposals and a hyperactive desire to pass legislation in the hope that hot air could combat crime.  The problem is that we have not seen the material substance to put much of this new law into practice.

The growth in Police numbers has been endemic and new
prison building limited. Without more Police and proper provision for those sent to gaol new law is little more than a public relations stunt. Gimmicks such as the merger of geographically distant forces have wasted much needed time and managerial energy.

Home affairs have been lacking any consistent approach or vision able to sustain the government through a considered programme of legislation and resource allocation.

As with the rest of New Labour’s history the public has
heard much sound and fury supported with little of value for nine years in office.



Yours sincerely,


Cllr Chris Lenton, Liberal Party NEC.

_________________________________________________________________

Tuebrook City Safe Residents - Police Meeting Thursday 19th October 7.00 at Alton Road Methodist Church:

If you have concerns over policing issues in the Tuebrook, Stoneycroft, Newsham Park,Larkhill or Breckside/Townsend Lane areas please feel welcome to join our meeting

Woburn Hill Site - Residents say no to drive through takeaway

The former petrol station at the corner of Woburn Hill and Green Lane, Stoneycroft could become a drive through takeaway - however Liberal Party Councillors are supporting residents in an appeal to keep Woburn Hill and Tynwald Hill residential areas of almost semi-rural stye within the city

133 Moscow Drive, Stoneycroft, waste land appeal to build flats

With the support of local councillors and residents the owners of waste land at 133 Moscow Drive are making another submission to build 5 flats on this site.

If you have not already sent a letter of support into the planning department please do so.

Open Letter to North West Press on cost of ID cards and better use would be to save local hospitals

Dear Editor

The Home Office is suggesting the cost of ID cards over the next ten years will be £5.4 Billion, with 70% of the cost being for the implementation of biometric passports

The Conservatives have rightly questioned these estimates and pointed the extensive overrun on costs of previous technology schemes

Whatever the initial estimates the public must question the economic opportunity cost.

The cost of ID cards prevents us as a society having the money and effort spent on more useful or productive uses

I bet the vast majority would prefer this money to be directed to more police on the beat and saving  many of our Accident and Emergency Units under threat, such as at Rockdale,  Burnley and North Manchester

Cllr Steve Radford
President of The Liberal Party

Open Letter on Demolitions and Edge Lane

Letter for Publication

Dear Editor,

Can I welcome the article by Larry Nield "Paying the Price" ( Monday October 9th)

The city council's pathfinder project is repeating the obvious mistakes of the past.

The architects of this scheme openly admit they seek to reduce the total population of currently 12,000 terraced homes by a factor of 40%

Each phase of demolition also dislocates communities and adds to the growing housing waiting lists

Even worse ,during the transition of demolition and eventual rebuilding the small business / retail community is effectively wiped out.  Those small businesses do not reappear

We in the Liberal Party Group have and will continue to challenge this nonsense and the waste of these demolition schemes

We really question whether tax payer's believe it is good value to spend £33 million alone to demolish 500 or so houses in the Welsh Streets just to clear ground for a building site.

The eventual cost to demolish 12,000 plus terraced homes over the next 15 years of planned destruction is beyond belief

In respect of Edge Lane , we all want the M62 access to the city centre to be unblocked .
However there is no need to demolish 500 homes in Edge Hill and Fairfield to achieve this

The council's case that objectors are blocking the Edge Lane corridor is less than honest. The demolitions are an unnecessary problem of their own creation

Mrs. Pascoe has demanded her right to live in her own home unmolested by a local authority carrying out a land grab. She has our support , as Liberals we believe every citizen should have liberty , security and property. The right to live in one's home matters more than a private developers profit margin

Cllr Steve Radford
Leader Liberal Party Group

The closing date for objections to an off-license at 67 Rocky Lane has now closed.

Residents have given Cllr Steve Radford authorisation to speak at any future meeting on their behalf.

Due to the Labour Governments legislation seeking to restrict the role of councillors in being community advocates. Councillors now need written authorisation to speak for them at Licensing hearings ! - strange that thats what we thought the secret ballot was all about ?

Appeal against Alcohol License at 58 Lower Breck Road

The city council's Licensing Committee had approved an off license application in respect of 58 Lower Breck Road despite a petition by 500 local residents against.

However the application hearing was disadvantged by the fact not a single resident turned up.

This was the result of an electricty blackout that morning in the immediate area.

Local residents have now submitted a request for an appeal hearing at the Magistrates Court - we will keep you posted

Planning Committee Rejects Flats at 90-94 Townsend Lane, Anfield

An attempt to build 4 flats and a shop right along the busy Townsend Lane and adjoining All Saints School ,was rejected by the Planning Committee on Tuesday 10th October after Cllr Steve Radford and local residents pointed out the high level of parking problems in the immediate area and the fact that the plans allowed for no on-street parking.

Village Green Application for Abingdon Fields- 11th October

Today Lillian French of Abingdon Grove, supported by Cllr Steve Radford, presented witness statements and an application for Village Green Status for the area of Abingdon fields between Abingdon Road, Richard Kelly Drive and Walton Hall Avenue to the Magistrates Court and City Council Legal Department.

Meanwhile the city council has postponed a hearing for the Tunnel Road Village Green application by Pat Maddocks untill  28th November 

Thursday 5th October - please join us outside the Liverpool Passport office where we will be handing out No2ID flyers, Old Hall Street from 12.30 to 14.00 hrs

The grandmother who halted £350m scheme --------------------------------------------------------- This is how the Daily Post ran the news ignoring the fact that the demolition of the vast majority of the 500 homes  was totally unrelated to the road extention and even worse only 1 in 7 homes were seriously unfit.       A VITAL £350m scheme to regenerate Liverpool's Edge Lane corridor was brought to a shuddering halt yesterday, after a landmark High Court challenge by a 60-year-old city grandmother. Elizabeth Pascoe successfully claimed a compulsory purchase order (CPO) forcing her to leave her home in Adderley Street, just off the busy dual carriageway, breached her human rights. It will mean the whole Edge Lane project being delayed until at least next spring and potentially having to be completely redrawn in the worst case scenario. Ms Pascoe also argued that English Partnerships, which wants to demolish 500 homes in the area to make way for a new widened road into Liverpool city centre, did not have the power to make the CPOs.           Ms Pascoe was the principal organiser of the campaign group, Better Environmental Vision for Edge Lane. She told the court her home was in good condition and specially adapted to help her cope with her disabilities. She said in a statement: "I have lived here 10 years and I know all the neighbours in my street. We rely on each other. "The local community is really diverse, and there is a real sense of community spirit, which has suffered as a result of the CPO. "I am already 60 years old, and the thought of losing my home and starting again somewhere new is very distressing to me." Mr Justice Forbes, sitting at the High Court in London, said there had been an impermissible "watering down" of the statutory requirement that a CPO could only be made if the land affected was "under-used or ineffectively used".   Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, in his role as First Secretary of State, had held in January that it was enough if a "predominant" number of the land parcels in the affected area were under-used.   The judge said that was an impermissible approach, and ruled that the CPO had been confirmed in error.   Ms Pascoe's solicitor, Phil Shiner, of Public Interest Lawyers, said: "The judge has said that the Government cannot bend its own rules to deprive people of homes that are perfectly fine.   "The Government must now rethink its approach to urban regeneration and come up with an approach which is just."   Liverpool Liberal leader Cllr Steve Radford said: "This judgment is a fatal blow to the council's madcap housing policies. This hasn't been pathfinder, it's been house crusher."   And Wavertree MP Jane Kennedy, who spoke against the plans at a public inquiry, said the Government could be forced to change the law surrounding CPOs following the ruling.   She added: "They were claiming they were doing this for regeneration purposes, but they were using powers that I felt were wrong.   "It is what I call social cleansing. I feared English Partnerships were allowing their powers to be used wrongly.   "If that is the case, then the Government will want to study this very closely and it could have implications for other schemes.   "I would like to see the city council say publicly that it will not use CPOs on the northern side of Edge Lane.   "It is another example of the inappropriate way Liverpool City Council takes forward planning matters of this nature.   "They ride rough-shod over the little people, but one of them took a stand to try to sort this out.   "People have been living in these houses for 40 or 50 years, but they have been browbeaten into moving out so property developers can make money.   "It really was not necessary to do all this. They should have just dealt with the frontage of the houses. These are grand old houses that would fetch £500,000 in London but they just wanted to replace them with flats.   "The Government will need to take stock and look at the way in which these CPOs were used to see if the law is at fault. If it is, then it will have to look at changing that law."   But the judge still has to decide the full ramifications of his ruling, according to Liverpool Land Development Company (LLDC), which is the main organisation behind the