Echo letters, 31st July 2007

Paid to manage

NEVER have I read such an arrogant letter as that in last Thursday’s ECHO from Ms Davis & Ms Green regarding regeneration.

I have no idea of what Mr Westgaph has or has not said in his columns. Indeed, living outside the city area I have not been personally touched by the issues over regeneration.

What appalls me is the dictatorial tone taken by two people on the public payroll. Please remember, Ms Davis & Green, you are public employees paid to manage matters, not run a dictatorship in which any complaint is from those with a "narrow perspective" – perhaps if your homes were threatened the perspective would be somewhat wider.

Perhaps you would prefer to demolish the entire city and build stainless steel clad apartment blocks from the Rocket to the Pier Head?

Every paragraph of your letter oozed dictatorial "we know best", please go away. You refer to "detailed and extensive consultation", yet you appear to not want to have to do that if only those "individuals and special interest groups" would acquiesce.

You refer to "superficial analyses and romanticised reflections of a city/region that no longer exists" – are such views banned under your regime? Possibly regeneration will ensure you have your way and no hint of romance remains in the city/region as the march of the apartment blocks continues.

Roger Pearce, via email

Utter arrogance

In response to the joint letter by heads of New Heartlands and City Council Housing (ECHO, July 26) may I repudiate and reprimand the utter arrogance and contempt shown by these two highly paid officials.

They claim that there is detailed consultation in the demolition areas. The fact is, when individual residents have indicated yes to selective demolition of houses this has then been distorted to justify wholescale eviction and destruction of streets and communities. In every one of the communities there has been an irrefutable effect of bitter division.

They claim all demolition areas are evidence based.

What utter nonsense. When I cross examined the council's witnesses they could not accurately detail which houses were structurally sound or unsound.

The arrogance of these individuals is shown in their attack on residents who do not wish to be forced out of their homes or businesses when they describe them as as individuals or special vested interests with a narrow perspective.

How dare they show such contempt for ordinary people defending their legal right to live in their own home.

Cllr Steve Radford, Leader, Liberal Party Group

Derelict Housing Progress for Tuebrook, Newsham Park and Stoneycroft

Tuebrook Liberal Party Councillors today received an extremely welcome update from Brian Seddon of Riverside Housing

In his letter of 25th July, Mr Seddon confirms that a large portion of Riverside's long term vacant properties in the area have had offers for sale accepted, the Liberal Party have been fiercely lobbying City Council and Various Housing Association to either renovate or sell for renovation their long term vacants

Mr Seddon has confirmed the following offers for sale have been accepted for:

15 Newsham Drive
30 Windsor Road
32 Windsor Road
44 Windsor Road
89 Moscow Drive
33 Kremlin Drive

In 3 cases offers lower than the target price have been accepted as the buyers are intended owner occupiers, without doubt a welcome approach by Riverside to encourage owner occupation

This month extensive renovation work has started on a previous sale site 6/6a Russian Drive in Stoneycroft

All offers have a clear contractual target date for renovation work to be completed

On behalf of the Liberal Party and Tuebrook, Newsham Park and Stoneycroft residents we would wish to express thanks for the personal interest of Riverside Group MD, Mr John Wood, for giving this initiative his support.

These sales, alongside a series of sales by the City Council, will significantly assist the regeneration of Tuebrook, Newsham Park and Stoneycroft . It will rid our communities of long term derelicts blighting the area but even more importantly provide reasonably priced accommodation for families

Clrr Steve Radford
Leader Liberal Party Group

Take action against Homophobia appeal by Liberal Party

Cllr Steve Radford
Leader Liberal Party Group
41 Sutton Street
Tuebrook
Liverpool
L13 7EG
0151 259 5935
07920090322

Dear Editor

In the Guardian (Sat 28th July) Paul Flynn highlighted the continuing levels and impact of homophobia in schools, he wrote:
"Shocking suicide statistics underline the predicament. Research has shown that 40% of gay boys bullied at school have gone on to attempt suicide. Initiatives such as the superb Barnardo's campaign against homophobic bullying go some way to mending the problems, but these are too deep to be tackled even by the best efforts of charities."

Here in Liverpool astounding research showed a similar sense of isolation. One youngster having complained of bullying at school stated that rather than being treated as a victim ,the pupil was treated as the problem.

The response of the Liverpool authorities to statistics, in the Stormbreak Research, such as 14% of Gay and Lesbian Households were subject to homophobic abuse or attacks from people they identified as neighbours, has been to bury the report as deeply and as long as possible.

The report concluded an endemic attitude across the county of Gays, Lesbians and Transgendered people being legitimate targets for abuse and prejudice

Several attempts by members of our Liberal Party Group has so far failed to get the full report published to even our city councillors.
What a subversive concept elected councillors being given research paid for by the council, without being neutered by the spin brigade.

On a positive note the Stormbreak report showed the terrific strides by Merseyside Police to combat and support the victims of Homophbic Crime

Homophobia is the last prejudice still tolerated in society and remains due to the silence of those in authority. Well done to Paul Flynn and a few other reporters prepared to rock the boat.
It is time the truth on Homophobia was Outed

Cllr Steve Radford
Leader Liberal Party Group

Free Keep fit for over Fifties at Tuebrook Hope Centre every Thursday

As part of our drive to improve community facilities in Tuebrook and Stoneycroft we now have a fully qualified Sports Therapist working from the Tuebrook Hope Centre, rear of St Johns Church, Tuebrook

Kelly Cameron has a degree in Health and Exercise Science and a foundation degree in Health Management and physical recreation

From this Thursday at 3.45 Kelly and the centre will be inviting any over fifties in the Tuebrook and Stoneycroft Area to join her Keep Fit Class free of charge. this weekly keep fit for the over fifties complements the current older residents social club every thursday from 1.30 - 3.30

For more information or to book Tuebrook Hope Centre contact myself Cllr Steve Radford 07920090322 or Paula Davidson 228 1137

Sports Therapy at Tuebrook Hope Centre

Kelly Cameron has a degree in health and exercise science and a foundation degree in health Management and physical recreation

For modest fees she will assist people with private treatment sessions, we also have a lift for reaching her therapy room on the first floor

Half Body Massage - approx 45 mins     £30
Full Body Massage 60 - 90 mins           £35-£40
Sports or specific Injury Treatment     £25

For an appointment at a time for your convenience telephone Kelly on 07876069115

We should also be running a free exercise class for the over 50's on Thursday afternoons

So pass the word

The Hope Centre has health promotion teams, youth workers, dance classes and even a writers group operating from this extremely modern facility

We have only one full time office space left as well as having ample opportunity for groups to use our main hall on Mondays , Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays

For more information or to book Tuebrook Hope Centre contact myself Cllr Steve Radford 07920090322 or Paula Davidson 228 1137

We’ve won our war to keep out killer asbestos

Reported :Jul 18 2007 by Nick Coligan, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL families have won their battle for extra safety measures while asbestos-ridden houses are knocked down.

The city council has agreed to drape the properties in Sandy Lane, Tuebrook, with polythene sheeting while they are demolished.

Three months ago, residents complained after they were sent a letter recommending they keep their windows shut while the condemned houses were pulled down.

So many people objected about the potential impact on their health that the work was halted.

The council, which always insisted families were not at risk from the demolitions, has now bowed to pressure and agreed to additional safety precautions, costing an extra £10,000.

Tuebrook Liberal Party Councillor Steve Radford said: “People never objected to the redevelopment of the site, they were just very worried about safety, and this assurance will make a considerable difference to public concern.”

At a public meeting, families had claimed their children would not be able to play outside and questioned why they needed to shut their windows if there was no danger from dust.

The four properties were surrounded by scaffolding and a net to catch any debris, but residents were worried about being exposed to asbestos fibres.

They will now be completely enclosed in polythene sheeting so dust cannot escape.

A council report says: “While the original proposal meets all necessary health and safety requirements, in view of the concerns expressed, the alternative method of demolition is the most appropriate to reduce their obvious concerns.

“Hopefully, the revised proposal will allow the project to progress without further delay.”

Landmark hospital site up for sale

Jul 25 2007 by Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo

A DERELICT Liverpool hospital at the centre of a restoration row is up for sale.

Campaigners have fought for years for Newsham Park hospital, a landmark on the ECHO’s Stop the Rot hitlist, to be regenerated.

Now the grade II listed Liverpool site is being marketed by owner Gateway Properties.

But Tuebrook Liberal Party councillor Steve Radford today said he was fed up with a lack of action and wanted to set the wheels in motion which could lead to compulsory purchase of the building.

He said: “We’ve had three or four planning applications in the past and we’re frustrated.

“Unless the council moves rapidly towards a CPO I believe the building will be lost.”

Cllr Berni Turner, the city’s executive member for the environment, met Cllr Radford and Newsham Park campaigners this week.

She said: “We’ve now got a clearly defined strategy to move forward, and the owners need to understand we’re not prepared to let this building sit and rot – we’ll take whatever steps necessary to bring it back to life.”

In a separate twist, council conservation chiefs said they were planning to write to Gateway demanding a series of repairs to the site.

If the company fails to comply, a formal repairs notice will be served which could also pave the way to a CPO.

Last year Gateway Properties apologised at a Stop the Rot forum for the lack of action. Now it is marketing the Orphan Drive building.

But one property company, Manchester-based Opal Property Group, which has looked at the site, says the scale of renovation would be “exceedingly difficult without sig-nificant public funding.”

Previous plans have included building flats on the site to make the restoration financially viable.

A council spokesman said: “We anticipate any plan would require enabling development in the grounds to make it financially viable"

Councillor Slams Liverpool for glossing over Report into Homophobia : Gay News Website

LIVERPOOL, July 23, 2007 – A Liverpool City Councillor said today that he was “appalled” at the findings of the Stormbreak Research, a report from the Council on homophobia and homophobic bullying in the city.

The full report has only been seen by a handful of officials and councillors. But a presentation was given to selected officers and councilors last week.

Councillor Steve Radford, the Leader of the Liberal Party group on the City Council said this morning that no data was given in the presentation, such as the finding that 14% of gay, lesbian or transgendered households had been attacked in recent years by people identified as neighbours.

“I was truly appalled that a major piece of research – showing alarming levels of homophobic bullying at school, lack of confidence by those bullied to seek or obtain support, abuse and attacks on gay, lesbian and transgendered people in their homes – were all glossed over into a presentation suggesting six areas for progress, without recognising the high levels of homophobic endemic throughout the county,” he said.

And today, he has written to the council’s Chief Executive, Colin Hilton, requesting that a copy of the Stormbreak Report is sent to all councillors on the cities Housing and Children's Services Committees.

Cllr Radford emphasised in his letter that he wanted the full report, and “not a neutered version”.

Also at last week’s meeting, ge was told that a draft report on the pedestrianisation of a part of the city to create a “gay quarter” was with Executive Member Councillor Flo Clucas.

“I think this title alone suggests an ignorance of the fact there is already a gay community and quarter in the city,” said Cllr . Radford, who is also co-chair of the the Liverpool Gay Business Association.

“It is also sending the wrong signal to current gay businesses that their investment is somehow insignificant. The concept a council can create a gay quarter sends me alarm bells about top down policies.”

Mr. Radford is also seeking a copy of this draft report which, he says, “has been drifting through the system for a lengthy period again does not inspire confidence”.

■ Note: The Liberal Party is not the same as the governing Liberal Democrat Party

House Burglary Alert - Tuebrook based on latest police analysis of breakins in Burns Roads and Rocky Lane Area. Please pass the word

Whilst over the district we are seeing sustained drops in crimes relating to house break ins

However there has been a recent outbreak of homes being burgled from the rear entries during evening time

This has been the direct result of residents leaving gates open , or by leaving wheelie bins in the entry, which are used by burglars to climb over the gates with stolen goods

May we appeal to all residents, please pull any gates closed ,unless you are awaiting for an immiediate bin collection

Secondly please take your wheelie bins back into your house or yard as soon as you can after collections

Lastly if you see any suspicious movements in the entry or yards please telephone police immediately

If you wish to participate in any of the Tuebrook City Safe Community Police Meeting please e mail us at northwestliberalparty@hotmail.co.uk

Thank you for your support making our community safer

Cllrs Steve Radford ,Hazel Williams and Chris Lenton

Liberals Call for urgent action over deterioration of Belmont Hospital, Orphan Drive.

Cllr Steve Radford has written to Exec Member Bernie Turner enclosing a feedback from reputable development company OPAL who suggest without public investment any renovaton scheme would not be viable

Officers, Community Reps and Councillors are due to meet at the Tuebrook Hope Centre Monday 23rd July at 4.30 to discuss this urgent concern over this unique building in Newsham Park

Liberal Party Councillors Steve Radford and Hazel Williams led a fierce attack on Liverpool City Council's failure to progress Freedom of Information complaints.

Both Liberal Party Councillors weighed in with examples of officers obstructing and witholding information to councillors, let alone the public.

Councillor Steve Radford said the council did not need another officers report, it needed councillors to start sacking senior officers who ignored their legal obligations

Liverpool City Council backs SAVE WEA and College Trade Unions Campaign for Adult Education.

The city council unanimously approved a composite motion by the Liberal Democrat Leader , Cllr Warren Bradley and Liberal Party Leader Steve Radford.

Local Campaigners read an appeal to the whole concil before the Councillors voted

City Council Meeting Debates 18th July

The city council on Wednesday 18th July is piloting a new format for debates, with all groups seeking to spread more even handedly the issues and times for debates. The meeting starts from 4.30 and runs to about 8 / 8.30

Items agreed for debate will include Adult Education funding , tabled by both Liberals and Lib Dems, Capital of Culture and Council compliance with Freedom of Information (tabled by Liberals)

City Council Meetings are open to the public and held in the Town Hall, Dale Street, you don't have to suffer another night of TV soaps come along

Need to reopen Bootle Branch Line before Stafium work Starts

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

0151 259 5935
07920090322

Dear Editor

Throughout the debate over Stanley Park and the New Stadium, we have persistently pointed out the utter failure of the Public Authorities to provide adequate and assured rail and motorway access to the New Stadium

There should be no way the Stadium be given approval for work to start on either a 60,000 or a 80.000 stadium until there are robust plans to reopen the Bootle Branch line first

Furthermore what has happened to progress the park and ride sites?
Since the initial plans, one site has already become a new build housing development

Throughout the process this Lib Dem Council, with Labour support, has jumped loops to approve a plan for LFC on Stanley Park with a callous disregard for the public transport infrastructure needed to ensure that Anfield and the surrounding communities are not strangled with congestion and pollution

We agree with Cllr Dowd, a reopened Bootle Branch line, which runs through Tuebrook, into Anfield and Walton would have enormous benefits over ad beyond the need to support the stadium

However these should have been robustly put in place before the LFC stadium application was approved, regardless of it being a 60,000 or 80.000 capacity.

Without doubt the Stadium should be built where the rail and motorway links already exist, like East Lancvs or Speke
Destroying a Victorian Park and congesting the most densely populated part of the city is just reckless in the extreme

As the responsible opposition, we have already tabled a motion calling for a progress report on reopening the Bootle Branch line for the next council meeting, (Wednesday 18th July)

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

This Letter was kindly printed in the Liverpool Echo 9th July

Ghetto is not the aim

THE headline Developers to create Muslim Neighbourhood (ECHO, July 7) may unintentionally give readers the wrong impression on two counts.

Firstly, the aim of the Muslim community is not to create a separate Muslim neighbourhood. Their intentions are to convert a street of largely vacant public sector-owned properties, modernise then relet them to families within the established Muslim community there.

Granby is a multi-cultural and multi- religious community; this attempt to regenerate the adjoining Hatherley Street would not in any way change that balance.

Secondly, it is the council who wish to block a community regeneration initiative in favour of using extensive taxpayers’ monies to demolish hundreds of homes in the area.

Lastly, the council claims two houses in Hatherley are structurally unsound. The fact the council uses this to justify demolishing the whole street just shows how little Liverpool city council's housing policies are driven for the benefit of the people rather than for the benefit of a select few house builders.

Cllr Steve Radford, Leader Liberal Party Group

Liberals call for action on Clubmoor Long Term Vacants

Local Liberals have urged council officials to either renovate long standng vacants, or sell some of them to raise fnds to renovate the others.

This process has brought more homes back into the Housing Market in Tuebrook and made the area safer, but the Labour Councillors are hostile to encouraging local house builders buying and renovating council vacants. Houses on our Clubmoor concern list include:

1 Graylands Place
51 Lauriston Road
11 Circular Road West
15 Bushey Road
45 Baythorne Road
71 Muirhead Avenue

Welsh Streets Destruction and dereliction designed by Labour Lib Dem Demolition Coalition

Cllr Steve Radford
Leader Liberal Party Group
41 Sutton Street
Tuebrook

L13 7EG
07920090322

Dear Editor

I was alarmed at the comments by Cllr Fielding concerning how the council was assisting the last residents move from Ringo's Street (Daily Post July 13th)

It is not the case so many residents want to move but the consequence of her repressive councils policy of emptying streets, boarding up houses and creating the very conditions that encourage residents to leave the area.

Having over years carried out a policy of designer dereliction , the council then move in with Compulsory Purchase Orders to intimidate and force the last residents out of their homes

There is no real assistance for residents trying to stay in their homes from Cllr Fielding and the demolition coalition of Labour and Lib Dems.

Why should they want to deprive four national building companies of a profitable land grab, even though in the initial consultations by the council residents wanted to stay in their homes

As Liberals we believe in encouraging the rights of people to own their homes and be free from government interference.

What is Liberal about forcing people out of their homes Cllr Fielding ? Its a question I am still awaiting a reply from Cllr Fielding and her group of social democrats masquerading as some sort of liberals

Cllr Steve Radford
Leader of The Liberal Party Group

New Labour - New Housing - Open Letter

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

0151 2595935
07920090322

Dear Editor

May we welcome the Labour Party rediscovering the importance of Housing

Can we urge the government allow councils to invest in new council housing with the same facilities that Housing Associations can tap into

Secondly can the government allow councils to judge whether right to buy schemes are in the interests of their own localities, rather than the current one scheme fits all

Here in Merseyside, the Pathfinder scheme is leading to the horrendous demolition of working class terraced communities

We urge Gordon Brown and Hazel Blears to step in and stop this waste of money which is directly leading to growing waiting lists for public housing.

Cllr Steve Radford
President of The Liberal Party

Bid for Community Grants - Closing Date 15th August

Each and every ward in the city (numbering 30) will be given an allocation of £10,000 for any community groups to bid for.

Groups covering more than ward can bid against several

Unspent amounts can be reallocated to neighbouring wards

Local Councillors should be lobbied to give advise and support bids

The grants should achieve one off results and not incur regular expenditure. Therefore if there are cost impacts show where the revenue will come from

The bid should be for no more than £5,000 and no less than £300

Please e mail Helen O'Gorman tel 225 2936 or e mail corporate.grants@liverpool.gov.uk

Letter Published in Liverpool Echo : Student protest

I AM a student at the drop in study centre, at the Powerhouse on Upper Parliament Street Liverpool. I represent 109 students.

We were informed just three weeks ago that our centre was to close without discussion, or thought for its students.

We have been told to go to other centres around Liverpool.

That all sounds well, but the fact is a great number of us are disabled and cannot use public transport.

We have asked for help in many, many places.

I would like to publicly thank Liberal councillor Mr Steve Radford for his unending enthusiasm for our cause, also Mr Griff Parry, his comrade, who also has helped us enormously.

We contacted around 15 different groups for help and they were the only ones who could be bothered with us. All that we want to do is continue with our studies.

Mrs Jackie FitzGerald, on behalf of students of DISC

----

The Liberal Party Group have tabled two motions to City Council on Wednesday 18th to promote the cause of protecting funding for Adult Education

Developers to create muslim neighbourhood blocked by Council HMRI

Jul 7 2007 by Nick Coligan, Liverpool Echo

PLANS were today unveiled to transform derelict houses near a Liverpool mosque into a thriving Muslim neighbourhood.

The scheme would see residents and community leaders take over rundown homes in Hatherley Street, Granby.

Local property developers would then refurbish them to modern standards, before they are put up for sale or shared ownership.

Project leaders believe the unique idea has an excellent chance of success because the Hatherley Street area is popular with Liverpool’s Muslim community.

Although the scheme would be open to residents of any faith and culture, they expect Muslim families will queue up to move in and live near the Al-Rahma mosque and Pakistan Centre.

Up to 5,000 people currently attend the mosque’s Friday prayer sessions, and there are plans to expand and increase its capacity.

A team of architects has now been brought in to draw up a feasibility study.

Dr Abdul Hamid, vice chairman of Hatherley Street residents co-operative, said the road has steadily declined for 15 years.

He said: “ There are properties worth £250,000 in Princes Road, while Hatherley Street has been left to decay.

“We are campaigning as a multi-faith, multi-cultural partnership, and everyone is keen to get the area looking good for 2008.

“We want to keep residents who have been here for 40 or 50 years.

“The possibility of obtaining grants is very slim, but people in the community want to invest their money and live in the properties themselves. Many people have approached us already.”

But city council housing officials are currently working on a plan which would see them demolished and replaced with a new development.

A spokesman said: “Two properties are structurally unsound, and the remainder are in a poor condition.

“It would need £100,000 per property to meet the decent homes standard.”

However Cllr Steve Radford, Liberal member of the housing committee, said: “Clearly the council is so focused on demolition that community schemes like this are being ignored, when we should be singing about them from the rooftops.”

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This diastrous impact of blocking community led regeneration is a direct result of the Labour/Lib Dem Demolition coaliton supporting a monopoly hold on public land sales to one of four national building companies in the respective quarters of the inner city

This and other serious issues will be on the Agenda of the Housing Scrutiny Committee Tuesday 7th August in Millenium House, Victoria Street from 4.30. There is a public question time please use it

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