Domestic violence victims forced to sleep on lilos thanks to Daily Post

Apr 15 2008

Domestic violence (320)

A LEADING Liverpool councillor has hit out at the use of make-shift “lilo” style beds for domestic violence victims.

Leader of the Liberal Group, Steve Radford, claims women arriving at Geneva House, an emergency housing facility in the east of the city, often have to sleep on temporary air beds because there is a shortage of space.

But the city council says those in need only have to sleep in the centre’s “emergency room” for a maximum of one night while more permanent accommoda- tion is finalised.

Cllr Radford said: “This situation illustrates there is a shortage of accommodation, no matter what the council says. This facility is supposed to provide emer- gency accommodation – that is what it is there for and it should be available at any time of the day.

“I cannot think of anything worse than a domestic violence victim having to sleep on a lilo or bunk bed, straight after an ordeal. It makes a mockery of the £35m the council is spending on demolishing terrace housing, much of which could still be used.

“It is absurd, some of these houses set for demolition are beyond repair yet many could be renovated to provide accommodation and help people on waiting lists.”

A Liverpool council spokesman insisted the beds were only used in an emergency.

He said: “Geneva House has an emer- gency room and if people arrive in the middle of the night emergency bedding is found for them, instead of sleeping on chairs or something similar. People will only spend a maximum of one night there and we are monitoring the situation. It is the excep- tion rather than the rule and it is not because of overcrowding.”

Cllr Radford, who repre- sents Tuebrook ward, is an ardent opponent of the Housing Market Renewal Initiative (HMRI), a Govern- ment scheme to tackle poor housing in parts of the North and Midlands of England.

Many houses are being re- furbished in Merseyside but many face demolition at sites in inner city Liverpool.

The council added: “We are using HMRI money to tackle poor housing stock and mark- et failure in parts of the city’s inner area. This includes houses in a poor condition in which people still live, as well as houses which are empty or unpopular because no-one wants to live there anymore.

“Through rebuilding, refurbishment and improved management of the area, HMRI will help local communities to live in decent, desirable homes in attractive, healthier places; and have access to job opportunities and better public transport.”

Second Lib Dem councillor quits ahead of elections

Apr 3 2008

A SECOND Liberal Democrat councillor today defected to a rival party weeks before Liverpool’s council elections.

West Derby’s Ann Hines resigned from the group and joined the minority Liberal party.

She was deselected by the Lib Dems two weeks ago, despite having a 1,650-vote majority the last time she went to the polls in 2004.

Cllr Hines will now stand for her new party, led by town hall veteran Steve Radford, against a new Lib Dem candidate in the May 1 elections.

Her decision follows the defection of fellow Lib Dem Beatrice Fraenkel to Labour. And it comes just days after education chief Paul Clein quit the council’s executive board.

It reduces the Lib Dems’ majority at the town hall to just six going into the most crucial elections for a decade.

The former teacher, a councillor for 14 years, said: “After a prolonged period of reflection and discussion I decided to join the Liberal party and stand in my community of West Derby for re-election.

“Not a year goes by without another green space, playing field or park being built on.

“I believe the Liberal party is the best vehicle to defend our parks, environment and heritage. I look forward to putting my record of 14 years’ dedicated public service to my neighbours in West Derby.”

Cllr Radford, whose group also holds three seats in Tuebrook, claimed Cllr Hines’s deselection by the Lib Dems made “no sense”.

He said: “Most parties cull their weakest councillors.

“But in Ann’s case they deselected one of their strongest.

“Ann has been absolutely first class when it comes to tackling issues important to our group such as derelict housing, problems on the Boot estate and the youth service.

“We have a good, practical working relationship.”