Kensington District

[Kev]

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/apr2006/6/3/6F98B8E8-9F08-DF01-A3828C1A91F8E70C.jpg


A NEW fire station is the centrepiece of a £10m plan to transform a former ice rink site in Liverpool.



It will be built at a busy road junction in Kensington if the scheme wins council backing.



The station would replace the ageing Low Hill premises and be thrown open to the community.



Shops and offices are also planned for the derelict area, also once the site of a bingo hall, at the corner of Prescot Road and Beech Street.

Modern homes for Prescot Road and nearby Lister Road are the third part of the ambitious project, which would create a new neighbourhood centre.



It is hoped it will bring back shoppers and stop the drain of residents out of deprived Kensington.



The site, passed by thousands of motorists going in and out of the city each day, is currently surrounded by advertising hoardings.



The plans were revealed today by Kensington Regeneration, the organisation which has £62m of government cash to create jobs and transform people's lives. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=16912237%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26page=2%26headline=fire%2ddepot%2dplans%2dfor%2d% 2dpound%2d10m%2dsite-name_page.html)

That's by Howie's isnt it? Any thoughts people? Ceratinly would be great!

[Howie]

and stop the drain of residents out of deprived Kensington

And what is demolishing all the Victorian terraces going to do? :disgust:

[Max]

:disgust: Nothing really.

[julia]

Modern homes for Prescot Road and nearby Lister Road are the third part of the ambitious project, which would create a new neighbourhood centre.

It is hoped it will bring back shoppers and stop the drain of residents out of deprived Kensington.

Howie, this translates to:


Modern homes will create a new neighbourhood centre for those wealthy enough to afford the homes.

It is hoped that new and affluent shoppers will come to Kensington. We welcome the continued drain of poor minority residents out of deprived Kensington, but we really really really want some wealthy residents to come spend money here.

If it means tearing down every Victorian and Georgian house in sight and replacing it with modern Bauhaus architecture, then by God, we'll do it.


Honestly, not sure why I have to translate. Fortunately for you, British politic-speak is very similar to American politic-speak. ;)

[Howie]

I am tryin' to look on the bright side. :rolleyes: I mean what's the theft of workers' homes and pensions here compared to the murder of tens of thousands of innocent civilians abroad? :mad:

The British Labour Party has lost the plot. Campaign for a new workers' party here (http://www.cnwp.org.uk/). :nod:

[Howie]

'Bling' buildings destroy history, says designer

Kevin McCloud attacks the 'look at me' architecture that is blighting British towns

By Steve Bloomfield
Published: 09 April 2006

Britain's towns and cities are losing their sense of identity and heritage because of the "wanton and transparent destruction" of unique buildings, a leading design expert says.

Kevin McCloud, presenter of Channel 4's Grand Designs, launched a blistering attack on local authorities, architects and developers for demolishing old buildings and replacing them with shiny new structures that, he said, are nothing more than "building bling".

He accused councils of being eager to tear down buildings that define the character of an area, replacing them with housing and commercial developments that "could belong anywhere". He added: "We are in the middle of one of the biggest construction booms since the war. For 50 years, we have been complaining about how the post-war construction boom unnecessarily erased so many good buildings. But we are making similar mistakes now, in the pursuit of bling.".

McCloud has been campaigning to save the Foundry House, a Victorian glove factory in Yeovil that was to make way for an "urban village". Objections and petitions were submitted to council leaders in a bid to save the historic structure and turn it into a community centre.

And the design guru has cited other buildings in danger, including the Churchill House and The Forum in Bath. "They are both part of Bath's history. There is a lot of vanity at work here, the vanity of politicians, architects, developers. They all want to create things that stand out and say, 'Look at me'. I am making a plea for forgotten buildings. They all have a historic value. If you remove them you are slowly unpicking history. There is a ghastly kind of utopian ideology about it."

Under the Pathfinder scheme in northern England, thousands of houses deemed unfit for human habitation by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in cities including Liverpool and Newcastle will be demolished.

ALREADY GONE: Architectural heritage too late to save

Dunlop Semtex Rubber Factory, Brynmawr, South Wales

Built 1951

Demolished 2001

What we lost: Stunning vaults and technically innovative concrete roofs

Greenside Villa, Wentworth, Surrey

Built 1937

Demolished 2005

What we lost: A house that to some was a brilliant example of modern architecture, but golfers said it ruined their views

Tricorn Centre, Portsmouth

Built 1966

Demolished 2004

What we lost: "A design of the times," said Owen Luder, the architect who designed the controversial concrete shopping centre

AT RISK: Classic sites on design death row

Churchill House, Bath

Built 1932

Status: Due for demolition next year. One of the city's 20th-century gems, it was built for the local electricity company, and makes way for a bus station and shops

Foundry House, Yeovil

Built 1872

Status: Spared from the bulldozer's ball for now by Department for Culture's intervention. Local people hope to convert the former glove factory into a community centre

Kensington terraced houses, Liverpool

Built 1850

Status: While old terraced housing in Manchester is transformed into trendy living space, typical Liverpool homes are being razed

Source: The Independent (http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article356664.ece)

[Kev]

Kensington terraced houses, Liverpool

Built 1850

Status: While old terraced housing in Manchester is transformed into trendy living space, typical Liverpool homes are being razed

Source: The Independent (http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article356664.ece)

:eek::eek:

My grandad used to work in the ice rink :sad:

[lindylou]

Did you used to go there Kev ??
I was there every Saturday - not to skate - but because my nan was a cloakroom attendant ( I've got photos of her working there) .. also my mum worked in the cafe, I can remember popcorn from there and the milk shakes. :) My aunty worked on the sweet kiosk for a while.
What years are you talking about Kev ? I'm talking about the early 1960s. The manager was called Mr Tree.
My nan used to say that it was surprising how many famous people went there in those days, she got to meet actor Terry Thomas and Frankie Howerd.
Do you remember the kids disco there upstairs ? I used to go there when I was about 13. :celb (23):

[Kev]

I can vaguely recall walking there, took forever, when I was about 5 years old, probably even younger. That would have made it about 1992 :celb (23):

Nar, joking.......the year would have been about 1979/80. :PDT_Xtremez_42:

[sweetpatooti]

I went the kids disco - that was great. Used to go on a saturday morning and wait outside with about 500 screaming kids - they used to play all the latest records while you were skating - it was 2 busses from Garston, but my nan lived in Edge Hill so I used to walk back to her house after I had finished for a cup of tea and a cake. We used to go to the ice rink for our PE when we were in 5th year - they couldn't get us to do much else. My theory on ice skating was the faster you skated the less chance you had of falling over! The problem was in the 70s when your flares had to cover your platforms (Lindy - I hope you will back me up here) they had to be rolled up over your ice skates - one day while I has skating like a demon round my flares went under the blade and stopped me dead! I flew through the air and crashed into the barrier - black and blue from top to toe!! PE was very dangerous in those days. The Ice rink was brilliant:celb (23):

[Kev]

Ice ice baby

http://friends.myphotos.cc/albums/VanillaIce/ice_man.jpg

sorry :celb (23):

[julia]

This year's Kensington Summer Fun Day takes place on 8 July and organisers are confident that the 2006 event will be bigger and better than ever.

The fun starts at 11am and goes on until 4pm at Fairfield Police Club, with all the attractions of previous years plus new stalls, performances and exhibitions.

Entry is free and everyone from the Kensington area is invited, not only to attend but to get involved!

More than 40 local community groups are once again providing a variety of activities including stalls, workshops, performances and exhibitions. There is also a funfair, sports sessions, music and dance workshops.

The fun day presents a great opportunity for organisations and community groups to showcase their work in Kensington - and for local people to find out what is on offer.

http://www.kensingtonregeneration.com/articles.asp?pagekey=52&typekey=2&articlekey=139&archive=0

[Kev]

PLANS have been submitted to move Low Hill fire station into the heart of Kensington. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=kensington-set-for-a-new-fire-station%26method=full%26objectid=18830318%26siteid =50061-name_page.html)

[Howie]

We’ve been left on the wrong side of the poverty divide
Apr 10 2007
by Nick Coligan, Liverpool Echo

A NORTH-SOUTH divide has developed in a deprived Liverpool neighbourhood, it was claimed today.

Community leaders say regeneration of the south end of Kensington and Fairfield contrasts with poverty and deprivation in the north.

Prescot Road is drawn as the unofficial dividing line.

But council chiefs said the entire area should benefit from the £62m Kensington Regeneration scheme.

But residents on the “wrong” side of the road say they are losing out and highlight rundown Phythian Park, in Kensington, and derelict houses around Newsham Park.

Story continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=we%2D%2D8217%2Dve-been-left-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-poverty-divide%26method=full%26objectid=18881662%26siteid= 50061-name_page.html#story_continue)...


Stephen Faragher, 50, of Romer Road, Kensington, said: “I feel it a lot because I am six foot away from being included. You get some of the benefits, but are excluded from others.

[Max]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8FAjsOXwZfY

Kenny Riot Squad La with Scarface music!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6fFXxld5Zbc
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MctVeLM_TAg

How long will It be till these retards are discovered by Merseyside Police while Merseyside Police are looking for Videos of Hollywood movies on how to arrest these retards themselves?

[Max]

Ice ice baby

http://friends.myphotos.cc/albums/VanillaIce/ice_man.jpg

sorry :celb (23):

The scary and ironic thing Is that Hair would suit you Kev!:PDT_Xtremez_42: :eek:

[snappel]

Fly-tipping, broken glass, troublemakers... £62m isn't going to remove the people who do this, so why are these things relevant?

Also, how will Mr Faragher lose out being 6ft away from the 'dividing line'. It's not like they're going to post a cheque through every letter box on the 'south side' is it?

I lived in Kensington for 3 years (2 on the north, 1 on the south), and there were lots of problems. The park was dangerous at night, if you cycled down Kensington high street in the evening you were liable to have stuff chucked at you, and on the one my mate stopped to phone the fire brigade to report a burning building he was chased by stone-throwing scallies.

All the time you have people that don't care about their neighbourhood, and who will 'sh1t on their own doorstep' by smashing bus shelters, phone boxes, kid's play areas and public areas, you'll always have these problems.

[snappel]

Max, those videos are awful. Really awful. How can people get off on that kind of behaviour? It's crazy seeing stuff like that, literally yards from where I used to live.

We've got a big problem in this country, and this is just the start. Just wait until the offspring of this lot 'grow up'. I mean, guns (apparently 'real' or at least blank firing), hanging cats, beating up strangers... WTF?!!

[Max]

I find It funny how crazy and stupid they look and sound.

[Howie]

Nowt wrong with Kenny - people are travelling all the way from Gdansk, Katowice, Krakow, and Wroclaw to live there. :rolleyes:

Seriously tho' - it isn't great for the people livin' on the other side of the divide livin' with the uncertainty of if/when their homes are goin' to be demolished. :(

[Max]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yci2-Mjntlc

Man, the Liverpool accent sure makes things funny on these videos.

I think I recognise that part of Kenny too!:eek:

[snappel]

Kenny Riot Squad La with Scarface music!
Funny how they use music by black rap artists but are in fact rascists themselves!

EDIT: That car they hit in the video you posted above isn't even a patrol car! It's just the mobile 'scientific unit'. Doesn't even have blue lights on it as it's not for response or tackling criminals.

[Kev]

A NEW fire station and shopping complex at the heart of a deprived community has been given the go-ahead by councillors.

The £10m neighbourhood centre will now be built on the former Silver Blades ice rink site at the corner of Prescot Road and Beech Street, Kensington.

It includes shops, offices and modern apartments in Prescot Road and nearby Lister Road, aimed at halting the drain of businesses and residents from the area.

The Grade II-listed building at 10-12 Prescot Road will be refurbished into flats under the plan.

The Lister Hotel will not be affected, although the row of shops between it and the listed building will be pulled down. continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=green-light-for-%2D10m-centre-plan%26method=full%26objectid=18921945%26siteid=50 061-name_page.html)....

[SteveFaragher]

While C7, the city council, liverpool land and KNDC are all making a total F*ck up of the housing in the area it seems there might be a solution or at least the opportunity for some members of the community (i.e. people who actually live in the area and are committed to the area0 to make some inroadS into the redevelopment quagmire, if you want to see something shocking have a walk aroudn the Royston street area.

It seems there is a legla entity called a CLT, a community land trust which local people can set up, the idea being that this body aquires land or property and devleop it for the good of the community, either as housing (sell or rent) or shops or workspace. The government is keen to let communities to do this and if you go the CLT website you can see how it all works.

http://www.communitylandtrust.org.uk/ (http://www.communitylandtrust.org.uk/)

So basically if there is anyone out there interested ins etting one of these CLTs up for Kensington please get in touch with me sfaragher@hotmail.com

[wallasey]

I went along Kensington the other day and was disgusted to find the old Shopping Blocks in the Albany Road area upto Farnworth Street were being demolished. I thought these were all conserved as part of Kensington Fields????

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3489/20070917030cm3.jpg
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/9102/20070917032lx8.jpg
Kensington Its sad to see these go as they do form an integral part of the Kensington street-scene in my view. Without these, Kensington will loose its identity and a sense of history seeing as most of these blocks have datestones on them too. Why is it "Regeneration" all too often means demolition? Clearances don't solve problems, if any, they make an area worse.

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/5343/20070917038yw7.jpg
http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/2790/20070917042lx6.jpg
Kensington I predict these will go if they haven't already. Are there any plans to renovate more of these buildings? Its what was done down the other end of Kensington, so why not here?

Answers on a postcard please!

[Howie]

http://www.community7.org.uk/riverside/community7/images/__leftlogo.gif (http://www.community7.org.uk/)

http://www.kensingtonregeneration.com/images/logo_big_colours.gif (http://www.kensingtonregeneration.com/)

[marky]

The shops that have been demolished recently were between Saxony Road and Empress Road (everything inbetween). I passed earlier this week and not much was still standing. Kensington seems to be getting picked off, block by block. Another block was demolished a couple of months ago (just over the road from these ones). I think it was a pub.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25632502@N00/1499447851/
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2064/1499447851_e2ae5e970a.jpg

[SteveFaragher]

Fly-tipping, broken glass, troublemakers... £62m isn't going to remove the people who do this, so why are these things relevant?

Also, how will Mr Faragher lose out being 6ft away from the 'dividing line'. It's not like they're going to post a cheque through every letter box on the 'south side' is it?

I lived in Kensington for 3 years (2 on the north, 1 on the south), and there were lots of problems. The park was dangerous at night, if you cycled down Kensington high street in the evening you were liable to have stuff chucked at you, and on the one my mate stopped to phone the fire brigade to report a burning building he was chased by stone-throwing scallies.

All the time you have people that don't care about their neighbourhood, and who will 'sh1t on their own doorstep' by smashing bus shelters, phone boxes, kid's play areas and public areas, you'll always have these problems.

where I live now, just inside L6 ie first house outside L7 regen zone means, we cant get signs up about fly tipping (no money) street lighting is significantly worse in L7 (dull yellow sodium as opposed to broght mercury vapour), the "Clean Team" again dont work in this area??? Stree clean ups paid for by KNDC

[SteveFaragher]

I went along Kensington the other day and was disgusted to find the old Shopping Blocks in the Albany Road area upto Farnworth Street were being demolished. I thought these were all conserved as part of Kensington Fields????

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3489/20070917030cm3.jpg
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/9102/20070917032lx8.jpg
Kensington Its sad to see these go as they do form an integral part of the Kensington street-scene in my view. Without these, Kensington will loose its identity and a sense of history seeing as most of these blocks have datestones on them too. Why is it "Regeneration" all too often means demolition? Clearances don't solve problems, if any, they make an area worse.

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/5343/20070917038yw7.jpg
http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/2790/20070917042lx6.jpg
Kensington I predict these will go if they haven't already. Are there any plans to renovate more of these buildings? Its what was done down the other end of Kensington, so why not here?

Answers on a postcard please!

Eight years in the planning, with a budget of £62 million, and all they can think of doing is knocking it down and throwing some grass seeds down, not very imaginative 2 out of 10 Cath Williams you must try harder. Not exactly what I'd call regeneration......demolition and cultivation, I was thinkign of buying a few sheep when the grass has established and raise some local Kenny Lamb

[skgogosfan]

The shops that have been demolished recently were between Saxony Road and Empress Road (everything inbetween). I passed earlier this week and not much was still standing. Kensington seems to be getting picked off, block by block. Another block was demolished a couple of months ago (just over the road from these ones). I think it was a pub.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25632502@N00/1499447851/
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2064/1499447851_e2ae5e970a.jpg

I was sorry to see them go too,however now that they have gone,I think it looks better,especially once they get the grass down. As you can see from the pix,one block had most of the roof missing [and had had for years] whilst the other narrower block had the central third missing anyway. I expect it would have cost too much to renovate the former and insert new build into the missing section of the latter. I hope no more go,though. On the plus side,the large house next door to where the post office used to be has been done up.

Dave.

[marky]

I've seen a single-decker Stagecoach bus around which I've yet to photograph...it contains a picture of Kensington Fields Community Centre along the side of the vehicle. It is an old view, that is not possible to repeat nowadays (since the building has been refurbished/re-painted).

[Ged]

Eggheads is a t.v. quiz show around 6pm is a team of 'professional' quiz masters including a former mastermand winner and the lady who won a million on who wants to be a millionaire etc etc.

They play against other teams of 5, the winnings going up by a thousand pounds or more each time. Nobody has beaten them yet so the possible takings are up to 30K.

Last night, a team from Kensington called KOFI - Kensington old fogeys took them right to the wire and the last question - alas missing out on being the first.

Next time maybe.

[John(Zappa)]

Regarding Ged's post...seen that,hard lines I thought.

Ok,help needed here....
my dad who is in his 70's visited today.I showed him this site and he asked me to see if anyone had any pics of Gloucester place/Low hill end ?
I also found out today that he painted most of the old pubs in Liverpool,he used to push a hand cart up west derby road.He also said that there used to be a street called "Every street" and he reckons you won't find anything on that? He is old but still got his all his marbles.

[shytalk]

He is right about Every St. it is or was almost opposite the Grafton off West Derby Rd.

[John(Zappa)]

Yeah he said that's where it was.He has all the Liverpool history/picture books but he said you wont find a picture of it.
Prove the ol' fella wrong.....:PDT_Piratz_26:

[Mark R]

Yes. It seems strange now that them buildings on Kenny are down. The actor David Morrissey was from Seldon Street. They've knocked some of that side down as well...

[John(Zappa)]

He is right about Every St. it is or was almost opposite the Grafton off West Derby Rd.

Anyone found a pic of it yet? And of Gloucester place near Low Hill end.
Cheers
:PDT11

[John(Zappa)]

And.... also....
My ol' fella said there was a pub called The Parrot and also The Palladium.These where near Farnworth street?
Again,I have no clue so hoping someone else remembers these:PDT11

[Ged]

John, one of our classmates and band members was from Gloucester Place but got no pics of it.

[John(Zappa)]

Ged
ask him to give me a shout.He wil know my ol' fella probably.
Cheers:PDT_Piratz_26:

[Ged]

They were the Mansfields.

[John(Zappa)]

Ok Ged thanx.
Any ideas on every street,the parrot,the palladium and Gloucester place?

[Ged]

Well Shytalk's got it right about the location of Every street and the joke of course was a resident there could say he lived in every street in Liverpool. Gloucster Place is only there in part now, the local pub was in the next street, the Phythian which is still there (blue and white) but not open for business I think. Don't know about the parrot or palladium pubs but they might be in Freddy O'Connors books.

[John(Zappa)]

Them pubs are in no books Ged.
My dad has been looking for years for any pics of em'.
He painted them and many others around Liverpool.

[John(Zappa)]

And.... also....
My ol' fella said there was a pub called The Parrot and also The Palladium.These where near Farnworth street?
Again,I have no clue so hoping someone else remembers these:PDT11

Gloucester place photos wanted too!
(reposted this just to keep the thread going on it and hopefully someone will come up trumps):PDT_Piratz_26:

[Ged]

So what was your dad saying John...........tell him to eat his words ;)

Quite a story behind the building too.

Its origins go back to the 1830s when a large house existed at the junction of Hygeia Street and Rake Lane (later West Derby Road). A zoological gardens had opened opposite in 1832, with the entrance facing Hygeia Street. A Mr. William Mayman who resided in the house in question acquired a job as a keeper in the zoo. He became something of a local hero when he was injured rescuing a young boy who was being mauled by an escaped bear. As a reward for his brave deed, a subscription was raised which resulted in him opening part of his house as a pub.

He comissioned a sign which read 'Mayman in the jaws of the bear' which apparently attracted quite a clientele and by 1843, the premises was licenced as the man and bear. By the 1850s when the licensee was a Mr Mitchell, the name had been changed to the Parrot, then at No.181. The premises were then added to or rebuilt in the 1860s as from then on it was listed as 127 West Derby Road.

It was a decorative pub boasting two statues on its facade. William Ryder was the manager in 1903 when it also had adjoining cocoa rooms which were listed as the British workman public House Co. Ltd.

This 1960s view when the manager was Joseph Ainsworth shows the former cocoa rooms then listed to Low & Co Builders Merchants and at 131, Crown Fireplace specialists. Adjoining the pub in Hygeia street was TKS Motor Engineering. Part of Ogdens Tobacco works can be seen in the background. Listed 1964.

Source: Freddy O'Connor.

[John(Zappa)]

I knew you wouldn't sleep until you found out this mystery Ged.
Brilliant stuff.Can't wait to show the ol' fella.
Cheers (sometimes you really are amazing Ged).:PDT11

[Ged]

Thanks John. It was just a case of trawling through my books and knowing which one it might be in. Still can't find the Palladium though :( Do you know which street it was in?

[John(Zappa)]

Hi Ged,
I think I recall my dad saying The Palladium was near Farnworth st.
I will get more info asap.
:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[Ged]

John, I really appreciate you giving Corrie a miss for this, cheers mate ;)

[John(Zappa)]

Adverts are on!!!
No problem.:PDT_Piratz_26:

[John(Zappa)]

Ged...
Just phoned the ol' fella and he said The Palladium was on Empire street.
He bought his first house there for £200.!!!!

[Ged]

O.K. I'll check it out next time i'm in the LRO.

[Howie]

Liverpool regeneration project to create 175 energy efficient homes
Publisher: Jon Land
Published: 07/12/2007

http://www.24dash.com/_images/news/29894/m_liverpool_housing.jpg
Liverpool regeneration project
to create 175 energy efficient
homes

Work has started on an exciting £24 million regeneration project in Liverpool which will see the construction of 175 energy efficient homes.

The development is being led by Riverside Housing and its subsidiary Community Seven in partnership with Lovell, Liverpool City Council, the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and Kensington Regeneration.

When finished, the development will comprise 45 new homes for rent, 24 for shared ownership and 106 for outright sale.

The first phase of 87 properties, which is due to start being handed over in summer 2008, will involve the development of the disused open space off Gilead Street which lies within the Kensington New Deal for Communities area, the Liverpool Housing Market Renewal Initiative (HMRI) area and the Wavertree Zone of Opportunity.

Local residents have had their say on the development through the formation of Gilead Steering Group, which meets monthly.

Member Jan Kelly said: “We have been involved from the very start and have been consulted every step of the way from as far back as four years ago when the development was just in the pipeline to choosing Lovell as the preferred developer.

“After years in the planning, it’s great to see that work has started on site. This is exactly what we need in the area.”

Kensington Regeneration Board member and local resident Enid Bristow added: “This will be a superb development which will have a huge impact on the area, not least because it will be a very attractive landmark on a main road into Liverpool.

"Local residents are really looking forward to seeing new, high quality homes being built in this area.”

Tom McGuire, Director of Community Seven, said: “Historically, Kensington has suffered from poor condition properties and high turnover but this is all changing.
"We are not only improving the quality of lives of existing residents but are also encouraging others to choose Kensington as a place to live.”

John Carleton, Field Director for the Housing Corporation in the North, said: “In partnership with the Housing Corporation, Riverside Housing has done an excellent job with this development.

"Affordable housing is crucial to Liverpool's economic growth and Gilead Street will provide a mixture of family homes and shared ownership schemes, in a place where people want to live now and the future.”

Councillor Marilyn Fielding, Liverpool’s executive member for housing and neighbourhood services, said: “Liverpool is building for a better tomorrow.

"By working with our partners and communities, we are creating communities that are safe, secure and which offer a range of housing that can meet the needs and aspirations of all our citizens.”

Lovell regional director Nigel Yates added: “We’re excited to be working on this modern, eco-friendly housing development which will answer the demand for high quality new affordable and open market homes in Kensington and play an important part in the ongoing regeneration of the area.”

English Partnerships’ investment will ensure high quality design and environmental standards are achieved.

The new homes will have low running costs through energy-saving features such as condensing boilers and increased levels of insulation.

These high levels of energy efficiency will be made possible by an advanced off-site manufacture system where much of the construction work will be carried out off-site in factory conditions.

Source: 24dash.com (http://www.24dash.com/socialhousing/29894.htm)

[wallasey]

Why do modern houses with all this weird and wonderful technology have to be so ugly???

Give me a terrace any day!
-----
The above pics and more are now available on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/liverpoolsuburbia/sets/72157600047000465/)!

Feel free to contribute or inform me if there are any ommitions!

All the best

Russ

[naked lilac]

It is sad they are not keeping the beautiful old charm of your city.. I too agree with you Wallesey.. Independant homes can still be made tastefully to co-exist with the Old World charm .. I don't understand it either.

[Howie]

£24m house estate gets under way
Jan 21 2008
by Nick Coligan, Liverpool Echo

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/liverpoolecho/jan2008/0/0/9BB70F14-D0DC-FF06-20F0F84BF7F277D0.jpg

A LONG-awaited scheme to build dozens of new homes in one of Liverpool’s most deprived areas has finally started.

The £24m scheme will see a 175-house estate built off Gilead Street, Kensington.

The first phase of almost 90 properties, which should be finished by the summer, is being constructed on a disused former playground and football pitch.

More (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/01/21/24m-house-estate-gets-under-way-100252-20372962/)...

[Ron Ham]

Hi folks, Sorry for being late, only just stumbled in , & have been enjoying the chat . I remember Every St , Dee St , Butler St , etc . From a hair-raising experience in my youth when I made a disparaging remark about a 'young lady' there & next I was surrounded by a lynch mob & by a stroke of luck managed to catch a passing tram ,making my escape! I see Butler St,is still there & a small bit of Every St . There was a a run-down picture-house called the Palladium on that side of West Derby Rd , just there too, they didn't have tickets , only metal talleys , & I think they accepted empty jam-jars for entrance fee(as did the Cabbage Hall Cinema), Happy days! Ron

[skgogosfan]

Anybody know when they're gonna start building the new fire station etc on Beech Street? It's been ages since the scheme was announced. On the planning explorer it says it hasn't even been approved yet [07F/0136] but that can't be right,can it?

Dave.

[SteveFaragher]

The delays with the sadly mis named "Neighbourhood Centre" has been delayed for several reasons, One of the big problems has been most local people have confused the term Neigbourhoood with Community the fomer actually just means "its round here!), the Mike Lane Neighbourhood Centre is basically a housing and shopping development-maybe a community room in a fire station. Imagine the scenario...the community meeting starts.Alarm bell goes off..NEE NAH NEE NAH NEE NAH .meetign stops meetign restarts
....get the picture.

As Richie "Dick" Keenan said only this week "This was never never never going to be a community centre" and he should know he is deputy chair of kenny regen anda director of Parks Options.

the site is infested with Japanese Knotweed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Knotweed) ( a natural laxative apparently) and the site needs costly decontaminating. The sod breaking ceremony is taking place shortly, and there will be no shortage of "sods" to choose from.

It was originally going to make money through office spaces but nobody was interested (the rental rates were full commercial ie liverpool City Centre????)

There was going to be 91 flats....except now nobody wants flats now...they're havng a rethink on that one

The rest of the centre is going to have shops...this is an area with probably the worst range of shops in Liverpool...(I live there so I know).pretty good if you want a kebab, a tan, or a bottle of cheap cider, but not much else. There wa a rumour that Iceland were opening a shop but with the banking crisis in that country I diont think that is likely.

The whole scheme is costing ?19 million so they say, and at the last count, generous Kenny Regen are putting in at least ?2million.

My prediction is once the knotweed has been got rid of, the fire station will go up (watch out for the traffic chaos at the junctin of sheil/Beech Perscot road eveytime there is a "Shout"),

the grade 2 listed building on the site will be converted into four two bedroom flats (planning permission for this was applied for well over a year ago),

if the other flats are built Tom McGuire at C7 will snap them up at a bargian price (hopefully cheaper than the ones they area still trying to sell in Laurel road)

and a few empty shop units laying ide because the rents they are asking are too onorous.

The local communtiy's cut from all this, well apparently the Company which will take over from Kenny regen in 2010 wil get the ground rent, oh yeah the consultant company iniolved is from Manchester (How annoying is that!).

Watch this space for the chickens coming home to roost on this one.

[shoney]

£24m house estate gets under way
Jan 21 2008
by Nick Coligan, Liverpool Echo

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/liverpoolecho/jan2008/0/0/9BB70F14-D0DC-FF06-20F0F84BF7F277D0.jpg

A LONG-awaited scheme to build dozens of new homes in one of Liverpool’s most deprived areas has finally started.

The £24m scheme will see a 175-house estate built off Gilead Street, Kensington.

The first phase of almost 90 properties, which should be finished by the summer, is being constructed on a disused former playground and football pitch.

More (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/01/21/24m-house-estate-gets-under-way-100252-20372962/)...

Why on earth would you spend so much time , money, planning and resourses to design houses with windows so small you can't see the world outside properly, are people in england so used to living in the dark they love it so much. the whole development looks like it consists of bog windows. what a great opportunity to light up lives wasted.


I'm a time served builder brought up in liverpool but moved away seeing what the rest of the world does to makle their days brighter.

[Max]

Why on earth would you spend so much time , money, planning and resourses to design houses with windows so small you can't see the world outside properly, are people in england so used to living in the dark they love it so much. the whole development looks like it consists of bog windows. what a great opportunity to light up lives wasted.


I'm a time served builder brought up in liverpool but moved away seeing what the rest of the world does to makle their days brighter.

I agree, It's partly why I go outside of Liverpool alot to photograph, alot of colourful houses are slowly dissapearing because companies and architects have no soul or talent.

These kind of houses are already In Speke, Toxteth and under the bridge In Garston.

[wallasey]

Dont tell im about Ellergreen on Lewisham Rd!

Bright red shoeboxes with small peephole windows...reminds me of square pillboxes!

The Kensington development will be an interesting one...I wonder how long the honeymoon period will last before we find these new properties are just more bricks and mortar...rather than a real solution.

I am still of the impression that the Victorian's and Edwardian's had the right idea with the terrace. The streets were well laid out...and most of the time, the buildings had something of architectural merit.

[Paddy]

I think Kenny is a district of liverpool that is coming too terms with demographic change's. I also think that Mc Govern and his ilk are highly manipulative. Hard case culture can be found in Newcastle Glasgow Manchester London, would'nt it be nice to have something different?

[Howie]

Kensington: A hotspot for crimes
Feb 9 2009
by Ben Rossington, Liverpool Echo

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/article/11162100/2009/02/09/12507662.jpeg

KENSINGTON was today named as Liverpool?s guns and murder capital.

The terraced streets lying on the edge of the city centre are one of five hotspots for the most serious types of violent crime across Merseyside.

Other areas have suffered from one-off, high-profile crimes, but Kensington heads a new police report?s league of shame for the sheer amount of the biggest crimes.

The area is named-and-shamed as having more murders and attempted murders and a bigger gun problem than the other four ? Liverpool city centre, Anfield, Toxteth and Birkenhead.

More (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/02/09/kensington-a-hotspot-for-crimes-100252-22886289/)...

[phredd]

This thread reminds me of a song we sang many eons ago :-


Little Boxes

Little boxes on the hill side, little boxes made of ticky tacky.
Little boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one and a blue one and a yellow
one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky, and they all look just
the same.

And the people in the houses all went to the university
Where they were put in boxes, little boxes, all the same.
And there's doctors and there's lawyers, and there's business
executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just
the same.

And they all play on the golf course and drink their martini dry
And they all have pretty children and the children go to school
And the children go to summer camp and then to the university
Where they all get put in boxes and they all come out the same.

And the boys to into business and marry and raise a family
In boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one and a blue one and a yellow
one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just
the same.

Who remembers it:- ????

Words and music by Malvina Reynolds

Phredd

[Ged]

Kensington?????

Can anyone enlighten me to any links regarding gun crime and murders in Kenny as I thought it all seemed to be other areas?

[taffy]

Kensington: A hotspot for crimes
Feb 9 2009
by Ben Rossington, Liverpool Echo

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/article/11162100/2009/02/09/12507662.jpeg

KENSINGTON was today named as Liverpool?s guns and murder capital.

The terraced streets lying on the edge of the city centre are one of five hotspots for the most serious types of violent crime across Merseyside.
More (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/02/09/kensington-a-hotspot-for-crimes-100252-22886289/)...

My comment would be first define where Kensington is. To me it has become a very amorphous undefined area. Once defined, we could then see how these stattistics stand up to scruntiny

[Max]

What a load of crap article.

The echo should be named as Liverpool's capital BS area. Then fart In their drinking water.

They have the Kenny Riot Squad gang who have been arrested for possession of weapons before but there hasn't been any reported shootings around there.

[Samp]

This thread reminds me of a song we sang many eons ago :-


Little Boxes

Little boxes on the hill side, little boxes made of ticky tacky.
Little boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one and a blue one and a yellow
one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky, and they all look just
the same.

And the people in the houses all went to the university
Where they were put in boxes, little boxes, all the same.
And there's doctors and there's lawyers, and there's business
executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just
the same.

And they all play on the golf course and drink their martini dry
And they all have pretty children and the children go to school
And the children go to summer camp and then to the university
Where they all get put in boxes and they all come out the same.

And the boys to into business and marry and raise a family
In boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one and a blue one and a yellow
one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just
the same.

Who remembers it:- ????

Words and music by Malvina Reynolds

Phredd

Didn't Pete Seager record that one?

[ChrisGeorge]

This thread reminds me of a song we sang many eons ago :-


Little Boxes

Little boxes on the hill side, little boxes made of ticky tacky.
Little boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one and a blue one and a yellow
one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky, and they all look just
the same.

And the people in the houses all went to the university
Where they were put in boxes, little boxes, all the same.
And there's doctors and there's lawyers, and there's business
executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just
the same.

And they all play on the golf course and drink their martini dry
And they all have pretty children and the children go to school
And the children go to summer camp and then to the university
Where they all get put in boxes and they all come out the same.

And the boys to into business and marry and raise a family
In boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one and a blue one and a yellow
one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just
the same.

Who remembers it:- ????

Words and music by Malvina Reynolds

Phredd

I remember Pete Seeger singing it back in the day. :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

Chris

[Samp]

Flipping heck! Chris, you near knocked me over then, replying to Phredd!

[Norm NZ]

"Yeh! Came out in the early sixties I think!"

[wsteve55]

Burl Ives sang that one,I think. :nod:

[Danny Farley]

it was written and recorded in 1962 by Malvina Reynolds; but just about everybody has had a go at including the spinners

[Danny Farley]

I was borne in Mill Road Hospital in 1947 and lived in Coleridge St almost opposite Farnswoths Dairy there where real cows lived in the street in them days the milk was delivered by horse and cart not in bottles you had to go out with a jug and buy a pint or a quart and they just poured it into your jug. We had a rag yard in our street, but when I was a kid the best thing was the sally army that was in our street to. They would form up in our street and march down Kenny to Shiel Rd where they would play, when they marched back to Coleridge St they would form a circle in the street and entertain the residents by playing hymns. I still love brass bands today. The long hot summers playing in Kenny Park and newsham park. They had fish in the ponds in newsham park in them days now they have plants. Oh for the Saturday Matinee at the Kenny it Was 3p then and you could see things like Flash Gordon, The Cisco kid, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Marvel Man, Hoppy and many more. All our extended family lived within a couple of Streets of each other and although just a short walk Newsham park was a good day out with pick nick and a go on the boats if you hand a tanner. The man in the end house by the Molly rented bikes out and you could have a bike for the day for a tanner and ride out to bluebell woods it was in the country side at a place called Kirkby. My playground was town as a child there was a market where you could by anything you want from monkeys and parrots to fresh food
Salt fish was cured and hung up in the sun as stiff as boards and hard as rock but we had it every Sunday. Special days out where at New Brighton
You could buy a pot of tea with cups and saucers and take them on to the beach and Granddad would take me crabbing it was like going abroad in them days. They where magic times and so special The debris we had two one at the back and one in the front where we had our bommy, The whole Street turned out for bommy night it was great. The shops in Kenny where second to none it was a great shopping area. Anyway I could go on and on My thoughts on the whole, the regeneration of Kenny has been the Degeneration of Kenny,

[Spike]

Go on and on Danny, Im enjoying reading it :PDT11

[Ged]

Yes, great stuff. :PDT11

[Samp]

Did you ever go to the Sally Army christmas party Danny?

[Danny Farley]

Yes i went for the Christmas party several times i can still remember the smell of the sally army. One day one of the kids in our street jumped off the top of the sally army, he thought he was bat man or marvel man. I can't remeber the outcome or the kids name. My brother had TB and we eventually moved to Kirkby although NAN and GRANDDAD stayed in that house in Coleride St for years and i would spend every weekend with them, When i was 13 i got a part time job selling ice cream for a firm called Pendletons, you must remember the add WHAT COULD BE NICER THAN A PENDLTONS TWICER
I Had one of those 3 wheel bikes with the big cooler box on the front and i used to ride down to kenny and sell out every time. When i would sell out there was an even bigger que to by the lecky ice. Does anyone remember Capaldies ice cream parlour if i remember right it was oppersit holt road. As you came out of Holt Road and turned left to go towards town on that first block of shops there was a record shop and you could record your own record in a booth. The beatles recorded a record in that shop I used to stand at the bus stop outside that shop for the number 10 tram and later the bus. The steam lorries would come down Kenny on the way to the docks from Warrington and Prescot it was the main route into town. I played a lot in William brown Street
in them days all the kids played in the fountain in the summer and no-one chased them it was great. The museum and the art gallery where like second homes, when i felt like a change i would spend hours at the Anglican Cathedral i love that place and still go there from time to time. My Nan would get the tin bath out on holly days and hollidays and boil water on the stove god only knows how many people bathed in the same water. When they where a bit flush with cash they gave me the money to go to the washhouse in Minto Street that was like a rare treat and a day out. There where no handles on the taps, a lady would fill the bath for you she carried the tap handle on a peice of string and you where only allowed one fill of the bath. As i got older i did find a way of getting two fills but thats another story.

[Howie]

?300m homes project ?open to abuse?
Feb 13 2009
by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/article/20031701/2009/02/13/12512502.jpeg

A KEY ?300m regeneration project in one of Liverpool?s poorest areas has been vulnerable to ?significant abuse and error?, an investigation has found.

Liverpool Council auditors were called into the 10-year Kensington New Deal for Communities scheme, following concerns over a ?1m-plus contract to improve the frontages of 800 homes in Fairfield.

More (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2009/02/13/300m-homes-project-open-to-abuse-92534-22919273/)...

[anonymouse]

Mmmm.....

P*ss-ups and breweries spring to mind.... :disgust:

Anon

[hmtmaj]

Has this slipped under the radar ?
In the Echo today .....

"?44k spent on Liverpool business forum attended by just four people"

Guess Where ?

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/04/28/44k-spent-on-liverpool-business-forum-attended-by-just-four-people-100252-23487375/

[grolyo]

What happened to our promised centrepiece of the ?10m plan for Kensington
on th Icerink site promised June 2006

Kensington District
A NEW fire station is the centrepiece of a £10m plan to transform a former ice rink site in Liverpool.
It will be built at a busy road junction in Kensington if the scheme wins council backing.
The station would replace the ageing Low Hill premises and be thrown open to the community.
Shops and offices are also planned for the derelict area, also once the site of a bingo hall, at the corner of Prescot Road and Beech Street.

Modern homes for Prescot Road and nearby Lister Road are the third part of the ambitious project, which would create a new neighbourhood centre.
It is hoped it will bring back shoppers and stop the drain of residents out of deprived Kensington.
The site, passed by thousands of motorists going in and out of the city each day, is currently surrounded by advertising hoardings.
The plans were revealed today by Kensington Regeneration, the organisation which has £62m of government cash to create jobs and transform people's lives. more
That's by Howie's isnt it? Any thoughts people? Ceratinly would be great!

[Howie]

From the Kensington Regeneration website here (http://www.kensingtonregeneration.com/page.asp?pagekey=18):

In its final year Kensington Regeneration has just one major physical development project to complete. This is the new Beech Street complex at the former ice rink and bingo hall site on the corner with Prescot Road. This ambitious scheme will include shops and offices as well as 50 apartments. In addition, the centre will incorporate a new fire station with community facilities to replace the area's ageing Low Hill premises.

[Howie]

Work starts on new fire station in Liverpool Kensington
Sep 17 2009
by David Bartlett, Liverpool Echo

WORK has finally started on a new fire station on the former site of a much-loved ice rink in Liverpool.

The project will also create 28 apartments and shops, including an Iceland, on the corner of Beech Street and Prescot Road, Kensington, which was once occupied by the Silver Blades ice rink.

The Beech Street site is one of Kensington Regeneration?s flagship projects and follows several years of work, acquiring properties and preparing the land.

The ?9.5m scheme has been planned and funded by Kensington Regeneration in partnership with developer CTP, Liverpool council, Riverside Housing Association and Merseyside fire and rescue service.

Kensington Regeneration has invested ?3.5m in the development, which is designed to be an important focal point for the community.

The fire station will replace the existing station at Low Hill.

It will have the same resources but will also be a modern community fire station with facilities which can be used by residents and groups.

Merseyside chief fire officer Tony McGuirk said: ?The fire authority is delighted the project has enabled us to open a new community fire station in the area. It will provide our firefighters with outstanding facilities and also help us to offer people the opportunity to use the fire station.?

A total of 24 flats will be built above the shops, to be offered for rent by Riverside.

A listed building in adjacent Prescot Road is to be converted into four more flats.

Source: Liverpool Echo (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/09/17/work-starts-on-new-fire-station-in-liverpool-kensington-100252-24711105/)

[hmtmaj]

At last, some work to regenerate the area :handclap:

[Ken Berry]

Hi All,
I must admit after reading all the emails in the Forum its typical of what everyone in the UK seems to have had to put up with since the late 50's which was the start of all the Bull from the Politicians and starting in the late 60's.When they just did their own thing and basically still are.You vote them in and they do the opposite of what they promised.Its starting to just happen in NZ.
My main reason for my emailing the Forum is I had a wonderful time there.Just prior to the war,even during and a bit after.Seeing Wallasey's photos has brought some Mersey Mist to my eyes.My Uncle Joe and Aunty Doddy Owens had the Fish Shop 2 maybe 3 shops past Holdsworth Streettoweards the City.Think the Number was 236. They had a daughter Audrey.Managed to get in touch. When the wife and I did a trip in 1992.Her daughter or son managed "The Ring of Bells Pub" West Kirby.We met them there.Wrote a few times her husbands name was Ken Faragher and they lived at Gateacre.Never had any replies.My Dad worked for Tommy Rose the Butchers on the corner of Holdsworth Street.Not sure think the Shop number was 242.Was wondering if Wallaseys photos would include the two old shops couldn't recognise any of them.It was a wonderful place Kensington and I Pray it will be again.The road past the library towards the city,was walking there with my mate from Holdsworth Street,his house was opposite the Builders yard.Anyway just before we got to the road three guys came running one towards us,one across to the middle of Kenny Road and the other towards the City.I think I could recognise the guys face to this day.He told us to turn around and an old lady just in front of us.He then said something like "We don't want anyone hurt today" and the little old lady said something like"What are you blowing up the Letter Box or the Telephone Box" They said a couple of other things then there was this Loud Bang.And he just turned to her and said."OK my Lovely Girl you can carry on now.It was the days when the IRA didn't blow up many people.The Kenny picture house anyone remember "The Claw" serial that was on there about 1938.Tell you what it still gives me the shivers and it was a kids serial.The Casino was really the posh cinema and the Skating rink was marvellous.My Grandma and Grandad lived in Toft Street of Holt Road,so I could see a lot of them as well.Staying a few nights with them when the Durning Road School got hit.That silence over Kensington was incredible.Bigmama and I were standing on the corner by St.Cyprians the following morning and they were trying to still find if anyone could be still alive.Yet there was a silence which was uncanny.I was from Anfield Hornsey Road,but as you can tell spent a lot of time in Kenny.
Thanks for reading my rambles but a bit of mist is coming back Night Night from NZ Best Regards Ken B:PDT11:034:







.

[Ged]

Great recollections Ken