Kev
04-14-2007, 03:50 PM
A NINETEEN-STRONG action team has been recruited to make sure Liverpool is prepared for its reign as European Capital of Culture.
The Countdown Group is empowered to take tough decisions to guarantee millions of culture tourists will enjoy a memorable visit to Merseyside.
Last night, council regeneration director John Kelly insisted the Countdown Group would be far more than a talking shop.
The mix of public and private sector big-hitters will be meeting every few weeks into next year, looking at everything from street cleaning to road closures and construction works.
It is being chaired by Jim Gill, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, the city centre regeneration company.The action team members will be heading into the city as mystery shoppers to test that vital measures are in place.
As Liverpool welcomed thousands of visitors for the Grand National festival, Mr Kelly said: “The group members have the experience and the knowledge to ensure we are prepared for Culture year.
“We are empowered to take action when necessary to get things done. It is clearly a huge brief, but every one of the mem- bers of the group is up for it.
“When I was helping write Liverpool’s bid to become Capital of Culture, I listed 30 regeneration schemes earmarked for the city. Of those, 28 are completed or under way. We lost the trams and The Cloud at the Pier Head. We have spoken about a city undergoing £3bn worth of work, but when I totalled up the cost this week it is more like £4.4bn.
“It is a tremendous achievement that so much is being done. Most of our City Centre Movement Strategy work, costing £55m, will be finished by the end of this year when work will come to an end until after the culture year, and we are well on target.
“We want people from every part of the world who come here to leave with a good impression. That is why we are looking at every other aspect with a positive tension – are our streets clean, are public toilets, sufficient car parking space and signage available?
“In June, the executive board will be approving a network of new signs for our car parks to show arriving motorists how many spaces are available.
“We will also be cleaning up key areas of the city, particularly along major routes. The entrance to St John’s Centre, opposite Lime Street Station, will also be improved. We have a list of 100 sites that must be improved across the city.
“We will also be discussing a coach parking strategy, as well as proposed enforcement measures. We will also introduce systems to make sure people on foot can easily find their way around the city.
“This is all about working together and coordinating the things that must be done.”
City council leader Cllr Warren Bradley said: “This is all about making sure we are well prepared and making sure everybody plays their part.”
There have been a number of concerns raised among existing businesses in the city, with worries that unless the city is well prepared, visitors may leave with a negative impression.
Last night, Rodney Holmes, project director for Grosvenor’s Paradise Street Project, which will come on-stream throughout 2008, said: “We are playing a major part in Liverpool’s special year, and it is crucial that everything is in place. There is a lot of work going on and we have to make sure people can find their way around the city, and enjoy the experience of a clean and safe environment.
“We can play our part by building a tremendous shopping and leisure area, but the success of Liverpool depends on others as well. We all have to work together.”
Source (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=action-team-to-get-city-in-shape-for-2008%26method=full%26objectid=18902251%26siteid=50 061-name_page.html)
The Countdown Group is empowered to take tough decisions to guarantee millions of culture tourists will enjoy a memorable visit to Merseyside.
Last night, council regeneration director John Kelly insisted the Countdown Group would be far more than a talking shop.
The mix of public and private sector big-hitters will be meeting every few weeks into next year, looking at everything from street cleaning to road closures and construction works.
It is being chaired by Jim Gill, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, the city centre regeneration company.The action team members will be heading into the city as mystery shoppers to test that vital measures are in place.
As Liverpool welcomed thousands of visitors for the Grand National festival, Mr Kelly said: “The group members have the experience and the knowledge to ensure we are prepared for Culture year.
“We are empowered to take action when necessary to get things done. It is clearly a huge brief, but every one of the mem- bers of the group is up for it.
“When I was helping write Liverpool’s bid to become Capital of Culture, I listed 30 regeneration schemes earmarked for the city. Of those, 28 are completed or under way. We lost the trams and The Cloud at the Pier Head. We have spoken about a city undergoing £3bn worth of work, but when I totalled up the cost this week it is more like £4.4bn.
“It is a tremendous achievement that so much is being done. Most of our City Centre Movement Strategy work, costing £55m, will be finished by the end of this year when work will come to an end until after the culture year, and we are well on target.
“We want people from every part of the world who come here to leave with a good impression. That is why we are looking at every other aspect with a positive tension – are our streets clean, are public toilets, sufficient car parking space and signage available?
“In June, the executive board will be approving a network of new signs for our car parks to show arriving motorists how many spaces are available.
“We will also be cleaning up key areas of the city, particularly along major routes. The entrance to St John’s Centre, opposite Lime Street Station, will also be improved. We have a list of 100 sites that must be improved across the city.
“We will also be discussing a coach parking strategy, as well as proposed enforcement measures. We will also introduce systems to make sure people on foot can easily find their way around the city.
“This is all about working together and coordinating the things that must be done.”
City council leader Cllr Warren Bradley said: “This is all about making sure we are well prepared and making sure everybody plays their part.”
There have been a number of concerns raised among existing businesses in the city, with worries that unless the city is well prepared, visitors may leave with a negative impression.
Last night, Rodney Holmes, project director for Grosvenor’s Paradise Street Project, which will come on-stream throughout 2008, said: “We are playing a major part in Liverpool’s special year, and it is crucial that everything is in place. There is a lot of work going on and we have to make sure people can find their way around the city, and enjoy the experience of a clean and safe environment.
“We can play our part by building a tremendous shopping and leisure area, but the success of Liverpool depends on others as well. We all have to work together.”
Source (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=action-team-to-get-city-in-shape-for-2008%26method=full%26objectid=18902251%26siteid=50 061-name_page.html)