View Full Version : Edge Lane Development
Hundreds of homes in Liverpool are to be demolished after the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott upheld the findings of a public inquiry.
The houses will be knocked down as part of a road widening and regeneration scheme on Edge Lane.
Mr Prescott confirmed a public inquiry decision that developers can secure the land with compulsory purchase orders.
Liverpool Land Development Company plans to spend £300m on the scheme which will see 400 homes flattened.
Edge Lane links the M62 with the city centre but it is often congested in the Kensington area.
The public inquiry was called following residents' objections when the compulsory purchase orders were issued in January 2005.
The developers claimed the scheme would improve traffic flow and regenerate the area, but residents argued it would just create a motorway into Liverpool and destroy historic Victorian houses.
source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4717414.stm)
ScouseCol 02-15-2006, 07:47 PM there's no doubt that edge lane needs sorting out and i am glad they're doing it. if you've ever been near there in rush hour you know what i mean.
the thing that i don't agree with is the way compulsory purchase orders affect the families who live in the targeted houses for demolition. the problems affect home owners predominantly in such a way that i can't actually believe the process is legal but it is.
apart from the obvious stress of having to uproot and move away from the area you may have lived in for years the real stress comes when you see how much they actually say your house is worth which is certainly not funny. they offer you what the house is worth. but what they don't say is that you get what your house is worth AFTER the compulsory purchase order has been served and not before. now if you've got half a brain it's not difficult to work out that you wont get a lot for a house thats earmarked for demolition. it's not exactly a star buy for anyone looking to invest in propertly is it?
you might think I'm making this up, but this is how it's done and it's perfectly legal for them to take a house off a retired couple for example, who's paid their mortgage off and who's house is worth 200k and give them 50k and tell them to go and rent somewhere. they're too old to get a mortgage and didn't really need to pay rent as they worked all their lives to buy their house outright.
this is how it works unfortunately so i fully understand why residents are upset. :sad:
people should get fully compensated and should not be left worse off but there will be a lot of people who will be worse off.
I agree about the congestion and I know Howie will have a something to say about it.
IC Liverpool (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=16708656%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=government%2dsays%2dyes%2dto%2dedge%2dl ane%2dgateway-name_page.html)
I agree and get rid of the retali park too as it's a dump.:evil:
I agree and get rid of the retali park too as it's a dump.:evil:
Its poo, I agree. Went there to Maccies last week and thought 'what a shame' :rolleyes: What was once a bustling retail park has become a run down mess. The cinema used to be the place to go.
What happens when stuff are put in Edge Lane.:PDT_Armat
I go to Speke Retali mostly, kicks ass down there.
I never knew that the start of the m62 is actually junction 3, cause they originally meant it to go all the way into town :eek:
http://www.liverpooldev.co.uk/edgelane/
for details
Howie 04-09-2006, 05:01 PM Late move to stop Edge Lane highway (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=16853389&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=late-move-to-stop-edge-lane-highway-name_page.html)
Legal challenge in bid to stop 'bulldozing of Victorian homes' (http://www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=1&newsID=4163)
Homes demolition plan challenged (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/4842686.stm)
Prescott's 'social cleansing' faces court challenge (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/03/25/nprezza25.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/03/25/ixhome.html)
Homeowners facing compulsory purchase orders on their properties (http://firstrung.co.uk/articles.asp?pageid=NEWS&articlekey=1552&cat=44-0-0)
Parts of Edge Lane do need a makeover though and so do some of the yobs there!
Howie 04-09-2006, 05:22 PM The problem is that the development is not being undertaken for the benefit of the community (but for the benefit of those passing thru' it) and residents are not being treated fairly in the pittance they are being offered for their properties. They are being offered 'market value', but that value has resulted from the regeneration activity itself i.e. once you declare an area a demolition area then the property prices collapse. Those facing compulsory purchase orders will either have to return to renting or take on large loans to remain as home owners.
If plans are withdrawn though, wont it be to the detriment of the area resulting in nothing getting done? Millions of pound taken away from the area? I'm sure I've mentioned that before.
Howie 04-09-2006, 06:00 PM Far more properties are being demolished than is necessary for the road widening so as to provide for a row of new apartments on either side. There are alternative proposals that involve far less demolition and the renovation of existing properties. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister though is firmly of the opinion that regeneration equals demolition - a position that is not supported by many regeneration experts.
I think local home owners have been shafted, and landlords rewarded.... tenants, well, what did they get.. ?
Howie 04-10-2006, 04:54 PM tenants, well, what did they get.. ?
I was tempted to say socially cleansed. What I mean is they are encouraged to move to other areas. :disgust:
City route redevelopment begins
Controversial £350m redevelopment work is due to get under way on one of the main routes into Liverpool city centre.
The Edge Lane scheme includes the demolition of hundreds of homes to make way for a dual carriageway linking the city to the M62.
The Liverpool Land Development Company plans will also create new homes, shops and offices to regenerate the area.
But some residents are still fighting the compulsory purchase orders issued on their homes.
The scheme is backed by English Partnerships, Liverpool City Council and the North West Regional Development Agency.
Source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4917664.stm)
WORK begins today on a £350m project to transform Edge Lane in Liverpool.
The scheme will widen the eastern gateway into the city with 550 homes being built as part of a huge expansion and regeneration package.
Liverpool Land Development Company is leading the project that is expected to create and safeguard a total of 1,900 jobs.
The changes have been controversial, with many residents protesting against the scheme which ordered the compulsory purchase of 490 homes and 24 businesses.
Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley will meet David Waugh, chief executive of LLDC, this morning to mark the start of the work.
The £65m road widening project, which will make the full length of Edge Lane a dual carriageway, is due to be completed in time for Liverpool's Capital of Culture year in 2008, though the full regeneration of the area is expected to take longer.
The former Littlewoods building will be redeveloped into a mixed-use residential, leisure and commercial site. And a science park with 260,000 sq ft for offices and laboratories is planned for the former MTL bus site.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescot finally gave the controversial plans the go-ahead in February.
David Waugh said: "The significance of the Edge Lane corridor for the wider prosperity of Liverpool cannot be overstated.
"This project will create a new high-quality gateway into the city centre, help in the drive to attract new jobs and investment and improve the local environment for people who live and work in the Edge Lane area.
"Indeed, the project will act as a catalyst for regeneration throughout the whole of eastern Liverpool, helping to promote economic growth."
ONLY a harsh winter of Russian proportions will prevent Liverpool's Edge Lane widening scheme from being completed on time.
The confident prediction was related yesterday by City Council leader Warren Bradley as work started on the £350m regeneration project to transform the key eastern gateway and rebuild homes and businesses in Kensington and Wavertree.
More than 550 houses will be built and 1,900 jobs will be created by the project but developers are still fighting a high court challenge by local residents protesting against compulsory purchase orders (CPOs).
The £65m plan to widen the road will turn it into a full-length dual carriageway which is due to be completed by the end of 2007, in time for the city's Capital of Culture year, while the extensive development of surrounding areas will be staggered over the next five to 10 years.
Cllr Bradley said: "I don't see any reason why the road will not be finished by the end of next year. I have been told that, unless we see a particularly harsh winter of Russian temperatures, the road will be finished by the expected end date."
He added: "This community has waited for many years to see improvements. It is important to have a gateway that we can be proud of like other world-class cities.
"But the most important benefit of the project is what it will do for those local communities that for the past 20 years have only seen businesses pulling out of the area."
Cllr Bradley arrived on the building site with David Waugh, chief executive of Liverpool Land Development Company (LLDC) -the company leading the project.
The extensive scheme is expected to bring in £120m in private sector investment for related projects and will create more than 1million sq ft of new and refurbished commercial and retail floorspace.
Mr Waugh said: "We are confident we will have a complete highway in place by the end of 2007. Everything is in order and the only delay is in the commencement of Edge Lane West where the CPOs have been challenged by a few local people.
"We hope that the small number of people - maybe five or six - aren't going to delay a scheme that offers tremendous benefits to the local community and to Liverpool as a whole."
Preliminary work is being carried out today on Edge Lane Central, close to the former JCM Building on Edge Lane, with major digging work due to start on the road in the next fortnight.
Congestion on the road is to be expected.
Anyone looking for up-to-date daily traffic information on Edge Lane can visit www.edgelane.info or call the LLDC traffic line on 0151 210 3939.
kate.mansey@liverpool.com
Howie 05-10-2006, 11:27 AM £500k extra for Edge Lane firm
May 10 2006
By Sam Lister Daily Post Staff
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/apr2006/4/1/B68491B9-05C9-2697-143CB0AE1BED8AE1.jpg
THE company behind demolition of thousands of homes in Edge Lane was last night criticised because it is to get an extra £500,000 of public money.
Liverpool Land Development Company will use the cash to carry on its work over the next two years.
The organisation is made up from the North West Development Agency (NWDA), English Partnerships (EP) and Liverpool City Council, which has applied for the extra funding.
But Liberal Party leader Steve Radford claims it could easily find the money itself by dropping parts of the Edge Lane demolition scheme.
He said: "It is £500,000 at the moment but how do we know that is not going to keep rising?
"We should not be signing blank cheques, particularly when the money could be found quite easily.
"They could reduce their costs and still achieve their objects by re-drawing the Edge Lane scheme.
"There are thousands of homes that are needlessly being demolished under these plans, homes that people do not want to move out of.
"Instead they want more public money. People are deeply unhappy with this scheme, which is one of the main ones it is responsible for."
Work started last month on the contentious Edge Lane scheme which will widen the eastern gateway into the city and see 550 homes built.
Many residents have protested against the changes after the compulsory purchase of 490 homes and 24 businesses.
In April 2003 the city council was awarded £1.5m of European funding to fund LLDC, just under half of the total operating budget.
It has been behind 30 projects in the city but its most high profile are Edge Lane and Liverpool Science Park, which are still a long way from completion.
Liverpool City Council pays for its operating costs and asked the Government Office North West to apply for European funding on its behalf, but was initially told it was reluctant to step in because it felt its budget was sufficient.
But it has now agreed to hand over the £500,000 over a two year period.
The council has also had to increase its own contribution to LLDC by an extra £250,000 a year between now and 2008.
A spokesman for the city council said: "This money is to provide support for all of LLDCs projects, not just Edge Lane.
"The European money is not for meeting housing costs."
LLDC, which was set up in 2003 and runs until 2009, insists money earmarked for capital projects such as Edge Lane could not be used to fund other costs.
A spokeswoman said: "LLDC is very pleased that Liverpool City Council is giving due consideration to the continued support of LLDC in delivering a range of high quality commercial and mixed use schemes across Liverpool.
"LLDC has worked consistently to deliver its business plan projects which have been endorsed by all its funding partners.
"To date, LLDC has created over 3,000 jobs, delivered over 45,000m2 of new commercial floorspace and has attracted £313m of private sector funding to Liverpool.
"Urban regeneration projects are often complex and long term and it is excellent news that Liverpool is able to make a long term commitment to economic growth in the Strategic Investment Areas."
samlister@dailypost.co.uk
Source: icLiverpool (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17056149%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26page=1%26headline=%2dpound%2d500k%2dextra%2dfor% 2dedge%2dlane%2dfirm-name_page.html)
High Court bid to stop demolition
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41342000/jpg/_41342426_edge_lane203.jpg
Developers wants to spend £350m regenerating the area
A £350m plan to demolish hundreds of homes in Liverpool is a "return to the bad old days of 60s' clearances," the High Court has heard.
Resident Elizabeth Pascoe, of Edge Lane, was beginning a legal fight against plans to bulldoze hundreds of homes to build a dual carriageway.
Mrs Pascoe, 59, faces losing her Victorian terraced home after a compulsory purchase order (CPO).
She is asking the judge to quash the decision by Deputy PM John Prescott.
'Social cleansing'
Her counsel Robert McCracken told Mr Justice Forbes the scheme had been described by Liverpool Wavertree MP Jane Kennedy as "a form of social cleansing."
About 400 residents could be forced to sell their homes.
Mrs Pascoe, backed by many neighbours who are refusing to move, believes the decision by Mr Prescott, when he was responsible for planning control, will destroy the community.
Mr McCracken told the court: "Not surprisingly, the scheme is controversial, both locally and nationally. Critics say it is, in architectural terms, a return to the bad old days of the 1960s' clearances."
He added that the process which allowed the scheme was legally flawed.
Human Rights
Mrs Pascoe argues the Urban Regeneration Agency, which issued the CPO operating under the name English Partnerships, did not have power to issue it for her home, and Mr Prescott, in approving it, misdirected himself in law.
She also claims that the CPO breaches Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to respect for family life and home.
The Government and English Partnerships argue that the scheme is intended to revitalise a deprived area and provide an attractive entrance to the city.
The court hearing is set for two days with a reserve judgement expected.
source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/5210808.stm)....
The court hearing is set for two days with a reserve judgement expected.
What's a reserve judgement?
Paul D 07-24-2006, 05:37 PM What's a reserve judgement?
I don't know but I think we'd be best just renovating the present homes instead of replacing them with the rubbish they are proposing.:disgust:
I don't know but I think we'd be best just renovating the present homes instead of replacing them with the rubbish they are proposing.:disgust:
I do want this regeneration to take place without delay. Can it continue without demolishing the homes in question? To restore the old Victorian homes makes sense, but the rest? I wonder.
Waterways 07-24-2006, 06:05 PM I don't know but I think we'd be best just renovating the present homes instead of replacing them with the rubbish they are proposing.:disgust:
Yes, and more people dying of hypothermia.
Waterways 07-24-2006, 06:08 PM I do want this regeneration to take place without delay. Can it continue without demolishing the homes in question? To restore the old Victorian homes makes sense, but the rest? I wonder.
New house can be made to look like anything you want to. There is no sense is keeping crap energy inefficent buildings. It is cheaper to demolish and build proper houses.
Howie 07-25-2006, 10:13 PM Resident challenges demolition in the High Court
Jul 25 2006
Daily Post
THE planned demolition of hundreds of Victorian homes in Liverpool to make way for a dual carriageway and new housing was challenged in the High Court yesterday by a resident who is determined not to quit.
More (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17442245%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=resident%2dchallenges%2ddemolition%2din %2dthe%2dhigh%2dcourt%2d-name_page.html)...
Human rights 'breached by Edge Lane clearance'
Jul 25 2006
Liverpool Echo
RESIDENTS claim plans to demolish hundreds of homes off Liverpool's Edge Lane breach their human rights.
More (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17444318%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=human%2drights%2d%2dbreached%2dby%2dedg e%2dlane%2dclearance%2d-name_page.html)...
I know Liz, this won't be the end of the matter.
wallasey 07-25-2006, 10:34 PM I do want this regeneration to take place without delay. Can it continue without demolishing the homes in question? To restore the old Victorian homes makes sense, but the rest? I wonder.
If you go on Google Earth or something like that, it is clear that the Grand Victorian homes on Edge Lane are inadequate for families to live in. But, the street running behind both sides of Edge Lane (thats Royston Street and Toft Street) can be pulled down so that Edge Lane homes can have gardens and also off street parking. If this were to happen, the homes would be desirable as there would be space to the back of them. If so desired, the houses on Stamford Street would also recieve gardens too.
Now, As for the junction with Durning Road and Holt Road, I would remove it completely and close off the two roads. As Holt Road is a shopping street, I would pedestrianise it and create a place where the community can both meet and take pride in. Holt Road could be home to so many shops, bars and restaurants if it was pedestrianised and refurbised. The traffic would be diverted down Needham Road and Botanic Road. This might mean a little diversion if you are wishing to use Tunnel Road, but overall, this would be a better plan. Besides which, Edge Lane is wider at Botanic Road and so Rush Hour delays would be reduced.
Thats what I would do anyway. This area needs to be conserved. Not reduced to rubble. Speacking of which, weren't there plans to make this part of Edge Lane into a conservation area???
Howie 07-25-2006, 10:54 PM There was a counter-proposal that involved only the demolition of the houses necessary for the road widening but it was not accepted. This scheme is more about providing an attractive gateway into the city for the visitors to the European Capital of Culture 2008.
PS. The Holt Rd/Cameron St area is to be demolished in a few years time if John Prescott's other proposals go ahead.
wallasey 07-25-2006, 11:03 PM Not all of Holt Road? No! What is going on here? I heard that some land off Holt Road would be made availible for the Edge Lane folk but I thought that that was rejected a while back.
Howie 07-25-2006, 11:07 PM Last meeting I attended (albeit some time ago as I've given up going to them) they said that the whole area from Holt Road to Cameron St. would be demolished in 5 years time funding etc. permitting.
PS. Here's a pic of the Edge Lane proposal.
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/sep2005/1/2/00000A24-8534-1325-97460C01AC1BF814.jpg
julia 07-26-2006, 09:54 PM New house can be made to look like anything you want to. There is no sense is keeping crap energy inefficent buildings. It is cheaper to demolish and build proper houses.
Cheaper to demolish old Victorians and rebuild the same Victorians from scratch with the same details but in energy efficient ways? Can it really be done, because it looks to me that they're not doing it. They're replacing Victorian design with modern design.
There was a property I know of that sold for 70,000. When the buyer tried to obtain insurance for the house, the insurance company said that under a rebuild policy they would need to insure for 160,000. Because even though the present house was worth 70,000, it would cost 160,000 to replace it. Would adding insulation and heating products to this house "as is" actually cost the buyer 90,000?
Why widen the road? I say just get rid of the cars. Everybody needs to walk or take the bus, trams and trains. Spend the money on police to protect us from the violent, anti-social, and drug elements in the community. Maybe if Liverpool did that, there would be fewer derelict properties they would have to worry about demolishing or refurbishing.
wallasey 07-26-2006, 10:22 PM Well according to North West Tonight (26th july) the residents interviewed said that the victorian houses lining Edge Lane would be demolished but the road wouldn't be widened one bit. The land would be used for yuppyhousing/apartments to be built on. Now, I don't want to put Kensington/Edge Hill down but I hardy think that this is the idea place for brand new Yuppy housing to be built. It would look very tacky seeing as the area is surrounded by terraces anyway!
Howie 07-26-2006, 11:01 PM Well according to North West Tonight (26th july) the residents interviewed said that the victorian houses lining Edge Lane would be demolished but the road wouldn't be widened one bit. The land would be used for yuppyhousing/apartments to be built on. Now, I don't want to put Kensington/Edge Hill down but I hardy think that this is the idea place for brand new Yuppy housing to be built. It would look very tacky seeing as the area is surrounded by terraces anyway!
The idea is to hide Kensington, Wavertree, etc., behind a facade of apartments from the visitors to the European Capital of Culture 2008. It's a bit like when communist China used to put up hoardings along the side of the roads to hide the plight of the peasants from visiting dignitaries. :rolleyes:
wallasey 07-26-2006, 11:29 PM If I didn't know better, I would say that Liverpool City Council and English Partnerships are trying to hide Liverpool's heritage and victorian legacy away from prying eyes. Are they ashamed of what is there?
Personally, I would say that plonking yuppy housing in a traditional, victorian area is just goinf to cause more social problems. Also the clash is just going to make the place took grotty around the seams! Have these people have no consideraton for the people who have to live there?
Howie 07-26-2006, 11:48 PM Unfortunately this is what's happening here. See, for example, Liverpool gap between rich and poor highest in UK (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17383354%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=liverpool%2dgap%2dbetween%2drich%2dand% 2dpoor%2dhighest%2din%2duk-name_page.html). :disgust:
According to the report Liverpool has emerged as the city having the greatest discrepancy between rich and poor.
It will come as little surprise to a city that has seen million-pound luxury apartments built among the most deprived households in Europe.
Scousemouse 07-27-2006, 12:25 AM CACI compiles its results based on a system that estimates gross household incomes based on postcodes.
ESTIMATES gross household incomes? ...Sounds like a pretty accurate survey to me! :disgust:
The lowest household income in the country is £16,000...
I'll bet many a pensioner household wishes they were on £16,000, ...or am I missing something?
:rolleyes:
Howie 08-11-2006, 08:21 PM http://www.edgelane.com/images/mainimage2.jpg (http://www.edgelane.com/)
The long awaited Edge Lane Project is an ambitious programme of commercial,
residential and infrastructure improvements that will rejuvenate an area that
was once an economically thriving part of Liverpool and, at the same time,
transform one of the most important routes into the city centre.
www.edgelane.com (http://www.edgelane.com/) :rolleyes:
They've built residential places like that already on Rathbone road on Wavertree.
I admit that Edge needs doing up as it's a pit and the kids around there are arses sometimes but what about the people who live there? Can;t just demolish like that.
EDGE Lane can become the Speke Boulevard of north Liverpool, acting as a catalyst for jobs and investment. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17694841%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=edge%2dlane%2dis%2d%2dgateway%2dto%2d2% 2d000%2dnew%2djobs%2dfor%2dcity%2d-name_page.html)
Howie 09-06-2006, 10:58 PM EDGE Lane can become the Speke Boulevard of north Liverpool, acting as a catalyst for jobs and investment. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17694841%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=edge%2dlane%2dis%2d%2dgateway%2dto%2d2% 2d000%2dnew%2djobs%2dfor%2dcity%2d-name_page.html)
I'm sure that thought will cheer up the people who are losing their homes. :rolleyes:
Edge lane is the south Kev.
I don't know how the hell they can just take peoples home from them though, especially if they own it.
Edge lane is the south Kev.
I don't know how the hell they can just take peoples home from them though, especially if they own it.
It was a line from the Echo Max, anyway isn't Edge Lane East?
A PLAN to transform east Liverpool at a cost of £350m has been unveiled by city development bosses.
Liverpool Land Development Company lifted the lid on its scheme to regenerate the so-called Edge Lane corridor - a busy route into the city from the M62 motorway.
More than 150 people attended the unveiling at the former Littlewoods building on Edge Lane - set to be converted into apartments, shops and a hotel.
David Waugh, chief executive of Liverpool Land Development Company, commented: "The Edge Lane Project will provide a new 'front door' for Liverpool in time for the city's Capital of Culture Year in 2008.
"As well as transforming Edge Lane itself the scheme will act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the whole of eastern Liverpool."
The project involves making the whole length of Edge Lane a dual carriageway to reduce congestion.
Bosses hope it will create and safeguard 1,900 jobs, improve local services and road safety and will see 100 new trees planted.
Council leader Warren Bradley said: "Many thousands of visitors to Liverpool use Edge Lane to enter the city and it is vital we have a gateway which makes a good first impression.
"This scheme will transform one of the major entrance points to Liverpool and improve life tremendously for local residents and businesses."
Scousemouse 09-07-2006, 11:55 PM More than 150 people attended the unveiling at the former Littlewoods building on Edge Lane - set to be converted into apartments, shops and a hotel.
I wonder if the developers realise that some years ago the Littlewoods Buildings (there are two) were covered in a rubbery solution from top to toe? It was supposed to stop the salts in the brickwork pushing the plaster off the walls inside! With little success, I may add. Guess it'll cost a few bob to put that right!! :rolleyes:
Paul D 09-19-2006, 01:56 PM Here's a flythrough of the Edge Lane project.
http://www.edgelane.com/
Harry 09-20-2006, 10:44 AM I thought one of the main reasons for the Edge Lane project was to move traffic faster into the city centre from the motorway.
Looking at the flythrough, big chunks of it are still two lanes with trees jutting out to provide parking spaces. All this will do is cause bottlenecks.
Also, the graphics don't reveal what will happen to the outskirts of the city centre around Edge Hill-Kensington area where traffic really builds up.
What does anyone else think.
Here's a flythrough of the Edge Lane project.
http://www.edgelane.com/
I'm suprised that the only widening happens at the junction of Holt Road. Everything else is as it is now except the old victorian houses that look onto Edge Lane at Holt Rd opposite Botanic Park.
sweetpatooti 09-20-2006, 08:49 PM What's happening with St Cyprian's? My Mam and Dad got married there.
lindylou 09-21-2006, 01:21 PM I heard that it was to be pulled down.
Soreofhing 09-21-2006, 07:11 PM I live the other side of the world and have a couple of questions with regards to your area (which I have never visited).
I had a remote ancestor living at 84 Royston Street in 1913. Will this house be affected by the redevelopment scheme?
Are Kensington and Edge Hill near to each other?
How far is Edge Hill from Toxteth Park?
Best regards from Mexico
Rob
bobbymac 09-21-2006, 07:26 PM Well m8, Edge hill and Kenny are pretty well next door to each other.
If you goto Google, or Multi map, you can check all this stuff out. Cheers, Bob,
I live the other side of the world and have a couple of questions with regards to your area (which I have never visited).
I had a remote ancestor living at 84 Royston Street in 1913. Will this house be affected by the redevelopment scheme?
Are Kensington and Edge Hill near to each other?
How far is Edge Hill from Toxteth Park?
Best regards from Mexico
Rob
Welcome Soreofhing :celb (23):
lindylou 09-21-2006, 08:56 PM Hi and welcome.
Those areas are all linked. Kensington runs into Edge Hill, and parts of Edge Hill border with the edge of Toxteth ... running up to Parliament st.
I would think that Royston st will be affected by the plans.
Howie 09-21-2006, 09:03 PM I had a remote ancestor living at 84 Royston Street in 1913. Will this house be affected by the redevelopment scheme?
Yes, Royston Street is to be demolished.
Soreofhing 09-21-2006, 10:04 PM Thanks for the real scouse welcome! My dear old grandad would have been happy to see the nice welcome I received; he was born in Lark Lane, Wavertree in 1875.
Cheers bobbymac, lindylou, Kev and Howie.
Rob in the depths of Mexico
Thanks for the real scouse welcome! My dear old grandad would have been happy to see the nice welcome I received; he was born in Lark Lane, Wavertree in 1875.
Cheers bobbymac, lindylou, Kev and Howie.
Rob in the depths of Mexico
It's a pleasure Rob, anyway we can help, give us a buzz! Hope u enjoy the rest of the site :)
shytalk 09-21-2006, 10:24 PM Soreofhing,
Your relative from Royston St. wasn't by any chance named Holmes was he?
BTW Lark Lane isn't Wavertree, it is off Aigburth Rd.
lindylou 09-21-2006, 10:47 PM Yes, Lark lane is postcode Liverpool 17 - Aigburth.
Scousemouse 09-22-2006, 12:55 AM Some nice pics of Lark Lane HERE (http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/lark/index.html). Click on the pics to enlarge.
bobbymac 09-22-2006, 03:15 AM I remember when we'd ride down Beech St. at that point on Edge lane there was the median, of course, we'd dodge right, (the wrong way, when there wasn't much traffic) Lol.
Norm NZ 09-22-2006, 03:43 AM Thanks for the real scouse welcome! My dear old grandad would have been happy to see the nice welcome I received; he was born in Lark Lane, Wavertree in 1875.
Cheers bobbymac, lindylou, Kev and Howie.
Rob in the depths of Mexico
Welcome! Just to let you know, Lark Lane is in Aigburth, Check-out the "Lark Lane Web Site" you may find it interesting.
lindylou 09-22-2006, 01:30 PM Lark lane is a great area.
Scousemouse 09-22-2006, 06:14 PM I live the other side of the world and have a couple of questions with regards to your area (which I have never visited).
I had a remote ancestor living at 84 Royston Street in 1913. Will this house be affected by the redevelopment scheme?
Hi, Rob, no your ancestor's house won't be affected, simply because it isn't there anymore! In the pic below, your ancestor's house would have been where the newer houses are in Royston Street.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/scousemousepic/RoystonStreetL7.jpg
This is taken from the other side of Royston Street, so your ancestor's house would have been similar in style to those in the foreground.
lindylou 09-22-2006, 08:17 PM That's brilliant Scousemouse. :)
Scousemouse 09-22-2006, 08:43 PM Thank you very much, madam. :rolleyes: :)
Soreofhing 09-24-2006, 06:36 PM Mornin' scousers
No Shytalk, my ancestor was Hubert Charles Parry who married my great aunt Lillias Bather on 4 Feb. 1913 at Christ Church, Linnet Lane.
Like so many others, poor young Hubert went off to war and was killed in action on 4 Feb. 1915--on his second wedding anniversary. His details are to be found in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and he is buried at the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, Pas-de-Calais, France. A warehouseman turned rifleman.
At the time of their marriage, Lillias was living at 38 Bickerton Street, Toxteth Park.
Sorry about confusing Wavertree with Edge Hill folks, I'm not from your area and get confused easily. By the way I might as well tell all you good folks straight out that I'm a Londoner. There! I'm outed!
The photos are really super Scousemouse! Thanks a lot.
I'll download them and add them to Hubert and Lillias' file. I've got lots of them and many from the Liverpool/Wirral area.
Pity #84 doesn't exist any more, but at least I get an idea from the bricked up houses in the foreground. Does that signify that this is a rundown tough area nowadays?
And the photos of Lark Lane are pleasantly Victorian with all the red brick houses, slate roofs and pubs. I love the masonry lamp posts--who built them and why?
I had imagined Lark Lane as being a quiet country lane with lots trees and birds singing......not the sort place where you'd find a Rolls Royce dealship.
cheers
shytalk 09-24-2006, 06:44 PM soreofhing.
The masonry lamp posts you refer to are the gateposts at the entrance to Sefton Park.
wallasey 09-24-2006, 06:48 PM Anyone seen the Promo video of the Edge Lane redevelopment? Theres a link to it off the Ech Website. Will try and find it for you...
Soreofhing 09-24-2006, 06:49 PM Scousemouse
Did you actually go out and take the Royston Street photo just for me?
Many many thanks!
I get back to the UK occasionally, but I'm ****ed if I won't get up to Royston Street (if it hasn't been pulled down beforehand) and have a couple of pints in the Royston Arms. What are the local beers? And what is typical old fashioned pub food in Liverpool?
Soreofhing
Soreofhing 09-24-2006, 06:52 PM Thanks Shytalk.
Does the park still exist?
shytalk 09-24-2006, 06:57 PM Yes it does, there are lots of pics on here, it is the biggest of Liverpool parks I think, I missed going there on my last trip to the UK, I spent a lot of time there when I was young. The palmhouse has recently been restored and also some of the statues. If you get to Liverpool it is worth a visit.
Gazzab 09-28-2006, 01:21 AM What's happening with St Cyprian's? My Mam and Dad got married there.
Mine too. It's also where I got christened.
scouserdave 09-30-2006, 03:50 AM http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=625434998960888368&hl=en-GB
Liverpool Land Development's video, slightly re-edited by the Scouse Times folks:unibrow:
Some nice pics of Lark Lane HERE (http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/lark/index.html). Click on the pics to enlarge.
My dads is not far from Lark Lane.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:
Accross the park for me.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:
Urban 09-30-2006, 03:45 PM To get back to the point of Edge Lane I can't see the need to knock all the houses in the area down.
Some of them could be demolished but most could be renovated.
These developments put cars before people and I fear that the area could end up the same way as Scottie Road when they built the tunnel which just looks like a nondescript motorway.
Scousemouse 09-30-2006, 05:44 PM I get back to the UK occasionally, but I'm ****ed if I won't get up to Royston Street (if it hasn't been pulled down beforehand) and have a couple of pints in the Royston Arms. What are the local beers? And what is typical old fashioned pub food in Liverpool?
SoreofhingThanks, Rob.
If you're going to to have a pint in that pub you'd better take a crowbar and a six pack, 'cos it's the pub in the pic - boarded up. As you say, I think you're ****ed! :rolleyes:
As for Pub Grub, there's not much to choose, most is supplied by the same food preparation companies, if it's not boiled in the bag it's probably microwaved. It's all much of a muchness... :eek: :)
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=625434998960888368&hl=en-GB
Liverpool Land Development's video, slightly re-edited by the Scouse Times folks:unibrow:
Very good and quite saddening at the same time :disgust:
wallasey 09-30-2006, 10:31 PM It's so good and so true!
Seriously though, who else apart from me thinks that a scam is going on? There's something really fishy about this and I hope that it gets scrappaed and the plans from the 1970's are put into action.
The M62 was always meant to go into the city and would have followed the railway line thus meaning that Edge Lane was unaffected. The motorway would then have either...
A) Gone into a tunnel and terminated on Islington (ever wondered why there is a gyratory on Low Hill? Well, in that triangle where the brown warehouses are, the M62 would have emerged and freeflowed onto Islington)
B) Run onto Upper Parly Street somehow.
The M62 into Liverpool City Centre was scrapped because the proposed Inner Liverpool Motorway was also scrapped.
All the above is why I find Edge Lane so distressing. There has always mean to be a high standard road flowing into the city, But Edge Lane wasn't the intended route.
For more information, Click here (http://www.cbrd.co.uk/histories/lim/) and have a look at the plans!
RESIDENTS fear lives will be at risk after a £300m regeneration scheme involving their neighbourhood.
Plans for the transformation of Edge Lane from the city centre to the Rocket flyover have been altered, leaving some householders with nowhere to park.
People living along the Edge Lane Drive stretch had been promised parking bays to end the current practice of parking on the pavement.
The bays would also enable those who have driveways to reverse out onto the main road without fear of colliding into on-coming traffic. But work has already begun and the parking bay plan has been abandoned without any consultation, according to residents.
Bill Davies, 56, who has lived on Edge Lane Drive for 10 years, said: “During my time in this house we have seen eight people killed on this stretch of road.
“We desperately need to make the route safer for everyone.
“We thought that would happen because the parking bays would enable cars to be parked up out of the way of traffic, it would also help people with driveways to reverse out safely.
“But I think we have been fooled, the plans have changed and our lives are going to be put at risk.”
Source (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=baying-for-safety%26method=full%26objectid=17875132%26siteid= 50061-name_page.html)...
peewak 10-19-2006, 02:20 PM If the government had finshed the building the M62
ie the inner liverpool motorway, then we wouldn't be knocking down homes on edge lane now 30 years later
Howie 10-26-2006, 03:52 PM Bulldozers moving in to Edge Lane
Oct 26
2006
Liverpool Echo
BULLDOZERS will move into Edge Lane next week to start pulling down empty houses.
Regeneration
officials will start demolition despite uncertainty about the future of the multi-million pound scheme to widen the road and build anew community next to it.
Work will concentrate on large Victorian houses lining the west end of Edge Lane, many of which have been unoccupied for some time.
All those
due to be ripped down have already been bought up and are now the subject of the court battle between Liverpool Land Development Company and residents.
LLDC chief executive David Waugh said: "The start of work at Edge Lane West is a very important milestone for this project.
Story continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=bulldozers-moving-in-to-edge-lane%26method=full%26objectid=17995510%26sit
eid=50061-name_page.html#story_continue)...
Howie 10-27-2006, 09:18 AM Edge Lane scheme set to go ahead
Oct 27 2006
By Sam Lister Daily Post Staff
HOMEOWNERS fighting the contentious Edge
Lane road-widening scheme will be forced to look on as bulldozers move in on Monday to pull down hundreds of surrounding houses.
Despite a successful
High Court challenge brought by a resident opposing the plans, 265 derelict properties will be demolished over the next few months as the much-delayed
regeneration project gets under way.
Officials insist the work will pave the way for a multi-million pound facelift for the area, including new homes
to replace the run-down buildings.
But campaigner Elizabeth Pascoe, who brought the legal case against the organisations involved, last night
insisted the new road still cannot go ahead.
She said: "They are trying to take a stance to prove something. This is political sabre-rattling.
"They can knock them down, but the road still cannot go ahead while the other houses are still standing." The stretch of land, in the Edge Lane West
area, is being cleared to make way for major road improvements to remove the traffic bottleneck at St Cyprian's Church. It includes realigning the road,
widening it to dual carriageway and introducing a central reservation.
The project is being delivered by Liverpool Land Development Company (LLDC)
the Northwest Regional Development Agency, English Partnerships and Liverpool City Council.
David Waugh, LLDC chief executive, said: "The start of
work on Edge Lane West is a very important milestone for this project, which will provide the local community with new homes, new community and retail
facilities in place of currently derelict properties and a much safer road."
Last month a High Court judge refused to rubber-stamp a compulsory
purchase order forcing residents fighting the plans to leave.
Ms Pascoe argued the plan to buy up her home was a breach of her human rights, meaning
the whole project could potentially have to be redrawn.
A further ruling is expected next month.
Liverpool's Labour leader Joe Anderson
said: "This scheme seems to be just about tarting up the road.
"When I supported this I was given the false impression it was about improving traffic
flow but that doesn't appear to be the case at all.
"I can't see anything that will speed up the journey from the motorway to the city centre."
Cllr Marilyn Fielding, Liverpool's executive member for housing and neighbourhoods, said:
"The removal of derelict properties replaced by a
new housing development alongside large-scale environmental improvements will create a stunning gateway into the city."
samlister@dailypost.co.uk
Source:
icLiverpool (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=edge-lane-scheme-set-to-go-ahead%26method=full%26objectid=17999079%2
6siteid=50061-name_page.html)
Howie 10-30-2006, 10:15 AM Edge Lane order stops bulldozers
Oct 30 2006
By Alan
Weston Daily Post
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/sep2006/4/3/F3171AE8-E590-15BC-5C878A175CEB5B31.jpg
AN
INJUNCTION was served on Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley and others last night to stop bulldozers moving in to demolish hundreds of homes as part of
the Edge Lane road-widening scheme.
Solicitors acting on behalf of campaigner and local resident Elizabeth Pascoe - who brought a successful High
Court challenge to prevent the scheme from going ahead - obtained the injunction over the weekend.
It means that if the council, and other parties
involved with the scheme, press ahead with the demolition as planned this morning, they could be found in contempt of court.
The action was taken
after the council and lead organisation Liverpool Land Development Company announced at the end of last week that they were pressing ahead with the
demolition of 265 derelict properties which are already in public ownership to pave the way for a multi-million pound facelift for the area, including new
homes to replace the rundown
buildings.
Story continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=edge-lane-order-stops-bulldozers%26method=full%26o
bjectid=18012741%26siteid=50061-name_page.html#story_continue)...
Edge Lane order stops bulldozers
Oct 30 2006
By Alan Weston Daily
Post
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/sep2006/4/3/F3171AE8-E590-15BC-5C878A175CEB5B31.jpg
AN INJUNCTION was
served on Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley and others last night to stop bulldozers moving in to demolish hundreds of homes as part of the Edge Lane
road-widening scheme.
Solicitors acting on behalf of campaigner and local resident Elizabeth Pascoe - who brought a successful High Court challenge to
prevent the scheme from going ahead - obtained the injunction over the weekend.
It means that if the council, and other parties involved with the
scheme, press ahead with the demolition as planned this morning, they could be found in contempt of court.
The action was taken after the council and
lead organisation Liverpool Land Development Company announced at the end of last week that they were pressing ahead with the demolition of 265 derelict
properties which are already in public ownership to pave the way for a multi-million pound facelift for the area, including new homes to replace the rundown
buildings.
Story continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=edge-lane-order-stops-bulldozers%26method=full%26o
bjectid=18012741%26siteid=50061-name_page.html#story_continue)...
Here we go again. The selfish, narrow minded
minority getting in the way of something that the vast majority of people want. They say they where forced into taking out an injunction because they didn't
know which properties are going to be demolished, what!! It might just be the derelict, boarded-up ones along edge lane as LLDC said. These people are
looking for any excuse to save these houses at any cost. Even if these houses where renovated, no-one will want to live in them because of the proximity to
the road and the lack of local amenities. I actually read somewhere that one of the protestors said that the road could be widened by taking the front
gardens off the houses!!! What a joke. So people would step out of their front door straight onto a tiny pavement with a busy dual carriageway next to
it!!
I am the last person to want any of Liverpols heritage to go, but I am capable of seeing the bigger picture and realising that these properties
aren't wanted anymore and have to go.I am fed up with the constant criticism of this scheme as alot of people are. This is about creating a better, safer
and quicker entrance into Liverpool. Some people have said they can't see how it is going to make journey times quicker and improve safety, I can! At the
bottleneck, the road will be widened from 1 lane in each direction to 2 and at one point there will be 3, one dedicated for right hand turns to keep the
other 2 lanes flowing. There will be a central reservation with a barrier and brand new pedestrian crossings, both of which will improve safety. There are
currently 0 crossings at this junction. The pavements on each side will be very wide with trees to screen the road and the new housing and shops set way back
from the road.
There is no doubt that this scheme will make this area safer, cleaner and more desireable for people to live and work.
snappel 10-30-2006, 12:03 PM I admire the woman's determination.
Still, if it was up to me I'd ban cars from the town centre and put in better public transport systems (like trams perhaps), or have a congestion charge.
Perhaps if people weren't so lazy they'd park and then allow themselves 20 minutes to walk to work. Also, we'd all be a lot healthier for it.
On
the subject of the Edge Lane demolition, I can't say I'm a big fan of boarded up disused houses, but if the developers can't be specific about which
houses they intend to knock down, then it's their own silly fault that this injunction has been issued.
this is the time we live in,everyone will lose
out :disgust:
At least the rest of the project is going ahead as planned. (Touch wood)
shytalk 10-30-2006, 06:35 PM It looks good but it might move the accident black spot gfrom the Rocket to town,
which will be the end of the new racetrack. Or am I being cynical?
theninesisters 10-30-2006, 06:57 PM I had a good nose around Edge Lane yesterday as I needed information for my Liverpool Stop the Rot website at
www.cobblers.moonfruit.com
Going past the houses in a car, you just think they're a load of old rot, but when you get up to them and see
the intricate brickwork, and going around the side and rear of the properties, they are massive.
I know there are two sides to the coin regarding
this but I fully back Elizabeth Pascoe for her work. At the end of the day, her house was at risk of CPO and I'm sure if it was your own house, you'd do
what you could to save it. Fully agree that the area has gone downhill - but as usual, the council come along and just try and sweep it all under the carpet.
Imagine the scene of coming off the M62 and seeing all those Victorian houses done up and looking how they used to look - rather than being greated by a load
of prefab flats that'll fall down in 20 years anyway.
I had a good nose around
Edge Lane yesterday as I needed information for my Liverpool Stop the Rot website at www.cobblers.moonfruit.com
Going past the houses in a
car, you just think they're a load of old rot, but when you get up to them and see the intricate brickwork, and going around the side and rear of the
properties, they are massive.
I know there are two sides to the coin regarding this but I fully back Elizabeth Pascoe for her work. At the end of the
day, her house was at risk of CPO and I'm sure if it was your own house, you'd do what you could to save it. Fully agree that the area has gone downhill -
but as usual, the council come along and just try and sweep it all under the carpet. Imagine the scene of coming off the M62 and seeing all those Victorian
houses done up and looking how they used to look - rather than being greated by a load of prefab flats that'll fall down in 20 years
anyway.
I fully agree that it would be great if this could be done, but it can't. The road has to be widened and made safer for the public,
and alot of these houses are beyond repair. Even the ones that could be repaired would cost unbelievable amounts to refurbish. No-one wants to live in these
houses, and if this project doesn't go ahead, they will get even more undesirable as the road becomes gridlocked over the next couple of years. We have to
move on!
( The new flats and houses that will be built aren't pre-fabricated and will actually be made from some of the best building materials around.
This project is of the highest quality!)
Howie 11-01-2006, 12:34 AM Lawyers called in as Edge Lane scheme halted
Oct 31 2006
By Sam
Lister
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/oct2006/0/0/0D23C86F-CC00-537B-0EA46B11CE8F8E0B.jpg
OFFICIALS in charge
of building the city's motorway link road were last night consulting lawyers after the £350m scheme was brought to a halt.
Protesters served an
injunction just hours before demolition work on hundreds of homes was set to begin, paving the way for the Edge Lane widening project .
And yesterday
they continued to keep the pressure up by campaigning outside a city council presentation about demolition schemes.
Liberal Party leader Steve
Radford, who is opposing the scheme, delivered the injunction to Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley's home on Sunday night and yesterday morning served
it on council chief executive Colin
Hilton.
Story continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=lawyers-called-in-as-edge-lane-scheme-halted%26method=full%26o
bjectid=18018028%26page=1%26siteid=50061-name_page.html#story_continue)...
Harry 11-07-2006, 11:51 AM These buildings are ugly, red-brick
sh*te.
Knock them down.
Edge Lane isn't the Champs Elysee or Park Lane, its a main route into Liverpool city centre and its too narrow.
Cars
aren't going away soon so we have to make the best of what we have for the times in which we live.
This is not the 1800's or the year 3000.
Howie 11-27-2006, 09:50 AM Campaign victory in fight to save homes
Nov 24 2006
Liverpool Echo
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/sep2006/4/3/F3171AE8-E590-15BC-5C878A175CEB5B31.jpg
CAMPAIGNERS today won a major victory in the battle to save hundreds of homes in Liverpool's Edge Lane.
A judge officially quashed a legal order forcing dozens of residents to sell their houses so they could be bulldozed.
His decision followed weeks of uncertainty and marks a stunning success for grandmother Elizabeth Pascoe, 60, who led the campaign.
After spending huge amounts of taxpayers' money to get this far, government officials insist they will not give up.
Story continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=campaign-victory-in-fight-to-save-homes%26method=full%26objectid=18151927%26siteid=5 0061-name_page.html#story_continue)...
Howie 11-27-2006, 10:18 AM New CPO bid for Edge Lane
Nov 25 2006
By Larry Neild
The agency behind the widening of the key central route into Liverpool, the Edge Lane corridor, is to seek a new compulsory purchase order for the scheme.
It follows a successful high court challenge by local resident Elizabeth Pascoe who argued to judges that her home should not be demolished for the road widening scheme.
English Partnerships last night announced that it is to seek a new CPO for Edge Lane West, the stretch at the centre of the legal wrangle.
The process will take time, delaying by up to 16 months what has been considered a critical road scheme for access to the city from the end of the M62 at the Rocket interchange.
Eliot Lewis-Ward, English Partnership’s area director said last night: “The judge made it clear that English Partnerships' approach to the use of its powers was sound and entirely appropriate for area-wide regeneration schemes such as at Edge Lane West.
Story continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=new-cpo-bid-for-edge-lane%26method=full%26objectid=18154969%26siteid=50 061-name_page.html#story_continue)...
New CPO bid for Edge Lane
Nov 25 2006
By Larry Neild
The agency behind the widening of the key central route into Liverpool, the Edge Lane corridor, is to seek a new compulsory purchase order for the scheme.
It follows a successful high court challenge by local resident Elizabeth Pascoe who argued to judges that her home should not be demolished for the road widening scheme.
English Partnerships last night announced that it is to seek a new CPO for Edge Lane West, the stretch at the centre of the legal wrangle.
The process will take time, delaying by up to 16 months what has been considered a critical road scheme for access to the city from the end of the M62 at the Rocket interchange.
Eliot Lewis-Ward, English Partnership’s area director said last night: “The judge made it clear that English Partnerships' approach to the use of its powers was sound and entirely appropriate for area-wide regeneration schemes such as at Edge Lane West.
Story continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=new-cpo-bid-for-edge-lane%26method=full%26objectid=18154969%26siteid=50 061-name_page.html#story_continue)...
I hope for everyones sake it doesn't take that long!
theninesisters 11-27-2006, 07:54 PM Personally, I'm all for what Elizabeth is doing. At her age, and with a house that is fairly large, would you want to be turfed out of your property at 60 and be forced to move elsewhere? I know I wouldn't.
And on the flip side, I know that something has to be done about the traffic too and the regeneration of the area - but at the cost of these massive houses?
I got a taxi a few days ago from town and was chatting to the cabbie who told me that the council had ballsed up again with Edge Lane - and its true. Go from the Rocket up Edge Lane and at the start of all the work, we were led to believe that Edge Lane would be a 3 lane carriageway both sides, so what has been done so far? Well the council have dug up all the perfectly good kerbs...and erm...replaced them with new kerbs! 'oh but come on, it looks far prettier now doesn't it'?
So what is my solition if I was in charge of the council? Two things called the Waterloo and Wapping Tunnels. Make them a one way paid system in which traffic can enter the edge of town with no tailbacks, no bottle necks, just a free moving tunnel system that would ease lots of the congestion from Edge Lane.
Edge Lane is poorly planned simply from the number of traffic lights and pedestrian traffic lights. One of the largest bottlenecks is off the Motorway, under the flyover and then everyone stops because there's a bus stop on one side just next to a set of lights for people to cross...well let's build a bridge and do away with those lights? Na...let's demolish the bridge rather than police it as a few people have chucked things off there.
The council really couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery and if they think that a few new kerbs is going to solve Edge Lane because it looks pretty then I for one am peed off at my tax being spent on sh*te like that.
:013:
I feel better now :)
Personally, I'm all for what Elizabeth is doing. At her age, and with a house that is fairly large, would you want to be turfed out of your property at 60 and be forced to move elsewhere? I know I wouldn't.
And on the flip side, I know that something has to be done about the traffic too and the regeneration of the area - but at the cost of these massive houses?
I got a taxi a few days ago from town and was chatting to the cabbie who told me that the council had ballsed up again with Edge Lane - and its true. Go from the Rocket up Edge Lane and at the start of all the work, we were led to believe that Edge Lane would be a 3 lane carriageway both sides, so what has been done so far? Well the council have dug up all the perfectly good kerbs...and erm...replaced them with new kerbs! 'oh but come on, it looks far prettier now doesn't it'?
So what is my solition if I was in charge of the council? Two things called the Waterloo and Wapping Tunnels. Make them a one way paid system in which traffic can enter the edge of town with no tailbacks, no bottle necks, just a free moving tunnel system that would ease lots of the congestion from Edge Lane.
Edge Lane is poorly planned simply from the number of traffic lights and pedestrian traffic lights. One of the largest bottlenecks is off the Motorway, under the flyover and then everyone stops because there's a bus stop on one side just next to a set of lights for people to cross...well let's build a bridge and do away with those lights? Na...let's demolish the bridge rather than police it as a few people have chucked things off there.
The council really couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery and if they think that a few new kerbs is going to solve Edge Lane because it looks pretty then I for one am peed off at my tax being spent on sh*te like that.
:013:
I feel better now :)
It was never said that it would be a 3 lane carriageway. It has always been planned as a dual carriageway from the rocket to town. If I was in her shoes, I wouldn't want to move, but I would be able to see the bigger picture which is that the area needs to be made safer for cars and pedestrians and the area needs more local amenities. This project will deliver this plus nearly 2000 jobs in an area of high unemployment. She is being selfish and only thinking about what she wants. She has to move on and let the area regenerate or it will remain in this state for many more years. I am sad to see these houses go, but I and many others believe it is the best and only way forward.Also, why shouldn't it look nice. There are too many grimey looking roads and areas in Liverpool and I think it's about time we started taking pride in our city. It will improve peoples' lives and improve our image to visitors. I want to live in a nice looking city, and I think its good that the focus is also on areas outside the City Centre. ( The council are working on plans to modernise the rocket junction, and improve safety and traffic flow. It will be a huge project, therefore it probably won't happen until after the 2008 celebrations. There is a chance that the flyover could be replaced or even removed.)
Howie 11-29-2006, 09:30 AM If homeowners were being offered enough to buy another property elsewhere, maybe you would have a point, but they are not. Why after years of paying a mortgage should Liz allow her home to be taken off her for no reason other than making a road look better to visitors? She can't start out again on the property ladder at her age. Why should she be forced into rented accommodation? If they get away with this she would have been better off spending her life sponging off the State and getting rent paid than working hard and paying a mortgage. Strange values we have! :mad:
The solution is easy - just offer the homeowners enough that they may remain homeowners. And don't say these homeowners are offered the market value for their properties. The market values are artificially lowered as a result of the regeneration activity. They should be offered the market value of an equivalent property outside the demolition area. After all they are not demolishing these houses because they are structurally unsound or to widen the road. They are being demolished so that Kensington and Wavertree can be hidden from the visitors to the European Capital of Culture 2008 behind rows of pretty new apartments. :mad:
If homeowners were being offered enough to buy another property elsewhere, maybe you would have a point, but they are not. Why after years of paying a mortgage should Liz allow her home to be taken off her for no reason other than making a road look better to visitors? She can't start out again on the property ladder at her age. Why should she be forced into rented accommodation? If they get away with this she would have been better off spending her life sponging off the State and getting rent paid than working hard and paying a mortgage. Strange values we have! :mad:
The solution is easy - just offer the homeowners enough that they may remain homeowners. And don't say these homeowners are offered the market value for their properties. The market values are artificially lowered as a result of the regeneration activity. They should be offered the market value of an equivalent property outside the demolition area. After all they are not demolishing these houses because they are structurally unsound or to widen the road. They are being demolished so that Kensington and Wavertree can be hidden from the visitors to the European Capital of Culture 2008 behind rows of pretty new apartments. :mad:
Why should they be offered market value when their houses aren't worth market value. Liz was offered around 70,000 for her property plus the option of a new home somewhere else as where alot of other people. This way she would still be a homeowner. Even if she didn't take the option of a new house, 70,000 is a significant deposit on what would be a very nice house.
These houses aren't wanted by anyone and alot of them are structurally unsound, you only have to go up to some of them and see that they have signs on the front door saying ' Danger, unsafe building, do not enter'.
All this about them just making the road nicer and hiding Kenny from visitors is a load of bulls###t. If they where just making the road nicer, why are they moving the road and widening it, why are they creating better access to things like the lifebank, why are they creating a new park for the public, why are they creating new businesses which will create nearly 2000 jobs and why are they creating new low cost housing for local people? If they where trying to hide Kenny from visitors, why are areas of Kenny which no visitors will ever see being refurbished and regenerated such as Leopold Road and the surrounding roads, Prescot road shops and the new sports centre behind the library plus numerous other roads and wastelands.
If these houses are still here in 2-3 years, they will still be empty, there will still be no local amenities, crime will be even worse, quality of life will be even worse and Edge Lane will be gridlocked, and then we can all look back at what could have been. Local people are the most important thing, but there aren't many local people left here, and there hasn't been for about 20 yrs. Image to visitors is also important. Tourism is Liverpools' biggest source of income and if people are coming here and it is a dump, no-one will come again so we will lose vast amounts of money which will leave no money to be spent on regeneration. The image is also important to Liverpool people. I want to walk around this city and feel proud of it. There are too many areas of Liverpool that I walk around and feel depressed and ashamed that they exist.
This is a vital project, which some people don't want, but most people do want and need. If it doesn't go ahead, I dread to think what this area is going to be like in a couple of years!
Howie 11-29-2006, 03:44 PM See the Liverpool Social Cleansing video here (http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=625434998960888368).
A drive through the proposed Edge Lane development after the mass social cleansing has taken place. The video was made by the Liverpool Land (grab) Development Company and has been re-edited by Scouse Times because it was untruthful.
:badgrin:
Howie 11-29-2006, 03:56 PM I dread to think what this area is going to be like in a couple of years!
A lot worse than it is now given the large number of properties that have been vacated to no avail. A roadworks thru' mass dereliction probably given the shambles that has been made of this project to date at great public expense. :mad:
A lot worse than it is now given the large number of properties that have been vacated to no avail. A roadworks thru' mass dereliction probably given the shambles that has been made of this project to date at great public expense. :mad:
Most of these properties have been vacated well before LLDC got involved. Alot of them have been derelict for over 20 years!!!
Mike_LFC 12-12-2006, 04:34 PM I have just been walking down Edge Lane from the rocket. Does anybody know why they have changed the design from the original plans. They have not narrowed the central reservation to allow for a parking lane for the residents. As for the rest of this section all I can see that they have done so far is to replace trees with trees and lampposts replaced. As for the central reservation opposite the former Skelly's site I can't believe they have just paved this part. Surely trees/bushes should of been used here.:disgust:
So what they have done so far does not bode well for the rest of Edge Lane as the initial plans seem to have been ignored. :mad:
I have just been walking down Edge Lane from the rocket. Does anybody know why they have changed the design from the original plans. They have not narrowed the central reservation to allow for a parking lane for the residents. As for the rest of this section all I can see that they have done so far is to replace trees with trees and lampposts replaced. As for the central reservation opposite the former Skelly's site I can't believe they have just paved this part. Surely trees/bushes should of been used here.:disgust:
So what they have done so far does not bode well for the rest of Edge Lane as the initial plans seem to have been ignored. :mad:
There have been some changes. The central reservation has been left because they couldn't afford to add in another lane for parking. Instead, the kerbs will be lowered and made with high-quality paving so that cars can park on them without them cracking or collapsing. As for the central reservation by the skelly's dealership, this was paved because putting trees and bushes here would obscure the view of the junction for motorists and is too narrow to plant anything that wouldn't overhang onto the road. The improvements to this section of edge lane have always been mainly cosmetic as the surrounding infrastrucure is of good quality and there is very few derelict sites. The major social and infrastucture improvements are occuring further down edge lane after st Oswald Street junction. I hope this has answered your questions!!!!
Mike_LFC 12-13-2006, 01:33 PM Thanks for that information AK1. I never knew the plans had changed. Pity though, as the original plans would of looked far better.
Thanks for that information AK1. I never knew the plans had changed. Pity though, as the original plans would of looked far better.
Would have looked better, but wasn't practical.
XL391 12-14-2006, 08:47 AM I had imagined Lark Lane as being a quiet country lane with lots trees and birds singing......not the sort place where you'd find a Rolls Royce dealship.
cheers
The RR garage has now been demolished. When did this happen?? And was it for more bloody apartments?? :disgust:
The RR garage has now been demolished. When did this happen?? And was it for more bloody apartments?? :disgust:
If you are referring to the garage on the skelly's site then no. You will be pleased to know that this site along with the carpet world site is to be made into a public park with play area, no apartments! If you mean a different garage, let me know!
XL391 01-11-2007, 10:21 AM Yeah, the one in Lark Lane, he sold Rollers.
Mike_LFC 01-11-2007, 11:52 AM Yes the Cameron & Lunt garage has been replaced with appartments. I spent 2 weeks back in 1990 doing my work experience at this garage while at school. I can still picture one of the owners faces as a car rolled off a ramp into a recently finished merc......... happy days :celb (23):
THE main route into Liverpool city centre from the M62 will not be transformed in time for Capital of Culture, city bosses admitted today. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/breakingnews/tm_headline=new-two-year-delay-for-edge-lane%26method=full%26objectid=18555451%26siteid=50 061-name_page.html)...
theninesisters 01-31-2007, 12:54 PM THE main route into Liverpool city centre from the M62 will not be transformed in time for Capital of Culture, city bosses admitted today. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/breakingnews/tm_headline=new-two-year-delay-for-edge-lane%26method=full%26objectid=18555451%26siteid=50 061-name_page.html)...
That's fantastic news! The next CPO is due to drop in to our laps in the next couple of weeks and by then, the website should be up and running.
The council should be shot for ever wanting to demolish houses like this:
snappel 01-31-2007, 02:45 PM Yes the Cameron & Lunt garage has been replaced with appartments. I spent 2 weeks back in 1990 doing my work experience at this garage while at school. I can still picture one of the owners faces as a car rolled off a ramp into a recently finished merc......... happy days :celb (23):I remember once walking past there on the way back from buying supplies at the garage and seeing a yellow rally-spec Escort Cosworth in there. We popped in to have a gander and a chat with the guys. Car was mint!!
Paul D 01-31-2007, 03:18 PM That's fantastic news! The next CPO is due to drop in to our laps in the next couple of weeks and by then, the website should be up and running.
The council should be shot for ever wanting to demolish houses like this:
The council have always whittled away at our heritage,up to ten years ago Liverpool was still demolishing more listed buildings than anywhere else in Britain,we never learn.:disgust:
Great news, NOT! I can understand saving buildings like these but not here. These houses have to go to improve life for everyone around that area. The road must be widened or it will come to a stand-still in a few years. I can imagine it now, visitors driving down edge lane expecting to see a 21st century city that is moving forward but instead they will see a heavily congested unsafe road with derelict properties surrounding it. It's not just about visitors either, most of the people in that area want the houses gone to improve access to local amenities, create more crossings and to create new housing and jobs. Instead they will have to continue living in squalor with poor local amenities and a poor quality of life.
I support saving old victorian buildings, but in this case I think they have to go. Liverpool's heritage must be preserved but not in cases such as these where preserving it would mean ruining the lives of the people that live there. Nobody wants these houses and many are beyond repair, even the ones that could be repaired wouldn't sell because of the road and the rubbish local facilities. I just hope they are at least demolished before 2008.:disgust:
theninesisters 01-31-2007, 07:34 PM Great news, NOT! I can understand saving buildings like these but not here. These houses have to go to improve life for everyone around that area. The road must be widened or it will come to a stand-still in a few years. I can imagine it now, visitors driving down edge lane expecting to see a 21st century city that is moving forward but instead they will see a heavily congested unsafe road with derelict properties surrounding it. It's not just about visitors either, most of the people in that area want the houses gone to improve access to local amenities, create more crossings and to create new housing and jobs. Instead they will have to continue living in squalor with poor local amenities and a poor quality of life.
I support saving old victorian buildings, but in this case I think they have to go. Liverpool's heritage must be preserved but not in cases such as these where preserving it would mean ruining the lives of the people that live there. Nobody wants these houses and many are beyond repair, even the ones that could be repaired wouldn't sell because of the road and the rubbish local facilities. I just hope they are at least demolished before 2008.:disgust:
That's most people's view of the situation. However the website that I am currently working on shows how to save all the houses and still widen the road and improve the traffic flow by making changes to certain right turns and the like.
I have been in to numerous houses on Edge Lane just before they were boarded up and the bods who were putting the metal plates on told me that if they had their way, the'd offer the council some money to keep the houses. Some are in a bad way but the majority need slightly more than a lick of paint and some work doing - nothing structural. They are massive from the side of the buildings and go a long way back.
wallasey 01-31-2007, 08:37 PM I was talking to my geography teacher about this; he said that the road should be realigned around this "cluster" or residential buildings so that they are saved. This is a good idea, but I am imagining that you would have to (comming from the Rocket) curve the roadway to the left and take it down to Wavertree Road nad then dual Wavertree Road. This would then bring the roadway in at a comfortable angle to then build the "Hall Lane By-pass" which isn't going ahead anyway.
The road would be plotted something like this...
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/8030/fgtta4.jpg
Wavertree Road between the railway bridge and Irvine Street does'nt have a frontage as such (only a row of shops) as most of it has been cleared and had 60's buildings constructed a way back from the road.
This would be very costly and would never see the light of day!
Howie 02-19-2007, 12:10 PM Grandmother continues fight to save her home
Feb 19 2007
by Paula Owens, Liverpool Daily Post
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/sep2006/4/3/F3171AE8-E590-15BC-5C878A175CEB5B31.jpg
WORKERS planning to start bulldozing houses as part of the Edge Lane road-widening scheme were yesterday served with an injunction preventing them from doing so.
The demolition work was set to commence at numbers 30 to 36 Edge Lane at 8am this morning.
But local resident, 60-year-old grandmother Elizabeth Pascoe, who has already taken similar action against the demolition of homes in another part of the area, sought new legal intervention after hearing about the impending work.
If the demolition goes ahead, the council and other parties involved with the scheme could be found in contempt of court.
Story continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=grandmother-continues-fight-to-save-her-home%26method=full%26objectid=18643440%26page=1%26 siteid=50061-name_page.html#story_continue)...
Howie 02-19-2007, 01:48 PM Homes demolition halted
Feb 19 2007
Liverpool Echo
BULLDOZERS have been stopped from moving into Liverpool’s Edge Lane for the second time.
Developers were planning to start preparing six boarded-up Victorian houses for demolition today.
But anti-demolition campaigners contacted London’s high court over the weekend and say they have an injunction stopping any work taking place.
They were planning to serve it on contractors at the Kensington site early today.
Senior officials at Liverpool Land Development Company (LLDC) had still not seen a copy of the injunction this morning.
Story continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=homes-demolition-halted%26method=full%26objectid=18643691%26siteid= 50061-name_page.html#story_continue)...
This is just rediculous. That area is going to be left to rot even more for years. Welcome to Liverpool everyone!!!!! I give up.:disgust:
Howie 02-19-2007, 08:35 PM I give up.:disgust:
Liz Pascoe hasn't!!! :rolleyes:
theninesisters 02-19-2007, 09:00 PM Liz Pascoe hasn't!!! :rolleyes:
And she's entitled to considering her house is still under threat. We thought that we would have a few months before the next CPO so the website I am working on is currently being madly shuffled together this week. Anyone got any red bull?
Howie 02-20-2007, 08:45 AM Edge Lane injunction to cost taxpayer £1.5m
Feb 20 2007
by Deborah James, Liverpool Daily Post
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/sep2006/4/3/F3171AE8-E590-15BC-5C878A175CEB5B31.jpg
A VITAL £70m scheme to regenerate Liverpool’s Edge Lane corridor was facing a further major delay last night, after a grandmother won a surprise High Court injunction.
Developers last night said an anti-demolition order secured in London by resident Elizabeth Pascoe had caused a second major hold-up to the road-widening scheme.
The 60-year-old handed the order to workers yesterday morning as they were about to start stripping six boarded-up Victorian houses in preparation for bulldozers to move in.
It bans any demolition on Edge Lane West until a Compulsory Purchase Order is issued allowing developers to buy up remaining properties in the area, expected in around 15 months.
Story continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=edge-lane-injunction-to-cost-taxpayer-%2Dpound%2D1%2D5m%26method=full%26objectid=1864704 8%26siteid=50061-name_page.html#story_continue)...
Is it just delaying the inevitable. Is it more money for her property she is after, given that CPO's are usually derisary amounts. With the money it's costing the taxpayer and the regeneration of the area, would it not just be sensible to give her her wedge instead? It can't be any fun for her living in what has become a run down area due to the others that have moved out though I do agree that some of those houses are huge and could where possible should have been saved. I'm all for people and communities over road schemes.
theninesisters 02-20-2007, 11:02 AM Is it just delaying the inevitable. Is it more money for her property she is after, given that CPO's are usually derisary amounts. With the money it's costing the taxpayer and the regeneration of the area, would it not just be sensible to give her her wedge instead? It can't be any fun for her living in what has become a run down area due to the others that have moved out though I do agree that some of those houses are huge and could where possible should have been saved. I'm all for people and communities over road schemes.
The problem is, is that the city council haven't done their homework. They've never had a surveyor around to inspect the houses in detail, which we have. Only 6 houses are structurally unsafe and 'have' to be demolished, the rest can be saved.
Elizabeth isn't after any more money from the house - she doesn't want to move from her home at the age of 60 where she has lived for a long time - would you?
The Council is totally to blame for letting these properties go thus forcing people out of their homes. 99% of people for the demolition have never been inside the grand houses and they are massive - fixed up, they would fetch over a £1mill, such is the style of the house. People assume that because they're boarded up, they are to be demolished, when the survey that we paid out for shows the real extent.
It would appear that the council are saying 'This is where the road's going, structurally safe houses or not' hasn't that always been the way though - that someone/somewhere is sacrificed for improvement (if that is what it's going to be) The residents of where I was from were shipped out for the widening of Hunter Street despite a community of 400 families who were basically against it, but as they were flats that were not privately owned what chance did they have when they'd already fought road plans for two previous schemes. The once thriving Christian Street is now cut off from Islington and is pretty isolated. One might say a good thing if they've kids.
The houses actually along that section of road must go if the road is to be properly widened and made safer for pedestrians, although I do think the council should give more consideration into preserving some of the houses that are away from the road. It is important to remember that this isn't just a road widening scheme, this is just part of a project which includes new housing, new jobs in the science park, a better environment, more local amenities and new public open space.
I traveled along the almost complete section of edge lane near the rocket recently. The quality of the work is superb and the level of thought behind it is very impressive. For example, instead of just paving the pavements and planting trees along the entire stretch, they have tarmaced sections outside most of the houses for cars to park on, away from the road. This project will improve Liverpool's image to visitors, but more importantly, it will improve the lives of local people in more ways than one.:)
snappel 02-20-2007, 01:12 PM It's a fair point, and you can't keep everyone happy.
Still, I'm not bothered about the £1.5m of taxpayers money - at least it's been consumed by someone being pro-active and doing something (which is for them) worthwhile. Unlike the work-shy layabouts that lived in half the other houses down there.
marky 02-20-2007, 07:42 PM Those houses don't seem too bad, to me.
Those houses don't seem too bad, to me.
Some of them aren't too bad, but they have to go so that the road can be widened. The road is already heavily congested because it bottlenecks from four lanes to two, so in a couple of years it will be gridlocked if it isn't widened. Some have said it can be widened without demolishing the houses but this would mean taking the front gardens off the houses so people would be walking out of their front door straight onto a tiny pavement with a dual carriageway next to it, plus alot of the houses are too far gone to repair.
On the other hand, the demolition will mean that all the buildings on the roadside will have a large pavement in front of them with trees and more pedestrian crossings to make it safer and more pleasant. If you look carefully at the plans, you will see that the apartments are on the roadside with all the family houses behind them, well away from the busy road.:)
Libertarian 02-22-2007, 08:40 PM In general the city is a dug up mess.
The big dig is causing terrible problems in the city centre and has been driving shoppers away for 2 years now. Shops are closing and business is bad. As if this isn't bad enough Church Street and Lord Street have looked like a building site since the summer the resurfacing seems to have taken a very long time for what seems to be a very simple job.Every time you go down there you are lucky if you see anyone working on it. Even worse Whitechapel is now being dug up an the trendy new Met quarter is surrounded by bollards, no wonder trade is down there too. The council have known that the Met quarter has been under construction for 2 years now so why not do some of the work sooner?
Thank God we never got the trams can you imagine the disruption the installation of them would have caused? There is now way it would have been finished by 08, the trams would have caused huge traffic chaos and work would have taken taken years in Liverpool.
Unbelievable.
All the work is neccessary to bring Liverpool up to date with most other cities. The work doesn't bother me, and there was a survey a while ago that showed most people don't mind the distruption as Liverpool will be a much better place once it is completed. I actually like going into town and seeing all the construction work. It makes the city vibrant with activity and prosperity.
SCORES of residents are campaigning to get the controversial regeneration of Edge Lane back on track. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=demolition-call-in-battle-over-edge-lane-homes%26method=full%26objectid=18662902%26siteid=5 0061-name_page.html)
Howie 02-27-2007, 11:01 AM Author inspired by fight to save Edge Lane homes
Feb 27 2007
by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/sep2006/4/3/F3171AE8-E590-15BC-5C878A175CEB5B31.jpg
LIVERPOOL writer Jimmy McGovern will soon become an even more high-profile name than he is already, with three major productions in the pipeline – and they could not be more different from each other.
Two will be set during controversial periods of history. One is a film on the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, with Hollywood star Scarlet Johansson in the lead role as the doomed queen, while the other is a stage play which compares the slaves of America’s Deep South with those who toiled in the mills in the north-west of England.
The third, however, will be right up to date and will be a hard-hitting dramatisation of the issues surrounding the Edge Lane regeneration project.
McGovern said he was drawn to the subject because of the outrage he felt over the way council leaders had handled the project.
The west end of Edge Lane has been earmarked for demolition and redevelopment for some time, but it has witnessed a stand-off between planners and local residents reluctant to leave their homes.
The proposals form part of the Government's New Heartlands strategy and will include a new dual carriageway providing improved road links to the M62 motorway.
McGovern – no stranger to controversy with earlier works including one on the Hillsborough tragedy – launched a scathing attack on the redevelopment project, which he said would destroy some “wonderful houses”.
The 57-year-old writer said his brother, Joseph, 59, who owns a three-bedroomed house in the area, was one of those affected by the proposals.
He added: “Joe has been offered just £65,000 under the Compulsory Purchase Order, in spite of the fact that developers are planning to build apartments on the site, starting at £125,000 for a one-bed flat.
“How can anyone possibly claim that is fair? It is impossible to buy anything with £65,000 these days.”
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/jan2002/2/0/000AD29F-E9C1-1C47-BE0180BFB6FA01D8.jpg
He added: “There is a very strong aesthetic argument in all of this. These are houses with beautiful facades which, if they were in London, would be appreciated for exactly how splendid they are. As Liverpool approaches its Culture Year, the council is knocking down rows of wonderful houses – and for what?
“All professional opinion is that the city centre cannot cope with the current levels of traffic, so how will a two-lane entry road help that? It is not a sustainable answer, we need to reduce congestion with green schemes such as park and ride, not add to it.”
Although this work is still in its early stages, another – called King Cotton – will mark McGovern’s return to the stage after 25 years.
It has been commissioned by the Liverpool Culture Company and The Lowry at Salford Quays, where the production will have its world premiere in September, followed by an opening at the Liverpool Empire later in the month.
The musical play, which features a full brass band, will mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade, but McGovern will also use it to explore his theory that Britain’s mill workers were the forgotten slaves of the 18th century.
The new project sets a cotton plantation slave from the Deep South against a mill worker at the time of the Lancashire cotton famine, reflecting McGovern’s view that the plight of northern England’s mill workers has been overlooked.
He said: “Research has been done which shows that people died younger in the mills than in the cotton fields.”
The work is adapted from an idea by local musician Ian Brownbill, who approached the author about doing a play on the cotton famine, which occurred when the American Civil War halted cotton imports and mill workers were left to starve.
The film of Mary Queen of Scots is due for release next year, and will concentrate on her strained personal and political relationship with her cousin, Elizabeth I, during whose reign the Scottish queen was executed.
alanweston@dailypost.co.uk
Source: icLiverpool (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=author-inspired-by-fight-to-save-edge-lane-homes%26method=full%26objectid=18681188%26page=1%2 6siteid=50061-name_page.html)
theninesisters 02-27-2007, 12:15 PM My Edge Lane website is to be launched in the Sunday Times this sunday so if I get the all clear, I'll post the website address up here on Saturday so you can all have a sneak preview.
I'm still going through lots of legal documents else I'd have posted it last week for your perusal.
:protest:
Anyone know what's happening with the Littlewoods building? I know that Urban Splash are going to refurbish it and I have noticed some scaffolding on a small section of it, but there is nothing on their website and there has been no news on how the development is coming along.:)
theninesisters 03-04-2007, 05:03 PM Anyone know what's happening with the Littlewoods building? I know that Urban Splash are going to refurbish it and I have noticed some scaffolding on a small section of it, but there is nothing on their website and there has been no news on how the development is coming along.:)
I'll hijack this thread with my already announced www.edgelane.moonfruit.com website :)
Littlewoods is to be turned in to apartments! Sod knows how they'll do that but bagsie the tower as my bedroom!
I'll hijack this thread with my already announced www.edgelane.moonfruit.com website :)
Littlewoods is to be turned in to apartments! Sod knows how they'll do that but bagsie the tower as my bedroom!
They are going to add in new floors. It currently only has a ground floor!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6434255.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6434255.stm)
Please Read.
Yet another delaying of the inevitable. This has gone from it being someone fighting for what they believe in, to someone blatantly not caring about their community and being extremely selfish. Surely she must realise that the vast majority of people want the houses demolished and that keeping the houses would be extremely dangerous and unpleasant for both pedestrians and cars.
She is simply misguided and must realise that the houses are going to be demolished eventually. I suspect she is just holding out for more money. If they offered her an extra 10 grand she would be out of there like a shot, but they won't do that as it will look like they are bribing her.
I just hope that LLDC get those CPO's quickly and continue to buy the remaining properties.
http://liverpooldev.co.uk/?ctid=78 Please Read!
theninesisters 03-09-2007, 02:49 PM Yet another delaying of the inevitable. This has gone from it being someone fighting for what they believe in, to someone blatantly not caring about their community and being extremely selfish. Surely she must realise that the vast majority of people want the houses demolished and that keeping the houses would be extremely dangerous and unpleasant for both pedestrians and cars.
She is simply misguided and must realise that the houses are going to be demolished eventually. I suspect she is just holding out for more money. If they offered her an extra 10 grand she would be out of there like a shot, but they won't do that as it will look like they are bribing her.
I just hope that LLDC get those CPO's quickly and continue to buy the remaining properties.
http://liverpooldev.co.uk/?ctid=78 Please Read!
I have to disagree there totally. Having worked with Elizabeth, she is not doing this for the money. She has said that she wouldn't entertain any amount of money, she is now fighting for all the people that have already had to leave their community. Elizabeth works silly hours, despite being disabled and I am in regular contact with her over this.
The council are riding rough shot over all of this and they cannot afford to back down.
You may not have read all of my website but I would draw your attention to :
http://www.edgelane.moonfruit.com/surveys
Click on 'Edge Lane Survey Report' which will show you an independant review by Chartered Building Surveyors - this isn't hearsay - this is the true Survey of each major property which is stated that needs very little more than maintainence.
I agree with both sides of the coin, but for those that want to have their houses demolished, they have just as much say as Elizabeth has at the end of the day.
I understand that some of the houses are ok, but it just isn't safe to keep them. I have looked at your website which clearly shows that the road is just feet from the front door of alot of the houses. It also shows that there would be very little greenery and that the pavement is tiny. There is also nowhere to park any cars therefore all the cars would have to be parked either on the road or on the pavement. The LLDC plan would solve all these issues and create better local amenities for residents.
You can't ignore the fact that most people want the houses gone, and that the LLDC plan won't just widen the road like yours, it will create a better environment and better facilities for local people.
I do actually like those houses and do wish that they could stay, but that just isn't an option in this case. To secure the long term future for this part of Liverpool, the houses must be demolished.
Lastly, with reference to the comment that people where made to move out of their homes, that is completely wrong. The population was already falling rapidly long before LLDC got involved and the fact is most of the residents where waiting for someone like LLDC to come along so they could get out.
Liz is holding back a vital regeneration project for Liverpool that has been in the making for the past 10 years. She must concede defeat and stop being so selfish. She is doing what is in her best interests, not what is in the vast majorities.
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=oak-tree-will-light-up-key-city-road%26method=full%26objectid=18726702%26siteid=50 061-name_page.html
theninesisters 03-09-2007, 08:04 PM I understand that some of the houses are ok, but it just isn't safe to keep them. I have looked at your website which clearly shows that the road is just feet from the front door of alot of the houses. It also shows that there would be very little greenery and that the pavement is tiny. There is also nowhere to park any cars therefore all the cars would have to be parked either on the road or on the pavement. The LLDC plan would solve all these issues and create better local amenities for residents.
You can't ignore the fact that most people want the houses gone, and that the LLDC plan won't just widen the road like yours, it will create a better environment and better facilities for local people.
I do actually like those houses and do wish that they could stay, but that just isn't an option in this case. To secure the long term future for this part of Liverpool, the houses must be demolished.
Lastly, with reference to the comment that people where made to move out of their homes, that is completely wrong. The population was already falling rapidly long before LLDC got involved and the fact is most of the residents where waiting for someone like LLDC to come along so they could get out.
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