A STRETCH of Liverpool's historic dock wall is to be breached for the first time since it was built 200 years ago by French prisoners during the Napoleonic War.
The city's planning committee has agreed to allow the Princes Dock Development Company permission to remove a 20ft stretch of the brick wall fronting Bath Street.
The aim is to create a new pedestrian access point to Princes Dock and the waterfront. Detailed talks had to take place with the government conservation agency, English Heritage, because the wall is part of the Unesco World Heritage Site.
Committee chairman Cllr Lady Doreen Jones did not take part in the decision making, but she launched a fierce attack on the proposal, saying the wall should remain intact.
She told the committee: "When we gave permission, against my better judgment, for the 40-storey Beetham West tower, I warned that a plan would emerge to knock a hole in the dock wall to give easier access to the new multi-storey car park at Princes Dock.
"The tower will only have 19 parking spaces, which is insufficient. I also predicted that a plan would come forward to completely block off Bath Street to road traffic, and I am sure that will come next.
"I warned about the hole in the wall and I was correct. I am usually right on these things. Several years ago I had a meeting with the council planning manager and I was told the wall could not be touched because it is part of our heritage. For some reason, English Heritage are now allowing this to happen, and I am surprised at them. If we keeping chopping down parts of the wall, we might as well tear it down completely and forget all about our heritage.
"I know the dock wall is like a prison wall and some may think it is not very attractive, but it is part of our maritime history. The principles should be consistent - we should protect our heritage or not bother at all."
The committee's deputy chairman, Cllr Dave Irving, said: "I take on board the comments of Lady Doreen when she says the wall is part of our heritage. But the whole area is changing in character and I feel we should try to open up the area for the people of Liverpool. This scheme will open up the waterfront to the public."
Planning officer Barbara Kirk-bride said the council planning department believed the opening of the dock wall was an acceptable intervention. "The scheme has been planned sympathetically and English Heritage has raised no objection."
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Liverpool architects KKA have devised a scheme that will see modern gateposts at either end of the opening to create a new link to the docks for people in Old Hall Street and Brook Street.
Ian Pollitt, chief executive of Princes Dock Development Company, now part of Peel Holdings, said: "We have designed the scheme in a way that fully respects the important heritage of the wall."
larryneild@dailypost.co.uk
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