Joy as city dock plans are sunk
Oct 11 2006
By Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
CONTROVERSIAL plans to fill in an historic Liverpool dock have been rejected after protests from residents.
British Waterways wanted to dump rubble into West Waterloo dock so a new piece of land could be created on the banks of the River Mersey.
The plan was part of a last-minute change to the route of Liverpool's new £17m waterfront canal, a flagship 2008 scheme.
But the city council planning committee yesterday refused to give British Waterway planning permission during a town hall meeting.
Residents who had vowed to fight to save the picturesque dock, built in 1834, said they were delighted.
Tony O'Leary, chairman of Waterloo Quay residents' association, said constant building work in the area has already taken a toll on residents' health and the proposed work would have worsened the situation.
He said: "My wife has been to hospital on a number of occasions with health problems connected to living there.
"We are not Luddites. We would be the first people to endorse the canal link coming through this area.
"We are all strongly in favour of that and hope British Waterways can go back to the original planning permission, which they were granted, for the canal to rundirectly through the West Waterloo dock as it is without losing any water."
The new waterfront canal, planned for two years, will link the Leeds-Liverpool canal with Albert Dock.
British Waterways originally decided to route it through the middle of West Waterloo Dock, but then decided to shift it several metres inland through a new channel.
After the meeting, British Waterways spokesman Martin Clarke would not rule out an appeal against the council's decision.
He said: "We are confident that the canal link will go ahead, but we will have to review our options now.
div>
We believe that the grounds for refusal were not met and we maintain that West Waterloo Dock is not a world heritage or conservation site and contains no listed buildings.
"This site is considered vital for wider regeneration and attracting investment to north Liverpool."
Source:
icLiverpool
Bookmarks