Edge Lane Development

[Spike]

Are the house in fairfield going the same way? the ones that back onto Newsham park, opposite the Police club.

Its a shame to see them in this state.

What will replace all this and edge lane?? we already have lego land ruining the fantastic three graces, now it looks like Toy town will be built here

Our heritage is being ripped apart in front of our eyes, soon we wont recognise anything. And dont get me started on the disrepect shown to Noel Chavasse, they should put his name back and another statue should take pride of place amongst the shopping horror show.

[burkhilly]

I think this plan is disgraceful. The houses a beautiful - and have been left to ruin. Then there's a row of 1930s houses - with just one resident left living there. I come down Edge Lane every night from work and I dispair of the plans for these houses.

I wish the City Council had learned from knocking down so many of our buildings in the past - but they haven't.

We do not need any more roads IMO. Yes Edge Lane is busy at Peak time and that part by the Barracks is quite poor - but compared to some roads in Liverpool it's not too bad.

I say renovate the houses - do not destroy these fine buildings.

[Cadfael]

Are the house in fairfield going the same way? the ones that back onto Newsham park, opposite the Police club.

Its a shame to see them in this state.

What will replace all this and edge lane?? we already have lego land ruining the fantastic three graces, now it looks like Toy town will be built here

Our heritage is being ripped apart in front of our eyes, soon we wont recognise anything. And dont get me started on the disrepect shown to Noel Chavasse, they should put his name back and another statue should take pride of place amongst the shopping horror show.

It's just a bloody crime. The church on the corner cannot be demolished so we are still going to have to have the church 'disrupting' the traffic flow - new buildings or not.

I really hope that when these fine victorian buildings are demolished, no one wants to buy one of those new sheds, with just enough room to swing a cat when they could have moved in to a fine 6/7 bedroom victorian house.

Still, as long as certain people are getting their back pocket's lined with cash....

[Howie]

Edge Lane residents: We?ll fight on for our homes
Oct 1 2008
by Marc Waddington, Liverpool Echo



CAMPAIGNERS today pledged to take their battle to save Edge Lane?s Victorian houses to court.

They refused to give up their four-year fight against plans to bulldoze boarded-up homes and widen the busy road, despite being dealt a massive blow by the government yesterday.

Ministers approved a compulsory purchase order, which will let Liverpool council buy out the last few householders living in the demolition zone, following a public inquiry last year.

But campaigners hope they can still overturn the CPO at the high court after successfully managing the same feat in 2006.

They now have six weeks to lodge a challenge to the new order.

Elizabeth Pascoe, of Adderley Street, Kensington, said a fresh challenge would be mounted.

She said: ?I thought we had a better-than-even chance with all the experts who came forward.

?But in a way, it may be just as well it goes to the high court, because we will get a definitive decision there.

?As far as we are concerned, this scheme has destroyed our community.

?I am obliged to fight, because otherwise all this time and effort will have been pointless.?

But the government?s decision was today welcomed by political leaders, who want to remove the traffic bottleneck at Edge Lane?s west end and replace the boarded-up houses.

The ?350m project will see 550 new homes built, around 2,000 jobs created and major works to improve the three-mile route from the M62 into the city centre.

Eliot Ward-Smith, Merseyside area director for project leader English Partnerships, said: ?We are pleased a decision has been made, helping us to respond to the community?s wishes for a comprehensive approach to transform the area.?

Timeline

January 2005 - CPO process started by English Partnerships.

October 2005 - First public inquiry starts.

December 2005 - Inquiry inspector recommends CPO.

February 2006 - Government confirms CPO.

March 2006 - Challenge lodged at high court by Elizabeth Pascoe.

November 2006 - CPO quashed. English Partnerships vow to pursue second CPO.

July 2007 - Second CPO made by English Partnerships.

January 2008 - Second public inquiry starts.

September 2008 - Secretary of State confirms second CPO.

Source: Liverpool Echo

[SteveFaragher]

anyone ever explained where the 200 jobs are going to be and how the bottle enck is going to be easedby knocking down Royston and all the other streets, oh hang on jsut seen a flying pig going by, it all makes sense now. oink oink, one good thing those crap murals be go.....

[buggedboy]

Any idea whether or not an appeal was formally lodged with teh Court of Appeal. The deadline was today but despite the initial battle cry from campaigners when the CPO was confirmed, I haven't heard anything.

[Cadfael]

Any idea whether or not an appeal was formally lodged with teh Court of Appeal. The deadline was today but despite the initial battle cry from campaigners when the CPO was confirmed, I haven't heard anything.

It has. The powers that be won't be able to touch Edge Lane till at least Easter 2009 with all the paperwork of the hearing

[Howie]

Bill for Edge Lane project rockets
Dec 2 2008
by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post



THE cost of extending Liverpool?s Edge Lane dual carriageway has risen by ?9.5m, to ?25.6m, after regeneration officials ?underestimated? the price of property and demolition.

It comes as the Daily Post can reveal that the long- awaited Edge Lane West scheme faces yet more delays after campaigners launched a new legal challenge to a compulsory purchase order (CPO).

Activist Elizabeth Pascoe, who opposed the scheme to demolish Victorian homes to widen Edge Lane West, said she expected her legal challenge to be heard around Easter, 2009.

Last night, Labour opposition leader Cllr Joe Anderson said: ?There needs to be some serious questions asked about the way this scheme has been handled.? Alongside the widening of Edge Lane West to improve traffic flow from the city centre to the M62, it is envisaged that 280 new houses, a new medical centre and shops will also be built.

Council officials have admitted in a transport capital programme document that ?acquisitions and associated demolition costs were originally underestimated?, leading to a 60% rise in costs to widening the road.

Of the ?25.6m that will be spent on the scheme, the Department for Transport (DfT) is to pay ?22.1m, with ?2.48m due to come from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and the city council spending another ?1m.

The ERDF is to virtually double its contribution, with the DfT being asked to contribute an additional ?6.3m. The same document reveals the funding is ?aspirational at present and will be confirmed once successful bids for external funding have been made.

?Expenditure will not be committed against external funding until offer letters have been received.?

Around 370 homes on Edge Lane and surrounding streets will need to be demolished.

Almost 90% of the properties are either already in public ownership or are in the process of acquisition.

In September, the council, English Partnerships (now called the Homes and Communities Agency) and the Government confirmed a second CPO on almost 70 homes along Edge Lane and surrounding streets.

The first was quashed in the High Court in November, 2006, on a technicality.

Cllr Anderson said: ?This particular project seems to go from one particular disaster to another. An increase of 60% is appalling, and we need to have a serious look at where we go with this.?

Last night, Mrs Pascoe, who lives in Edge Lane, said: ?If we finally achieve what we have been fighting for it will not be a victory. The whole thing stinks, besides the misery it has caused people it has damaged Liverpool?s reputation and trust in government.?

A spokesman for the city council said: ?The increase in costs are as a result of rising property and land prices in the city over the last few years, and delays caused by the legal challenges to the CPO.?

Source: Liverpool Daily Post

[Ged]

Just like those that have opposed the EFC move to Kirkby, these Edge Lane legal challenges have proved that people power can work over the fat cats and cause major disruption in their plans and cause costs to escalate to what should now make it an unviable option. Personally, i'm fed up with councils putting road improvements ahead of peoples wellbeing and welcome anything like this. It's just a pity that we tenement residents were all council cannon fodder many years ago when moved around like pawns, one reason that the inner city population fell more than anywhere else in the country and something they are now crying over trying to rectify.

[Howie]

Judge?s broadside at Liverpool Council over Edge Lane
Dec 27 2008
by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL Council did ?as little as possible? to comply with the law when introducing new traffic arrangements on its key Edge Lane corridor, a High Court judge has ruled.

More...

[Howie]

Probe into Liverpool's Edge Lane plan as High Court hearing starts
Mar 23 2009
by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post



THE EUROPEAN Commission has been asked to investigate a scheme to regenerate Liverpool?s Edge Lane corridor, the Daily Post can reveal.

Campaigner Elizabeth Pascoe claims the way housing contracts were handled constitutes unfair state aid.

The allegation is denied by city authorities.

The North West Development Agency is currently drawing up a response on behalf of itself, the council and regeneration body Liverpool Vision.

The news comes on the day Ms Pascoe?s latest legal challenge to the scheme, which would see Edge Lane widened, is due to be heard in the High Court.

During the two-day hearing she will challenge a compulsory purchase order forcing home-owners to sell up.

It is the latest bout in a long-running saga over the ?70m plus project.

Last night Cllr Louise Baldock, who represents Kensington and Fairfield, said the situation around Edge Lane was desperate due to the huge number of empty homes.

Liverpool Vision is hoping for a successful outcome to both cases so work can start early next year.

The EC investigation centres on Bellway Homes being given ?preferred developer? status to build new homes as part of the Edge Lane Scheme.

In 2001 when the Housing Market Renewal Initiative (HMRI) was launched the city was divided into four ?Zones of Opportunity?: Kensington, Anfield, Picton/Wavertree and Speke Garston. Bellway won the bid for the Picton/Wavertree area.

The Daily Post understands an open procurement procedure was followed to find a preferred developer for each zone.

Using preferred developers was a mechanism to make a company develop the less desirable, and less profitable, areas in each zone as well as more lucrative parts.

Ms Pascoe said last night: ?I made the state aid complaint because the city council has given them preferential treatment so that no one else gets a look in. It seems not quite right to me.?

An EC ruling against the city authorities could have ramifications not only for the Edge Lane scheme but also for HMRI.

Last night director of legal and estates at the NWDA Steven Zdolyny said: ?The Agency is aware of the state aid challenge and we are working with partners to co-ordinate a response to the EC.?

The response is due to be submitted in two weeks time.

Some 370 homes on Edge Lane and surrounding streets must be demolished for the scheme to proceed.

Almost 90% of the properties are either already in public ownership or are in the process of acquisition.

Cllr Baldock said: ?There are currently streets and streets of empty houses. There is no point in anyone continuing to try to keep the community together when it has been scattered.?

In September the council, English Partnerships (now the Homes and Communities Agency) and the Government confirmed a second CPO on almost 70 homes along Edge Lane and surrounding streets.

The first was quashed in the High Court in November, 2006, on a technicality.

Head of gateways at Liverpool Vision Rob Monaghan said: ?The Edge Lane West Project has the continued support of the vast majority of the community, which was emphasised by the planning inspectors recommendation following a public inquiry into the scheme.

?It was further endorsed by the Secretary of State in confirming the Compulsory Purchase Order.

?The scheme partners are hoping for a successful outcome to the high court hearing on 23/24th March to enable development to begin early 2010.?

Source: Liverpool Daily Post

[Howie]

Elizabeth Pascoe loses latest bid to halt Liverpool Edge Lane regeneration scheme
Mar 25 2009
by David Bartlett, Liverpool Echo

CAMPAIGNING gran Elizabeth Pascoe failed in her latest bid to halt a scheme to regenerate Liverpool?s Edge Lane corridor.

Yesterday Justice Duncan Ouseley at the High Court in London refused to quash a compulsory purchase order covering 370 properties.

She was then immediately refused leave to appeal but has 21 days to lodge a challenge with the Court of Appeal.

Today Liverpool Council leader Cllr Warren Bradley said: ?Hopefully there will be no further challenges and we can make real progress on a regeneration scheme which will immensely improve the quality of life of local people.?

The council is working with its regeneration agency Liverpool Vision and the Homes and Communities Agency on the scheme.

They hope to start work in early 2010 on the ?70m project that will see the key arterial route widened.

Today Ms Pascoe said: ?I do not intend to appeal for me personally, but if it?s in the wider public interest I suppose I ought to.?

This was her second legal challenge.

The first CPO issued to allow work to go ahead was quashed in the High Court in November 2006, on a technicality.

She fought the latest challenge on two grounds, that reservations expressed by the Commission for Architecture and Built Environment (CABE) after a public inquiry had not been properly considered.

And the second related to the inquiry inspector?s judgement that alternative plans put forward by objectors were not deliverable.

Mr Justice Ouseley said: ?There was no error of law, no inadequacy of reasons and certainly no substantial prejudice was caused.?

Source: Liverpool Echo

[gary_arry]

Bit of a mystery, is Mrs Pascoe - where is all the money coming from to fund her appeals? Where is the advice coming from? I mean, what regular resident would think to appeal to the EC claiming 'unfair state aid' for a housing project, which is Mrs Pascoe's latest wheeze? The vast majority of Edge Hill residents want this scheme and the wider regeneration scheme to go ahead.

How can one person can wield such power and potentially affect the lives of so many other residents, including my parents, who are desperate for an improvement in their living conditions and want the new regeneration plans to go ahead. Mrs Pascoe is in the minority in her objections. We live in a democracy and Mrs Pascoe should accept this.

I know for a fact that my parents and their neighbours would be devastated if the regeneration is delayed further. Local councilor Louise Baldock, who represents Kensington and Fairfield, has also said the situation around Edge Lane was 'desperate' due to the huge number of empty homes.

My parents are now in their mid 60s and surrounded by half derelict and bricked up buildings. Unlike Ms Pascoe, they and their neighbours have lived in Edge Hill all of their lives so at least have have deep roots in the area. They have witnessed the decline for the past 30 years and see that the plans now are the only way forward. They are entitled to their views as much as Mrs Pascoe but unfortunately don't have the time or the money or the expert backing to push their campaign for a new Edge Hill, including Edge Lane.

I feel that while Mrs Pascoe seems to have the media on her side, who misguidedly see her as a local hero, no one apart from local councillors, seems to be sticking up for my parents or the other residents who fully support regeneration and always have done. They are upset that she is pursuing this crusade to the bitter end when she knows that she is in a minority - of one.

[Ged]

Do local meetings not take place in this area where the plight of these people can be put to her then. It is sad that the council have left the area to become run down as when they get an idea in their head such as the M62 extension into town which is what was proposed 30 years ago, then maintenance, refurbs etc just does not happen and they get their way in the end. I know this from the Hunter Street/Vauxhall ring road plans.

[lindylou]

Gary_arry, Similar situation happened with our school - read my rant -

post no.15 http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/sho...t=12708&page=2

it amazes me how a very small minority can throw a spanner in the works - I believe it takes only one person to object and it can bring plans to a halt.