Toxteth District

[Waterways]

We pay taxes to let the council sort it out - not continually being told there's no money to (ie. Garden festival site) so sit it out leaving a dump waiting for private investment to get us out the s*%t

There are lots of private companies that would want to get their hands on that site and do something special. The Brunswick Quay Tower was one billion of private money and turned down. As if Liverpool can chose to turn down such investment. Don't blame the private sector, blame the city council.

Private companies are lining up with proposals and firm financial backing. A well run council would have had most of the dock waterways. garden festival site, etc well developed and well under way by now. All they need is a a proper overall plan protecting various parts, like water spaces, etc. Look at what Manchester has done in such a short timescale. Liverpool is seen as a do nothing city and large investors may not even consider the place if it continues.

[Ged]

I am blaming the city council John hence my 'we pay taxes to let the council sort it out' remark.

The people of the Lodge Lane area have a right to feel that their taxes will go some way to sorting their area out. Yes, the garden festival site is prime real estate land overlooking the Mersey with uninterupted views etc so there will be private investors interestred in it, perhaps a new road tunnel or bridge could have gone there instead of the cannon fodder council tenants in the north end.

Bully for the council that they are in a position to sell off this land to private investors, short sighted of them not to get the best possible price for it and use the money for less prime sites like Lodge Lane, Kensington, Kirkdale etc and get all, not just parts of the city up and running again.

[AngelCake]

[QUOTE=Waterways;86735]Members of my family lived off it. I am familiar with Lodge lane. And I would not like to live around there these days. You do, I don't.

I don't live on Lodge lane either but i'd still like to see it given help.You dislike the new arena,dislike the idea of lodge lane being helped.Why? For people who believe certain areas can never be "done up" go and take a look at the Falkner state footage then look at that area now.

[AngelCake]

I am blaming the city council John hence my 'we pay taxes to let the council sort it out' remark.

The people of the Lodge Lane area have a right to feel that their taxes will go some way to sorting their area out. Yes, the garden festival site is prime real estate land overlooking the Mersey with uninterupted views etc so there will be private investors interestred in it, perhaps a new road tunnel or bridge could have gone there instead of the cannon fodder council tenants in the north end.

Bully for the council that they are in a position to sell off this land to private investors, short sighted of them not to get the best possible price for it and use the money for less prime sites like Lodge Lane, Kensington, Kirkdale etc and get all, not just parts of the city up and running again.

I don't think houses should be built on that site. The more I look in to it, the more I believe that Liverpool council has never been run by people who care.

[Ged]

I think there has to be a balance. It's true that part of it is a wild nature reserve (if you like) and also true that most of it should be preserved as parkland. However, there is part of it to the west of Riverside drive where the dome was that is disused and derelict. There is no reason for the council not to cash in on this and use the money in other areas where it's needed and private investment is not forthcoming. Private investors of course will only pick and choose prime sites.

[Ben]

Right, I think we may have to wrap this up soon Waterways - ok with you?
It can't be fascinating reading for anyone looking for Toxteth info on here.

Just because Lodge Lane isn't as dear to your heart as a dock, it happens to be the area I live in.

Members of my family lived off it. I am familiar with Lodge lane. And I would not like to live around there these days. You do, I don't.

You do enjoy trying to qualify your 'views' by rolling out the fact that either yourself and/or members of your family once lived around here.
As exited as you can imagine I was about hearing this ......it doesn't really add to any debate does it.
The long and short of it appears to be 'you don't like it round Lodge Lane way' ... that's fine, wonderful in fact as it limits the chances of me meeting you.
Could I give you some advice ..... maybe you should try a different topic (there's plenty to choose from) ... possibly something involving water?

FWIW - I like the new Arena.

I thought you would for some reason.

Excellent point to highlight - I like the ACC, and you don't - thanks for that.

'let the market sort it out' comment about the area in which I live wasn't something I appreciated.

Why should Lodge Lane be immune from market forces? State aid for the place?

I'm actually getting to quite like you now Mr Waterways .... you know when you reach that tipping point, whereby something so utterly pointless is said (very much like your comment above) - that you can't help but sit back, smile and wonder why on earth you bothered engaging this person in a debate at all.

[sits back][smiles]

Just a quick reminder of where I came into this thread ..... it would be nice to go back to talking about Toxteth ... (I believe that my final few words below seem more relevant than ever)

Properties in the Lodge Lane area are being advertised with the tag line of 'being close to Lark Lane', which seems a sad indictment of an area which should be able to advertise itself for it's own merits.
The area is still rich with multiculturalism, as has been the case for a very long time (many years before the riots). However, it's underfunding has kept the scars of the riots there to see over 25 years on (and as a consequence makes it harder to to dispel preconceived ideas of what it's *actually* like to live in the area

[Waterways]

Members of my family lived off it. I am familiar with Lodge lane. And I would not like to live around there these days. You do, I don't.

I don't live on Lodge lane either but i'd still like to see it given help.You dislike the new arena, dislike the idea of lodge lane
being helped.Why?

Where did you get that from? I like the arena, well sort of. We do need one. The colour is awful and the design is well...erm. It is in the wrong place. by about 800 to 1000 metres an should have been on the land side of the docks.

Lodge Lane should be given help. But not to keep it as some sort of working class enclave. Time moves on, things change. If people with money want to change the area well so be it if it is all for the better.

For people who believe certain areas can never be "done up" go and take a look at the Falkner state footage then look at that area now.

Falkner St, and around there had desirable buildings. Lodge Lane has few if any. The desirable parts are Sefton Pk Rd, Croxteth Rd, parts of Hartington Rd, etc. If these roads are further improved then run down Lodge lane is clearly in the way and ripe for gentrification. Those bought out always gain. This is all if Liverpool get wealthy further and the demand is there. Islington in London is a prime example of private money moving into an area and making the place far smarter.

[Waterways]

You do enjoy trying to qualify your 'views' by rolling out the fact that either yourself and/or members of your family once lived around here.

I was born and brought up in L8.

The long and short of it appears to be 'you don't like it round Lodge Lane way' ... that's fine, wonderful in fact as it limits the chances of me meeting you.

I doubt we shall meet.

Could I give you some advice ..... maybe you should try a different topic (there's plenty to choose from) ... possibly something involving water?

It appears some home truths have affected you.

[Waterways]

I don't think houses should be built on that site. The more I look in to it, the more I believe that Liverpool council has never been run by people who care.

I agree. The festival site should be for the public.

[Ben]

I was born and brought up in L8.

How exiting

I doubt we shall meet.

Aww

It appears some home truths have affected you.

Absolutely .... all those valid home truths of yours .... well done.

[Waterways]

I was born and brought up in L8.

How exiting

It did make many want to exit the area.

[Ben]

Anyone have any thoughts about the proposal to build a Wetherspoons on the site of the old Kwik Save? (top of Smithdown Rd)

The jury is out a little for me - whilst I would never encourage that particular chain of pubs - I can't see another supermarket coping there (what with the proximity to the ASDA/ALDI etc), and the building itself is god awful ......
I thought Wetherspoons took nice buildings and ruined them .... I can't see how they could manage to do anything but improve that particular site...

[Ben]

I was born and brought up in L8.

How exiting

It did make many want to exit the area.

If you read the above from start to finish, we might have established why people wanted to leave L8 ....... you're like the reverse Pied Piper aren't you :-)

It did make me laugh out loud though - so thanks for that

[PhilipG]

I don't see why houses can't be built on part of the site.
It was always part of the original plan.
In fact, houses have already been built, and it's precisely those tenants who are now saying "Not In My Back Yard".

It should be remembered that we only have Prince's, Sefton and Newsham Parks because the perimeters were sold for housing to raise the cash for the laying out of those parks.

[AngelCake]

Where did you get that from? I like the arena, well sort of. We do need one. The colour is awful and the design is well...erm. It is in the wrong place. by about 800 to 1000 metres an should have been on the land side of the docks.

Lodge Lane should be given help. But not to keep it as some sort of working class enclave. Time moves on, things change. If people with money want to change the area well so be it if it is all for the better.



Falkner St, and around there had desirable buildings. Lodge Lane has few if any. The desirable parts are Sefton Pk Rd, Croxteth Rd, parts of Hartington Rd, etc. If these roads are further improved then run down Lodge lane is clearly in the way and ripe for gentrification. Those bought out always gain. This is all if Liverpool get wealthy further and the demand is there. Islington in London is a prime example of private money moving into an area and making the place far smarter.

I was talking about Falkner estate.The amount of demolition that took place proves how run down the area was. I know Islington London and although some houses are 2,3 million, you still have sink estates where people don't want to live. I'd like to know where you live now (apologies if i'm being too nosy) and what do you think should happen to Lodge lane and Toxteth ?