Second Edge Lane inquiry scheduled for next year

Sep 24 2007 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

A SECOND public inquiry into the regeneration of the Edge Lane corridor will go ahead, it can be revealed.

The inquiry is scheduled for January next year, after an initial preliminary hearing next month.

Last night, the news came as a blow to campaigners, who succeeded through a number of High Court hear-ings since the first inquiry in 2005 in halting the plans to demolish their homes to make way for a “stunning gateway” into Liverpool.

A preliminary inquiry meeting will take place on October 11 and the second inquiry will begin on Jan-uary 15 at the University of Liverpool’s Foresight Centre.

Properties in the Edge Lane area have been earmarked for demolition and are central to the entire proposed £350m regeneration scheme, which was initially to be completed in time for 2008’s Capital of Culture year.

But the last court ruling, in March this year, held in favour of Adderley Street resident Elizabeth Pascoe to save a small number of 500 homes facing demolition until the outcome of a new Compulsory Purchase Order on them was completed.

That CPO will now be dealt with via this new public inquiry.

Ms Pascoe said members of campaign group Bevel – Better Environmental Vision for Edge Lane – were again ready to take up their cause with a stronger alternative scheme than proposed in their failed first inquiry in 2005.

Although backed by a group of around 60 supporters, Ms Pascoe undertakes the majority of the necessary work.

She said: “Last time, there were so many things I didn’t know about.

“This time we have taken it further, having tweaked the road scheme quite a bit and put in where we want the community centre, children’s play park, and we have plans for St Cyprian’s church as a viable spiritual refuge for inter-faith use.

“Those of us still living here are desperate for regeneration, which is why we voted for it in the first place. What we did not want was to be disposed of.

“Even if I wanted to – and I don’t – I couldn’t give up now. The knock-on effects of this on the rest of the nation is appalling. Any social landlord will have the control to pay their tenants to go. All owner-occupiers are held to ransom and bought off on the cheap so developers can come along and build what they like.

“Last time, for us, we were like a oneman band, with a little help here and there.

“It nearly killed me. It is not possible for an individual to do alone – much worse than David and Goliath. But I am not intimidated and this time, I am going to give them a hell of a time.”

Liverpool City Council says it will be looking at all objections received against the scheme before the inquiry begins in January.

A spokesperson said: “We do regard this as a vital scheme for the regeneration of the area and it is a scheme supported by the majority of the community.”

vickyanderson