Edge Lane campaigners ‘speak for just four homes’

Feb 28 2008 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

THERE is no realistic alternative for the redevelopment of Edge Lane West other than what is already on the table, a planning inquiry heard yesterday.

Neil Cameron, the solicitor representing development agency English Partnerships, rubbished the community group which is fighting to prevent the demolition of 370 Victorian houses.

He also branded Better Environmental Vision for Edge Lane’s proposals, known as Bevel Plan B, as unworkable.

The planning inspector was hearing closing submissions during the final day of the inquiry into a compulsory purchase order of around 70 houses along Edge Lane.

Bevel leader Elizabeth Pascoe reiterated her belief the century-old homes should be refurbished instead of knocked down.

She also vowed that if the inquiry upholds the CPO, Bevel will seek a judicial review.

It also emerged that Merseyside comic Alexei Sayle has weighed in behind Bevel, and Jimmy McGovern is writing a play about the fight to save the houses.

If the order is upheld, English Partnerships and developers Liverpool Land Development Company will demolish all 370 properties to make way for a wider “urban boulevard” on Edge Lane.

Mr Cameron said: “The fact that Bevel do not represent the local community in any meaningful way has become even clearer at this inquiry.”

He said there is no membership fee, no list of members, that meetings were informal and that “nothing resembling any note of any meeting has been circulated in the area”.

He added: “The conclusion is inescapable. In reality, Bevel is a tiny, unrepresentative and loosely-knit group of people, who cannot claim to speak for more than a minute proportion of either the past or present community.”

Just four households and no businesses supported the group’s plan, he added.

“There is no prospect that Bevel Plan B could be implemented,” Mr Cameron continued.

“Bevel Plan B fails to meet relevant highway standards, requires land to be acquired compulsorily, has no prospect of funding, has no support from any of the necessary authorities, and no programme.”

English Partnerships says the area is ripe for regeneration because of the high proportion of “underused, unsightly, vacant, neglected or derelict” houses.

The inspector has now retired to write a report on the inquiry for the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who will decide if the CPO should be upheld.

benschofield