Political conference coup as Arena hosts Lib-Dems

Mar 3 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL’S new arena and convention centre will host its first political party conference this week.

The Liberal Democrats are heading to the £164m centre for their spring conference, which will run from Friday to Sunday.

Around 1,500 delegates are expected for what is set to be the party’s biggest ever spring conference – and their first with Nick Clegg as leader.

The conference will be predominantly held in the BT Convention Centre element of the Echo Arena Liverpool, with some sessions also making use of the arena space.

Emma Harris, Liberal Democrat conference co-ordinator, said: “I am very much looking forward to holding our 2008 spring conference in this wonderful new venue in Liverpool – and when the city is celebrating its year as European Capital of Culture.”

Cllr Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council, added: “As a Liberal Democrat, I’m extremely proud the BT Convention Centre has been chosen as the venue.

“The conference is a key calendar event in which some of our most significant policies are debated and determined.

“Political party conferences are fantastic for a city in terms of raising its profile and hopefully this will be the first of many more to come.”

The arena, on the city’s famous King’s Waterfront, opened on January 12 to herald the start of the city’s Capital of Culture celebrations and is one of the most environmentally-friendly venues of its kind in Europe.

It features its own wind farm, rainwater harvesting and a design which will produce half the carbon dioxide emissions of a traditional building.

Jacquie Rogers, general manager of the BT Convention Centre, said: “ACC Liverpool is a superb venue for political party conferences because of its sheer size and flexibility.

“We’re delighted the Liberal Democrats have chosen the city and are working hard to persuade other political parties to follow suit.”

The BT Convention Centre will open in full next month, and features 1,350 seats, a 3725sq m multi-purpose hall, 18 meeting rooms, and total exhibition space in excess of 7000sq m.

The adjoining Echo Arena Liverpool has 10,600 seats for entertainment and sporting events.

vickyanderson