I want to put 1950s-style milk bars in city’s old pubs

May 14 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL council leader Warren Bradley last night said he was hoping to open up derelict pubs as 1950s-style milk bars for youngsters.

It forms part of Cllr Bradley’s new “back to basics” campaign to regain lost support amongst his own party an among the electorate.

Last night, he told the Daily Post his Lib-Dem party may have been in power for 10 years, but he wanted it to be in control for a least another decade.

Fresh from seeing off a two-pronged leadership challenge on Monday, he spent yesterday locked in meetings at the council.

Cllr Bradley set out his vision for what he wants the council to concentrate on over the next year after meeting with council chief executive Colin Hilton to ask him to investigate a number of policies.

One of the key planks of his vision is the idea of re-introducing milk bars for youngsters.

Milk bars were popular in the 1950s serving milkshakes and soft drinks and often featured jukeboxes.

Mr Hilton has been instructed to investigate the mechanics of setting up a possible pilot project, and Cllr Bradley said the scheme could be funded by money from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund which replaced the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

“Years ago, they used to be a popular place for young people to go and hang out, we have a lot of empty former public houses that could be used.”

He also wants to replicate the success in the regeneration of Speke Garston in the north of Liverpool around wards like Kirkdale, Everton, Anfield, and County.

“The success of south Liverpool was not because of the city council, it was because of the private sector started to invest.

“There is a big opportunity in north Liverpool.”

Mr Hilton has also been told to re-evaluate the council’s housing strategy to make sure executive homes are given priority alongside affordable ones.

“We need to have homes for the directors to live in if we want to attract the big plc companies back to Liverpool.”

He also wants to devolve more power to communities, focus on education for 14 to 19-year-olds, and create a “holistic enforcement team” to deal with all manner of low level issues like parking infringements and graffiti.

Last night, he also spoke publicly for the first time in months about the Standards Board investigation into allegations he conspired to remove former Culture Company chief executive Jason Harborow job.

“There was no conspiracy on my behalf to remove Jason Harborow from his post, I have always maintained that.”

When asked what he would do if the board found him guilty, he said: “I will appeal, because I just don’t feel I have done anything wrong.”

If cleared by the board, Cllr Bradley then hopes to draw a line under what has been regarded by some as his “annus horribilis” which started with the cancellation of last year’s Mathew Street Festival.

davidbartlett