MEASURES to create a gay village in Liverpool should get final approval today.

Councillors will consider closing three city centre streets, home to many of Merseyside’s favourite gay-friendly venues, to traffic.

But a compromise over when the roads will be blocked seems to please no-one.

Stanley Street and Cumberland Street will be closed to traffic between 10pm and 5am, Thursday to Monday, while Eberle Street will be permanently shut off.

Liverpool City Council hope this will make the area safer for drinkers and clubbers in the area.

Daytime businesses have complained the restrictions could harm their businesses. They also raised concerns about the state the streets are left in by drinkers.

But representatives of the clubs and bars say the measures will not create the desired “cafe culture” in which a gay village will flourish.

Councillors will vote on a plan to spend £260,000 installing telescopic bollards at one end of each of the streets. Residents and local businesses will be given key fobs to lower the bollards if they need access during the night.

Cllr Steve Radford, who is also a member of the city’s Gay Business Association, told the Daily Post he plans to lobby the committee to extend the hours the streets will be closed.

He also criticised council officers for apparently playing down the objections from the gay community asking for longer pedestrianisation.

Cllr Radford said: “If you want to close Stanley Street to create a cafe culture, you close it from 7pm, not 10pm.