So what happens next in 2009?

Dec 5 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

“But one thing we should really take out of this year is that it’s time for us to stop navel gazing and gossiping among ourselves.

“If we only reach out for what we could have, instead of worrying about what we might lose, we will make progress.”

But former Culture Company chief executive Jason Harborow, who departed in February, believes not enough thought has been given to 2009.

“The city has had such a great feel-good factor about it,” he said.

“The year has been a phenomenal success, you just have to look at the coverage outside the city to see that.

“But my great worry is that there does not appear to be any strong legacy plans.”

HE BELIEVES the council should have kept some money back to put on one or two large events in 2009, to keep the momentum going.

“I don’t think there is anything big around the corner.”

Labour leader Cllr Joe Anderson is one person who often found himself criticising the preparations for year.

Indeed, he quit the board of the Culture Company in the summer of 2007 over concerns about how the year would be funded.

That said, he does believe the year has been a success.

“I think the legacy will clearly be the number of visitors that we have had coming to the city.

“That in itself has given people a new impression of Liverpool, rather than an outdated and outmoded view.