Letters to the Editor - September 01st

Sep 3 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

We could be great again

I NOTE with interest that you consistently return to the subject of the animosity between council leader Warren Bradley and Culture company chief executive Jason Harborow.

While I am amazed that the inability of these two to work together has been allowed to have such a major effect upon the city, I think that the whole problem goes deeper.

I am currently working in the city centre and am disgusted every morning at the litter and dirty pavements that have become a city trademark. The city council needs to clean up its act in improving waste collection.

We have also recently been saddened by the murder of the young lad in Croxteth.

Isn’t it about time the city leaders and the general populace were alerted to the fact that every time Liverpool is in the news it is for the wrong reasons? Liverpool is a proud city. It is the city of my birth. and it is about time the council led by example. They should be presenting the city as a showcase for the world, not hailing the building of new shopping precincts that, if at all, should have been built years ago.

During 2008, we are looking forward to millions of tourists bringing extra revenue to the city.

How will that be policed when the police seem unable to cope with the resident populace?

Liverpool is the city that brought railways to the world. Now we have a problem with excessive wear on train wheels which is restricting the electrical multiple units to (usually) three coaches.

It is about time that Liverpool woke up to the image it projects. We are good but we can be better. We have had 800 years to show how great we are, so let’s get it right. Perhaps this is another avenue the Daily Post can explore?

John Jones, via email

Silent night

IT IS recognised that the birthday celebrations for Liverpool were a success on the day, and my work colleagues and I thought that the firework display was second to none.

However, I was disappointed at the lack of street activities post- 5pm. It was good to hear that the tourists, families on holiday, senior dignitaries and “C-list” celebrities were able to take time out in the day to take part in the parade and view the various side shows. However, when the captains of industry finished their long day at work, what was there to see? Absolutely nothing. Well, apart from the rubbish and half-eaten burgers left strewn about the streets.

At the end of the day, this city was built on hard work and commerce. What did the 800th birthday celebrations have for the working folk? Why did the city just stop celebrating between the hours of 5pm and the start of the fireworks at 10pm?

A suggestion for future events – if you are advertising street markets, how about having one? A few small tents, tucked out of the way in Old Hall Street, do not constitute a street market.

Walking from the city centre to the Albert Dock pre-10pm was abysmal. There could have been more street traders around to add to the party atmosphere

Before someone writes a letter of complaint that someone else is “bashing” Liverpool in its time of need – I am not. I love the city, work in it and have family who live and were born here. The majority of the celebrations were very successful on Tuesday and the fireworks tremendous. I just think that a large sector of the Liverpool population were ignored or forgotten about because they could not get time out from work during the day.

Martin Morris, via email

Fly the flag

FULL marks for those in the anniversary parade on Tuesday. But why was the business community not involved in it?

Why was there not a single anniversary flag flying or “Welcome to Liverpool sign” displayed in Church Street and Lord Street’s shops? Does the city’s business community not feel involved? Or were they not asked?

Andrew Pearce, Eastham

Initiative needed

I SUPPOSE we ought to be happy that Crofton, once the home of Alfred Holt, is to be converted into (yet more) apartments (Daily Post, August 30), as opposed to facing the bulldozer. However, it represents yet another wonderful opportunity missed by our council.

As the article pointed out, the property is within walking distance of Sudley, which has now been refurbished and has a fine collection of paintings belonging to Liverpool’s enviable collection. It is now attracting visitors from worldwide.

Crofton has grounds for easy parking, and would have provided a wonderful opportunity to be refurbished for the people of Liverpool and to be used as a further art gallery.

I believe the property was already owned by the council, so this opportunity has now been lost for the sake of a bit of forethought. What are the council going to do with the few thousand they got for the property?

Liverpool is attracting tens of thousands of international visitors because of its heritage: to throw away this opportunity of building upon that heritage is unacceptable. The Walker Art Gallery has paintings in store with no space to display them. The opportunity of converting Crofton back into a “Gentleman’s Mansion” and using it for the benefit of Liverpudlians has now been thrown away.

Come on, council: show a bit of initiative for a change.

Ian Poole, via email

Lost history

IS ENOUGH being done to protect and conserve our heritage? The recent excavations at the Pier Head and Mann Island have uncovered many of the ancient walls and quays of the original docks.

The Georgian Manchester Dock was found complete with its original dock gates. In front of the Liver Building are ancient quays and walls that could possibly be the original Pier Head. Are they being protected and conserved for posterity?

Where is English Heritage? They only seem to get involved if we are planning to build higher skyscrapers than Manchester.

It seems to me our ancient treasures are being smashed through and covered over in a panic to get the concrete canal completed in time for ‘08.

Name and address supplied

A fine mess

SUE TAYLOR has, like many people in Wallasey, objected to the illegal fly-posting by the Stop the War coalition.

Indeed, the fly-posting is so prolific – on utility boxes, phone boxes, walls, lamp-posts, bins and fences – that it is unlikely that any record was kept by those behind this exercise.

We do not believe the taxpayer should have to pay for the clean- up. Fortunately, the organisers of the event were kind enough to have their names and phone numbers included on their posters.

We have therefore asked the council’s enforcement team to start proceedings against the organisers. We understand the costs are based on a fine of £75 per poster.

Cllrs Leah Fraser and Karen Hayes, Liscard and Egremont Conservatives

A character

MAY I add a postscript to the recent obituaries and tributes to Tony Wilson. Two overlooked programme projects on which he worked – and for which I feel he should be fully credited – spring to mind.

The Other Side of Midnight was a topical magazine screened on Granada in the early 1990s, over which Tony presided. He would report the latest news on the northern arts scene. I particularly remember a featured insert he contributed from the Pier Head.

Another series he presented was a talk show transmitted in the early to mid-90s. As host he welcomed a variety of guests for late-night conversation.

My last memory of Tony was his North West Tonight chat with Gordon Burns, aired a few weeks ago. Not a happy experience for Tony or viewers in the light of his condition. Nevertheless, in its own way the appearance was a celebration of the colourful and controversial character who was Tony Wilson.

D Jeffery, Heswall

Heading north

I AM very happy to see that the Liberal Democrats have decided to hold their spring conference in Liverpool. I have long felt that one of the major issues with politics is how southern-based it is. With the exception of Manchester, I rarely see any of the North’s major cities hosting a political event.

Hopefully this move by the Lib- Dems will help to bring politics to all the people of Britain, not just those fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to live in London.

B Hart, Speke

Poor John

KING JOHN always gets a bad press. But not only did he give Liverpool its Charter in 1207, he also “lost” Normandy in 1204 which meant that the barons had to decide to live whether in France or in England, but not in both.

And don’t forget he also had to raise money to pay the ransom for his brother Richard I, who had been captured while on the Crusade. And that Robin Hood must have been a right pain.

G Boston, Neston

Diana memories

I MET Princess Diana three times in my life. The first time was at Chinatown. She was heavily pregnant at the time with William. The second time was at the Anglican Cathedral when she was with Charles. I wore a rabbit fur coat and Diana touched my sleeve and asked: “What was his name?” I never wore it again.

The third time I met her was at the Women’s Hospital in 1995 when I gave her a gold seahorse and she held my hand tight.

S McCarthy, L6