Letters to the Editor - 12th November 2007

Nov 12 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

Another barrier on the Mersey

WEDNESDAY’S Daily Post carried an article about a new bridge at Runcorn being "a gateway to region’s prosperity".

When the economic case for the new bridge was made, it was said that it would create many thousands of jobs, but that was on the basis that there would be no tolls. As the plan now is to toll both the new bridge and the existing bridge and to halve the number of lanes on the existing bridge, how many people would agree that this will add to prosperity?

The existing bridge was built using taxes and rates from people all over Lancashire and Cheshire. To now put a toll on such a bridge is unprecedented anywhere in Britain.

The Government collects about £50bn a year from road users, which is about seven times more than is spent on the roads.

Given these facts, it is surprising that businesses have been so easily persuaded that there is no way to get another Mersey crossing without the creation of a new financial barrier that will further divide the region.

John McGoldrick, Mersey Tunnels Users Association

City growth

THE Daily Post carried a story on a report by the Policy Exchange "Cities Unlimited" (Thursday, November 8) which concludes that Liverpool, like several other urban areas, has not made much economic progress despite large amounts of government investment and intervention.

However, all of the respected economic analysis demonstrates that Liverpool and the city region are growing at the fastest rate of any area outside London. From 1995 through to 2004 – the period covered by the report – Liverpool has seen an average growth rate of 5.3% per annum – outperforming the North West region and the UK which achieved 4.3% and 4.7% respectively.

Using reports such as this to justify further investment in the South East and London does nothing to regenerate cities in the rest of the country and does nothing but damage investor and business confidence.

All major urban areas, including London, have challenges of deprivation and Liverpool is not alone. Having turned the corner, the city is determined to build on success and to ensure that benefits of growing wealth and prosperity can improve the quality of life and prospects of all who live, work and do business in Liverpool.

Cllr Flo Clucas OBE, Executive Member for Economic Development and Europe

Bravo Phil

HERBERT VON KARAJAN, perhaps the most iconic of the 20th Century’s conductors, once had to be replaced by a counterpart who was at least better at Haydn’s symphonies, but sadly the hall was only half filled. A devotee pondered this until he was reminded: "People don’t go to hear Haydn, they go to see Karajan conduct."

I was reminded of this event when attending the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Russian Nights concert under the baton of its youthful conductor, Vasily Petrenko.

Rarely has any orchestra responded so sublimely to a conductor whose body is his baton, his orchestration so infallible. The applause from a packed house went on and on.

This leaves us with an enigma; who influences who? Is it the conductor, the orchestra or the latter the conductor: or perhaps in perfection they complement each other?

The RLPO with Petrenko’s orchestration is a match for the world’s greatest ensembles and will surely crown the glory of the 2008 celebrations. Bravo!

Michael McLaughlin, L8

Park Talks

I REPRESENT the Friends of Newsham Park on a council management forum to promote open dialogue over future £5m Lottery investment in the historic green space.

There has been no discussion of any proposal to use Newsham Park to justify loss of public open space at Bankfield Playing Fields, nor of any approach to Sport England to secure their agreement to this.

At present, it is not clear whether the proposed changes would compromise restoration of the Victorian Park, which is Grade II listed and a designated conservation area.

Some readers will be aware of concerns raised by residents and councillors about the seemingly permanent, but as yet unannounced, closure of Lister Drive library, whose fate is connected to the Bankfield decision. The library is a valued community resource for people of the area.

Respectfully, I would request Tuesday’s Planning Committee carefully weigh the advantages of proposed replacement school facilities, not only against the net loss of green space at Bankfield and other considerations such as highways etc, but also against the uncertainty suddenly cast over Newsham Park and its £5m HLF masterplan.

Jonathan Brown MA (Oxon), L6

Tax review

LABOUR have announced yet another review of the council tax – nominally because of the opaqueness of council funding. This coincides with projected large council tax increases and reduced services due to a poor funding settlement for councils in England from central government; where it just so happens Labour now control few councils.

This review will know doubt require a lot of money and effort, blur council funding further and distract and confuse the electorate.

Of course, one inherent problem with the council tax is that many, many people don’t pay it so Labour can get their votes by promising large spending increases on the back of council tax hikes which these people won’t have to pay.

Mark Bill, UK Independence Party Liverpool

Where’s the cash?

THE following have all been bought with taxpayers’ money as items for the nation and population’s benefit. Now that they have been sold, either in whole or part, can someone tell us what has happened to the money or what has been acquired of similar value for the taxpayers and national interest?

I am referring to coal mines, oil fields, electricity generation and distribution, gas production and distribution, water and its distribution, steel-making, railways and railway land, dockyards, airfields, school playing fields, ROF factories and training grounds, post offices and many others.

We are aware that investment in motorways at the expense of railways has continued but at no time has the expenditure exceeded in one year the revenue received from road tax, fuel tax and VAT on road related activities.

We would be grateful to have the assurance that taxpayers’ money has not been used to subsidise the tax benefits of any venture capital consortia involved.

A J Draper, Aughton

Heritage fears

LIVERPOOL was proud to gain the accolade of World Heritage status, so why can’t the council’s World Heritage officer look after our historic architecture?

All around the city and inner suburbs, there are examples of fine old buildings in a state of disrepair. There seems to be money available for endless paving and road projects in the city centre, but surely safeguarding our heritage architecture is more of a priority?

I question the logic of having a World Heritage officer in the council if he can’t do anything about this.

There always seems to be an excuse or insurmountable obstacle before a structure becomes too dilapidated to save.

Pavements and roads can be replaced at any time, buildings can’t.

David Swift/ Litherland

Shankly Way

I READ with interest and excitement of the approval of the plans for Liverpool’s new stadium.

I also read that the club is to consult about the exact home for the Hillsborough Memorial in the future.

If the memorial cannot be incorporated into the Stadium design, which I find hard to believe, then there should be either a Memorial Garden created or an imposing "Shankly Way" with the gates at the entrance and the memorial at the end.

I trust Liverpool will do something fitting.

Craig Earley, Manchester

Change sponsor

DON’T you think it would be a good idea for Liverpool FC to drop Carlsberg as main sponsors?

Many other industries, trades, would be happy to have their name on a world-famous shirt. I think all cigarettes and booze advertising should be stopped.

Liverpool has a major drink problem and under-age binge drinking in city is worst in UK. Alcoholism is rife and AE departments at hospitals on Merseyside are full of drinkers. I think the football club should get another sponsor.

Surely booze should not be on the shirts of a sports team.

Dave Taylor, St Helens

Car smoking

I COMPLETELY agree with the suggestion that we should be clamping down on smoking at the wheel.

Smoking is a disgusting, filthy, anti-social habit anyway but it is impossible to deny that when doing it in charge of a car, it impairs your driving ability.

There is not only the issue of how it affects a person’s driving but also the litter issue.

I am forever seeing drivers flicking lit cigarettes out of windows. Not only does this make our streets filthy but it is also dangerous. I have seen people hit by these lit butts. Good on Merseyside Police for this one.

Name and address supplied

A big thanks

MY FRIENDS and I were delighted to read in the Daily Post (Daily Post, November 8) that Mr Parry and his Neptune company have made the fantastic offer to run the project for the Rhys Jones centre. It is a wonderful boost for our community and for the future of the centre itself.

The article says the package is worth around £300,000 so well done Mr Parry and thanks from us all on Croxteth Park. Also our thanks to our local politicians, Nadia Stewart, Phil Moffatt and Ken Stewart, for joining forces and working as one to help achieve this. A big thank you to one and all.

Mr O’Donnell, Croxteth