Save Bankfield Playing Fields and Lister Drive /Larkhill Libraries - 30th September at 2

Please support our campaign and come to the public meeting this sunday at 2 in the Hope Centre, rear of St John's Church

Asda Expansion Debate

The planning Committee will now visit Asda ,Walton and Java Road to consider residents concerns on Tuesday 2nd October. The Committee will then debate the planning application from 11.45 in the Town Hall , Dale Street

Dear Friends
 
In my capacity as Chairman of the Environment Committee I have instructed Council Officers I insist the current 2020 design plans for Newsham Park are placed before the Committee for Scrutiny, that meeting being a public meeting Friday 5th October from 4 in Millennium House, Dale Street
 
I intend to ask key questions who authorised these plans including
 
 
A) building of houses on current park by head of Prescot Drive
 
B) how the laying out of current football pitches can be used to justify as the replacement of current pitches on Bankfield
 
C) Lastly clarification where the new sports changing rooms will be built
 
Members of the Public are welcome to attend and ask questions, if the public do attend UI will ask this item be brought forward to the beginning of the meeting
 
Cllr Steve Radford

Chairman of The Enviroment Scrutiny Committee
 

Cllr Steve Radford

Leader Liberal Party Group ,Member Housing Scrutiny Committee

41 Sutton Street, Tuebrook

Liverpool ,L13 7EG

0151 259 5935

Dear Editor

 We must congratulate one of your newest staff, David Bartlett, on a excellent case of investigative journalism that gives the Daily Post its qualitative credibility

 David Bartlett has brought out into the open the shortage of affordable housing and the low earnings levels in Merseyside that means for so many home purchase is no longer an option.

 The key quote from his article we should all consider with alarm was

"Data from The Mersey Partnership, the region's investment and tourism body, shows the average wage was £15,468 in 2002.

While salaries have risen by 16.5% on average to £18,025, house prices in the region have soared by 82%."

 At the Housing Committee this is further evidenced that the combined city council housing association waiting list has risen from 7,500 families to 18,500 families in three years alone

 However ,we believe David was being deliberately misled when it was put Pathfinder was helping to create more affordable housing.

 The facts are in this current three years 4000 families will be displaced from current housing and dropped at the head of the current growing public sector waiting list.

Thus increasing demand.

 At the same time over 5000 homes will be demolished.

 In the Anfield sector there will be a 40% reduction in homes built. Throughout the Pathfinder Areas new homes will be fewer for rent than previous, therefore reducing supply of rental sector homes.

 Of the homes for purchase the vast majority will be outside the affordability gap of the former residents forced out

 Of the homes demolished about than 1 in 7 are structurally unsound. Therefore 6 out of 7 could and should have been left standing. In the words of Jane Kennedy MP we are seeing social cleansing across the city.

 In effect, vast amounts of tax payers money are being abused to reduce the supply of private rental and private home owners on the first ladder of the housing market. The result is a disproportionate House Price Inflation in the city creating an unstable market.

 The second impact is to drive up social housing waiting lists to record levels.

 We in the Liberal Party Group challenged Lib Dem Exec Member Marilyn Fielding over the soaring waiting lists, her pie in the sky response was that the situation was running  stable over recent years. (See Housing Committee agenda 27th Sept Agenda Item 10).

 Residents should demand that their taxes cease to be wasted on Pathfinder, which would be better named house crusher.

 Even the simplest student of market economics can understand that if you increase the demand and reduce the supply ,the price of affordable housing will go up.

 That is exactly what is happening and the social democrats of the demolition coalition -Lib dems and Labour refuse to see the obvious consequences of their flawed policies

 Cllr Steve Radford

Leader Liberal Party Group and Member Housing Committee

Can I please extend to you , your family and  friends or group members an open invitation

Hope Centre Tea Dance Health Event on Thursday 27th Sept  from 11 till 2

The Hope Centre is situated behind  St John's Church, Tuebrook, entrance by West Derby Road

 The event is totally free of charge and includes

 Food demonstrations and tasters

Manicurs and facials

Therapies and massage

Fag ends for those needing help to quit

Health Trainers

Fresh Food

 This event is just one more of the growing number of diverse community events and activities hoisted at the Hope Centre , for which I am Chairman

 This particular event has been organised by Verinder Associates and their contact is Pearl telephone number 259 4668

 If you have a private party or have a community or charity event you may like to hold at the Hope Centre please feel welcome to Telephone Paula or myself on 228 1137

 Councillor Steve Radford

Delays hit plans for top school Sep 19 2007 by Nick Coligan,

Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL’S first superschool is on hold after its planners were sent back to the drawing board.

 Education officials were hoping to get the go-ahead from the council’s planning committee yesterday to rebuild ageing, split-site West Derby comprehensive on playing fields in Tuebrook.

 But their £27m scheme – the first of a series of plans to rebuild or refurbish Liverpool’s secondary schools – met with a stinging response from councillors. They refused to approve the plan, telling officers they wanted more details about which other sites were considered and what the impact on traffic would be. They also heavily criticised a proposal to replace the lost open space behind the Peter Lloyd leisure centre by turning part of nearby Newsham Park into playing fields.

Officials have to return to the council’s planning committee Assistant education director Tim Warren said: “Children need a proper environment where we can make a real difference to their lives. Some of those benefits will be shared by the community. “There are some unwanted changes within this proposal for local people. But ultimately, the greater benefits of this scheme massively outweigh them.”

But councillors accused officials of not providing enough detail on crucial elements, such as how much extra traffic would be generated and how playing fields would be replaced.

 Liberal group leader and Tuebrook councillor Steve Radford said: “We are enthusiastic supporters of a new school, but emotional blackmail should not be used to give us a substandard site. “We would suggest Lister Drive industrial estate gives us the ideal opportunity to build a new school.” The planning committee decided the plan should be deferred to a later date. Liverpool’s Building Schools For The Future programme was first unveiled in the ECHO four years ago. The project is being paid for by the government, which has allocated £420m to the city.

Appeal to Sports England not to give OK to destroying Bankfield Playing Field

Cllr Steve Radford

Liberal Party Group Leader

41 Sutton Street Tuebrook

Liverpool

L13 7EG

07920090322

To Mathew Rushton

North West Regional Office Sports England
Astley House
Quay Street
Manchester M3 4AE

Dear Mr Rushton

 We are shocked to read in your letters to the City Council that are a willing party to the building upon of Tuebrook's Playing Fields at Bankfield?

 We were under the impression you were campainging to save playing fields not destroy them?

 We understand you have consented on the basis of pitches being built on Newsham Park

 Why do you believe removing public Victorian Park is acceptable ?

 Are you aware the city council planning officers have not even consulted Newsham Park residents on this option ?

 Are you aware this option runs counter to the current Heritage Lottery Bid, not being part of that plan?

 Where in Newsham Park have you sanctioned football pitches and changing rooms, why are you party to depriving current informal sports being played in Newsham Park along the Prescot Drive Area ?

 Can you please telephone to arrange a site meeting

 07920090322

 Lastly have you consulted the football leagues you are being party to displacing from Bankfield Playing Fields and are you aware of the acute shortage of pitches in this part of Liverpool ?

Cllr Steve Radford

Leader Liberal Party Group

Chairman of the Environment Scrutiny Committee

RESIDENTS AND COUNCILLORS MISLED OVER WEST DERBY SCHOOL BUILDING and  REPLACEMENT PLAYING FIELDS

Dear Editor

 During the consultation meeting held at West Derby School, Quarry Road, residents and councillors were given a clear plan by education and the school that

the loss of Bankfield/Millbank playing fields would be compensated by new playing fields at the current West Derby Boys Quarry Wing site.

However council officials did recognise this alone would be result in a 19% loss of green space

 At the Planning Committee Tuesday 18th September the plans for the new school avoided any mention of the Quarry Wing being preserved for replacement fields.

Then the bombshell was landed that the replacement playing fields would be on Newsham Park. Our Education and Planning Officers party to this proposa dont seem to realise that Newsham Park is already public open space, so how on earth can this be a replacement for the loss of bankfield Playing Fields?,

 Have the residents of Newsham Park been consulted that the Victorian Park is to be laid out for football pitches- of course not!

 What a dishonest sham consultation which misled residents from start to finish. Residents and Ward Councillors feel we have been deliberately lied to

 Even worse ,when we crossed examined the Head of Libraries if the new school community library built on the playing fields would lead to closure of Lister Drive and Larkhill Libraries,

We got a begrudging reply it would not be viable to have libraries within two miles of each other 

 This stunning statement was deleted from the "bent minutes" of the school consultation meeting along with all the other critical comments about congestion

 The Planning Committee were told the new bringing together of the two schools, a special school and a community lbrary would not add to congestion - what planet are these officers on. They couldnt even tell us how the new 204 car park spaces would be and what roads they could be accessed from? 

 We welcome the Planning Committee have deferred their decision for more information.

 Without doubt Council Officials have been working to undermine the Councils policy to protect green and open spaces and ebncourage building on bownfield sites

 The Planning Committee should have and we hope will ,when they meet in a fortnight or so ,just throw the plans out.

 Too much open space has been lost in this city, the shortage of playing fields is worse due to the Lib Dems building on Stanley Park

 The new school is needed, however it should be built on the Lister Drive estate and building up real links between this IT School and developing industries.

 This vicinity has better access to cars and busses and potential for future expansion

 Yes we all want a new single site school but in the right place with the right transport infrastructure

 Cllrs Steve Radford

Liberal Party Group

Green record - Letter Printed Daily Post

WE ARE delighted the Green Party are meeting in Liverpool, and we hope they consider their record in the city to date.

Over the past few years, we have been keen to join with many other groups and individuals fighting to save our parks and playing fields and to prevent the wholesale demolition of terraced working class communities in Anfield, Wavertree and Edge Hill from the policies of our Lib-Dem/ Labour demolition coalition.

On many on these campaigns, we had hoped and expected the Green Party to join us and numerous residents groups.

When it came to calling for public inquiries against the demolitions – no submission from the Greens.

When we invited the Green councillor to appear at the three housing inquiries, he declined.

When we supported residents contesting building on Tunnel Road Fields, Dixie Dean Fields, Newsham Park and others throughout the city, where were the letters of objection from the Green Party?

As Greens gather in Liverpool, we hope they see the wholesale destruction of fields and parks and terraced communities, all issues and campaigns their party has walked away from.

It strikes us the Green Party likes the trendy headlines, but does not want to roll its sleeves up and involve itself with working- class communities.

Cllrs Steve Radford, Hazel Williams and Chris Lenton, Liberal Party Group

Appeal for Parents to support Scouts

Cllr Steve Radford
41 Sutton Street
Tuebrook
Liverpool
L13 7EG
0151 259 5935

Dear Editor,

We are delighted that so many parents have shown interest in their children join the various scout groups which have recently joined us in the Tuebrook Hope Centre, rear of St John's Church

To clarify several enquiries the age ranges are:
Beavers ages 6 - 8 years
Cubs from 8 to 10 years
Scouts 10 - 13 years and explorers 13 - 18 years.

The four groups meet at the Tuebrook Hope Centre on Friday evenings

As the various teams are attracting even larger numbers of families the Scouts would be keen to hear from parents or other residents interesting in becoming scout leaders .
 Anyone interested in assisting the scouts are welcome to write to Helen Hannigan, Hope Centre, 2a Green Lane Tuebrook or telephone  228 1137

Recent trafgic events have shown us all the importance of bringing up young people in both a safe environment and an ethical framework

Steve Radford

Find the thug who did this to my dad . . for just £15

Sep 3 2007 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo

Daughter’s plea after father is mugged and beaten

THIS is Liverpool grandfather Brian Hughes – beaten to a pulp by a robber for £15.

Mr Hughes collapsed into his wife’s arms after the attack yards from his home in Anfield.

Today, his family appealed for the public to help police find the attacker.

His daughter Joanne said: “I want everyone to look at those photographs and see what can happen randomly to a lovely man like my dad.

“The physical scars will probably heal, but it’s the mental scars I’m worried about. I can’t see him forgetting about what happened.

“There are some sick people in the world. Whoever did this could easily do the same to someone else. He is an animal.”

Book-keeper Mr Hughes, 59, staggered the short walk from where he was attacked to his home and fell unconscious into the arms of wife Irene.

He was set upon as he walked along Breck Road, near Holy Trinity church, at around 11.30pm on Sunday August 26.

The robber came from behind and hit Mr Hughes on the head, knocking him to the floor.

He then shouted at Mr Hughes, who had been for a quiet pint with his friend in town, to get up, and continued to punch him.

Bizarrely, the attacker shouted that his own daughter had just been mugged and knocked Mr Hughes down again.

He then ripped open Mr Hughes’s jeans pockets and took £15 and his house keys.

Ms Hughes, who lives six doors away from her father in Clarendon Road, said: “The man was unhinged.

“I think he wanted to beat someone up far more then he wanted money because my dad didn’t have much on him.

“I’ve been down to where it happened to check if there was CCTV and I want to ask everyone locally to help me and the police find this man.”

Mr Hughes’s local councillor Steve Radford is to meet the local police inspector to discuss the attack and problems with violence in that part of Anfield.

Demolitions driven by Whitehall Targets and Cash

Cllr Steve Radford
President of The Liberal Party
41 Sutton Street
Tuebrook
Liverpool
L13 7EG
07920090322

Dear Editor,

THE demolition and forcible seizing of thousands of family homes, rather than innovative renovation schemes, is being driven by Whitehall to meet government targets set for pathfinder areas and councils

Councils have been forced to sign contracts with government departments that require them to bulldoze or compulsorily purchase a certain number of properties each year to secure housing funds.

Last year the government required town halls in the north of England and the Midlands to demolish or buy more than 4,000 houses, often razing Victorian terraces to the ground.

 In the city of Liverpool alone over three years  4000 families will be put onto the top of the housing waiting list to enable their homes to be demolished. This will bloat our rising housing waiting list which have already in the last three years risen from 7,500 to 18,500.

Last month council bosses in Salford — the constituency of Hazel Blears, the communities secretary who is responsible for the government's housing programme — rejected plans to renovate local homes in favour of demolition.

In Liverpool the so called Liberal Democrats are in hoc with Labour to support this policy of social cleansing of working class historic communities

Current  government's plan for the north of England suggests that 400,000 homes will need to be demolished in the next 15 years. It advocates "the need to accelerate the rate of stock clearance", arguing that "changes should provide clear financial incentives to facilitate clearance rather than repair".

Housing policy should be truely devolved to councils and taxes should not be abused to distort local housing markets in favour of mass demolition

Government documents state that a "grant is payable . . . on condition that the Pathfinder achieves the programme targets specified for that year". The Department for Communities and Local Government can suspend, withhold, reduce or withdraw grants if the targets are not met.

This exposes the dishonesty when Labour Ministers suggest the demolition programme is locally inspired

Cllr Steve Radford
President of The Liberal Party

Former Deputy Chair Liverpool City Housing Scrutiny Committee