Wednesday 30 April 2014

Get local news about South Liverpool

I produce an e mail bulletin focusing on L19 and L18.  This goes out roughly twice a month and carries information on local events, decisions, planning applications, developments, news and so on.

If you want to start getting this, you can subscribe by using this link.

Thursday 24 April 2014

Changes to Austin Rawlinson pool and centre at Speke?

The Council's proposals to  close swimming pools at Park Road and Everton have received quite a bit of attention.

I wonder however how much people know about the proposals for Speke.

The Council is talking about running the centre on a "caretaker" basis.  That'll mean that organised groups can book in but residents won't be able to just turn up and use it.  I've seen no coverage of this idea but it appears on a page on the Council's website where a "consultation" is taking place.

If you want to comment, or find out more, the page is at this link.

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Do you want to comment on Liverpool's bus lanes?

If you want to comment on the effects of the suspension of bus lanes in Liverpool, you've only got a few more days to do it.

The deadline is 28th April.

You can send in comments by letter or e mail.  Here are the key details taken from the City Council website .

By Post to:- Jeanette McLoughlin, City Solicitor, Legal Services, Municipal Buildings, Dale Street, Liverpool L2 2DH

By email to:- Legal.Planning@liverpool.gov.uk
Please quote reference LS/P&EU/NRB/ETRO 8087B/TM 3149/2052.1268 in all correspondence.

St Mary's Road update.


The state of St Mary's Road is one of the things people raise with us most often.  It's been great to see the bits of individual enterprise that look to bring unused shops back into use.  But there are still problems which the Council seems to view as "not a lot to do with us guv".

So here's an update on various bits and pieces.

People who know Garston will know that the Sports Bar is in the process of changing into a restaurant and take away.  The sign is up and passers by can spot quite a bit of work going on inside.  The next step's been taken now with an application for a license which includes the proposed hours.  You can see brief details at this link (you'll need to scroll down quite a bit).  It's the Indian Valley entry.

Further up St Mary's Road is the former Ethel Austin shop.  There are plans to re open this as a convenience store.  The Council's licensing committee are meeting this week to decide on the application for the off license bit of that plan.  You can see the details at this link.

Of course the biggest source of complaints are buildings which are not only empty but derelict and dangerous.  And the one with the longest saga must be the corner of James Street.  This,according to the Council, has been due for demolition for ages  In fact they originally said it would come down in Autumn 2013.  Since then two new dates have been given, and both missed.  My colleague Cllr Richard Oglethorpe asked a question about this at the Council.  The answer (which seems to translate as "it's someone elses fault") is at this link

Richard also asked about the former Interchill building.  The question and answer is at this link.

Saturday 19 April 2014

10 years of the Speke Garston coastal reserve

It's ten years since the Speke Garston coastal reserve was set up (although obviously people used to walk there before) and there'll be events in early May to celebrate the birthday.

The reserve is a great place to walk.  I often pop down along Brunswick Street and then walk along to the Sailing Club.  But you can go further along, in fact to Speke Hall.

Anyway, to celebrate the birthday there are two days of activities.  One is a spring clean day and the other involves guided walks, talks and exhibitions.

On 2 May there's a clean up.  Organisers are looking for volunteers to join the Rangers and help litter pick or cut back overgrowth.  If you want to find out more, neil.Coventry@Liverpool.gov.uk  is the person to ask.

On 3 May there are guided walks to Speke Hall meeting at 10 30 am and 1 30 pm at the Garston Urban Village Hall on Banks Road.  Walks will be led by the ramblers association and include  break for refreshments at the Liverpool Sailing Club.

There'll also be talks and demonstrations throughout the day at the club involving organisations like the RSPB and the Garston and District Historical Society.

Money on offer for local groups - L18 and L19

The Cressington Community First Fund has just advertised another round of grants for local groups or activities in the Cressington ward bit of L19 and L18.

The deadline for applying for this round is 6 May.

You can find a form, as well as info about the area covered, at this link.

The Fund involves a committee of local people  making decisions about the spending.  The money comes from the Government.

Wednesday 9 April 2014

Get involved in Friends of Garston Park

The Friends of Garston Park are holding their AGM later this month.  It's on 25th April at 6 30pm at Garston Leisure Centre.  We usually use the cafĂ© area to meet as it's closed then.

Members should get an e mail or note to alert them but this is also a good chance for people who've not been before to come along and find out more.

Recent Friends projects include tree planting, the art project, litter picks and meetings with Council officers about future plans.  The Friends have also adopted some of the planters in L19 and are maintaining them (the Council not being able to do this)

Monday 7 April 2014

Saving the Library

Some time ago I blogged about the Council's announcement that half the community libraries in Liverpool may have to close.

Obviously many communities love and value their local libraries and want to keep them.  In Garston we've set up a Save Garston Library Facebook group so that interested people can keep in touch, and we've done some preparations in case we have a fight on our hand. We have a Friends of Garston Library group so we do have a structure if we need to take any action.

The Council isn't announcing which libraries it's targeting yet.  In fact this might not happen until the summer.

However, as the library service is statutory, the Council is obliged to run a "consultation" ahead of any proposed changes.

As part of this consultation, there's a questionnaire which is available from libraries as hard copy but also on line at this link
http://liverpool.gov.uk/council/consultation/libraries-consultation/

If you care about your local library, or indeed about the library service generally, do please fill it in.  the deadline is 16 May.

Saturday 5 April 2014

Liverpool Local Plan - not long left to have your say

The City Councils drawing up a "local plan" which is about land use and other planning type issues for the City for the next 15 years.

Local people are being invited to comment, with info available on line.

There's not long to go though as the deadline is 30 April.

You can find the information, at this link.