Freedom Ceremony for Edge Hill University

Last night was the ceremony for Edge Hill University's admission to the Freedom Roll of Association (the equivalent for organisations of the Freedom of the City)

I spoke at the ceremony as opposition leader.

This is a picture of  part of the ceremony.

Application for cafe/restaurant - 668 Aigburth Road

An application's just come in so that there can be  a cafe or restaurant at 668 Aigburth Road.

This is the old dry cleaners on the stretch of shops between Fletcher and Bennison.

By the looks of things the Council hasn't sent any letters to neighbours about this yet. I have been in touch with the agents acting for the people who own the building and although no one has been found to run it yet, they are keen to get permission so it can be a restaurant (they are thinking more of this than of a cafe.. and actually there is one just a few doors along).  They haven't applied for permission for a takeaway so this would be a question of food cooked and eaten on the premises.

You can  find some very basic details, and a contact number, on the Planning Explorer website at this link

http://northgate.liverpool.gov.uk/PlanningExplorer17/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=804392&XSLT=/PlanningExplorer17/SiteFiles/Skins/Liverpool_M3/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=N&XMLSIDE=/PlanningExplorer17/SiteFiles/Skins/Liverpool_M3/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING

Tree planting on Garston Park

A good, but a bit wet and windy, session today with the Friends of Garston Park and youngsters from Gilmour junior school.

We were planting trees (some very small others larger) on Garston Park near the Leisure Centre.

You can find out more about the Friends of Garston Park at http://www.fogp.blogspot.com/

Santa Dash

Lib Dem colleagues Cllr Erica Kemp and Cllr Graham Hulme took part in the Liverpool Santa Dash today.

This is Erica in her Santa gear. 

Garston waste plant site - update (December 2011)

Richard Oglethorpe and I had a meeting with Associated British Ports a few days ago to discuss the land at Stalbridge Dock.

This is the site that Jack Allen Holdings wanted to build a waste plant on, but then decided not to (see earlier posts on this)

We wanted to see if there was anything else planned for that land (and also if we could persuade them to choose something other than a waste plant)

The history of this site and the rows about it is long so forgive me if I don't recap everything here.  We have written to people living near the site with a fuller update (although if you have questions please don't hesitate to e mail me at paula@garstonld.org.uk)

Mr Jervis from Associated British Ports told us that they are not currently pursuing any other waste firm for that particular site and are happy for it to be empty for a while.  They haven't had any other approaches either.

He also said that ABP has concerns about the Council's decision to designate the land as the official sub regional waste site for Liverpool.  (We were rather surprised to hear this!)

There is now a short period for consultation on the "soundness" of the Waste DPD Plan (the scheme that includes this designation) . (E mail me if you haven't seen this and want the link to the "consultation".)

ABP are not  attached to the idea of a waste plant there.  The company's criterion for leasing the land is that whoever wants to use it must be in a "port related business".Obviously this could be something else although some of the "something elses" would clearly also generate traffic.

I'll post again shortly about the follow up actions Richard and I are taking.

Tree planting on Garston Park.

The Friends of Garston Park are going to be out planting trees on Garston Park next week.

With support from the Mersey Forest, the session on 8th December will see shrubs and trees being planted by volunteers.

Anyone who wants to turn up and help is very welcome.  The group starts at 10 30 near the sports pitches on the park.  If you have a spade do bring it along!

This planting is the first of two sessions to introduce more trees onto the park and it follows the wildflower planting day of which more later!

Holmefield Road licence application

The old Spar shop on Holmefield Road is being taken over by Tesco.  The company will be putting in some planning applications (to do with changing the entrance etc)

It has also however put in an application to sell alcohol from 7 am to 10 pm Monday to Sunday.

When the previous shop was open, people living nearby often reported problems linked to alcohol sales here.

I understand that Tesco has written to some local people about their general plans but usually what happens with these licensing applications is that all that  a sign goes up which most people don't see.

Anyway, Richard Oglethorpe and I have written to some of the streets nearest the shop to let people know what's going on and to explain how they can comment.

If you want to comment on the licensing application, the Council has designed a handy form which is on the website here.http://liverpool.gov.uk/Business/licences-and-permits/entertainment-and-alcohol-licences/representations/

You will need to scroll down the page a bit to find the form.