violet maze adventures

FEARS FOR PARKING CHARGES AT RESTORED FESTIVAL GARDENS PARK

2011-04-16T17:40:00.004Z

It has been announced that the developers are considering charging visitors for car parking at the newly restored Garden Festival site's park area. This is so that it will help pay to maintain the area. Public money,about £3,000,000 from North West Development,was handed over to the developers to build the park when they went bust even though it was agreed at the public enquiry that they had to pay for it.

Permission was only granted to build 13,00 homes if a public park was built on a small area of the site where the Oriental Gardens used to be. The developers went bust and do not have £65,000,000 to build. They need to restore the park within three years after the public enquiry or they will have to get planning permission again to build the flats.

Car parking charges are unacceptable and were never part of the deal. Local green councillor John Coyne is looking into this.

WORK STARTS ON GARDEN FESTIVAL SITE

2010-02-16T11:55:00.004Z

On monday February 15th 2010 the property developers with the Land Restoration Trust began work on the Waterfront Park.They are reinstating the Moon wall,pagoda and oriental gardens and restoring the lake.Not sure if this is democracy in action (see previous post), I think our campaign group should have been able to access cash from the North West Development agency.

I think it's completely wrong that the original terms agreed at the public enquiry have been over ridden in a council meeting with no public there.Typical Liverpool City Council behaviour though!!!!

UPDATE

I have reported Liverpool City Council to the Royal Courts of Justice in London re: amending conditions agreed at public Inquiry.

WHAT'S HAPPENING ON GARDEN FESTIVAL SITE

2010-01-19T16:33:00.006Z

Liverpool City Council had a private (unadvertised?) meeting,January 4th I think, and decided to give the developers permission to start building the Waterfront park with public money.This incurred changes to what the conditions to build were which were decided at the public enquiry.SURELY THAT'S ILLEGAL?

It seems to me that the developers are only rushing through the park because if they don't build within 3 years from when they got planning permission they have to apply again.

So, if anyone thinks they are lucky to get a waterfront park....think again.It's a dodgy move. It's all about the interests of the property developers and not the public.

Landlife- the park providers are actually unable to start though as their main man has had a heart attack. I wish him a speedy recovery but wish he'd reconsider what he's about to do.

GARDEN FESTIVAL SITE UPDATE

2009-10-30T11:52:00.005Z

About £3,000,000 pounds of public money has been given to the property developers for the site even though they don't have the £65,000,000 to build the apartments.This is for the park they promised to pay for in order to get full planning permission for the flats.

Liverpool City Council are also sneakily giving away public open green space in Otterspool Park.Previously we were told nobody visits the prom area as it's dangerous. Suddenly,when it suits, it is a popular place in need of recreational facilities for all the visitors. Make your mind up!!!!
Objections to the city council please:
Steve.cook@liverpool.gov.uk

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FOR 'SAVE THE FESTIVAL GARDENS CAMPAIGN'

2009-04-16T16:34:00.005Z

On May 10th 2009 there will be the AGM for the Campaign group.

This will be held at The Old Police Station, Lark Lane,Aigburth,Liverpool 17. From 2-4pm.

We will be discussing our conservation work to save the skylarks on site (see previous entry) and other business.

I wish to raise the idea about asking the property developers if they will allow us to build an Earthship (sustainable environmentally friendly building) from reclaimed materials and donations for solar panels.

It is unlikely any flats will be built for years due to half of the property developers going into administration. Planning permission also has to be sought again after 3 years if nothing has been built.

It will be of benefit to the environment, property developers and the local community to have people working regularly on the site.

The Earthship could also engage the locals as they could help build it. It would be good to have young people help us build . If the property developers start work we could demolish it.

If anyone has any other suggestions for the AGM please contact the campaign group.The meeting is open to the public.

Hope to see you there for some refreshments and cake.

BRAMBLE CLEARANCE ON SOUTHERN GRASSLANDS

2009-04-16T16:06:00.005Z

The Southern Grasslands area of the Garden Festival site is being maintained, with permission of the property developers , as a nature reserve for skylarks.These are a protected species that have been nesting in the area for about 50 years.Years ago they were found on the old golf course up the road at Jericho Lane.

Unfortunately they disappeared from the Southern Grasslands a few years back when the trees were felled nearby.

Members of the 'Save The Festival Gardens Campaign' have been meeting on alternate Sundays for about six months to clear brambles so that predators like crows cannot hide and then attack the skylarks.

We have almost finished and have been told that some other birds have returned to the area nearby to nest. Fingers crossed that the skylarks are going to come back to the Grasslands any day now to build new nests.

PLEASE COME TO OUR EVENT

2009-01-05T14:57:00.001Z

HANSARD REGISTER RECORDS MICHAEL HESELTINE'S SPEECH

2008-12-26T11:21:00.011Z

It may be of interest to know that Michael Heseltine who set up the Garden Festival site in 1984 has a speech recorded by stenographers in the 'Hansard register'.
This register documents everything discussed in the House of Commons.

It's proving difficult to access the speech but I've been told he talks about building some houses (which were built 20 years ago) and then saying that the parkland is to be an additional green space for the people of Liverpool .I have invited Lord Heseltine to our TATE event to discuss this.

I googled 'hansard liverpool garden festival heseltine' and found discussions dated 17/2/82/vol 18 c167w and Garden centre (Toxteth) talks.
Mr. Patrick Jenkins gives an interesting speech on 19th December 1984 197w about how prom and surrounding area are for the public in the long term.This is found in the 'hansard register millbank systems' and searching liverpool garden festival.

TATE GALLERY LIVERPOOL ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS

2008-12-09T14:49:00.017Z

On Sunday January 11th 2009 2-4pm there will be food and debate on conservation and the loss of public spaces with people from the Garden Festival Campaign.

This will be part of the '5th floor project' in the International Festival space on the 4th floor.

There will be the showing of the deep ecology film 'Earth spirit action' for 16 minutes and then the campaigner's own film 'Garden Festival watch' 6 minutes long in the first half hour.

John Davies , curator of 'Cities on the Edge' book and photo exhibition will then lead a debate on 'loss of public space and land give aways'.There will also be other speakers.

The gallery space will be filled with banners,photos,food and information on our campaign.
There will be a live drawing being sketched by Canadian Artist Beth Shortt during the event

Tenantspin@ FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) are hosting an event which includes the Garden Festival Campaigners in their TATE television studio on the 4th floor.
This is on Tuesday January 13th 2009.About 12.30 tbc

All are welcome.

Public Inquiry result as Credit crunch spreads to U.K.

2008-07-24T09:56:00.005Z

Very sad news to hear we lost in our Save The Festival Gardens Campaign....HOWEVER all is not lost as this 'credit crunch' means that the property developers LangtreeMcLean will delay building for 12 to 18 months.
The housing market may completely collapse so they don't get to go ahead building at all.
Meanwhile we must try and save the trees, shrubs and grasslands from being destroyed by asking the developers to leave the site alone for as long as possible so we keep our enchanting mature forest ,shrubs and grasslands which are essential for bio-diversity and our health and happiness.
'LONG LIVE THE GARDEN FESTIVAL SITE'

GARBAGE WARRIOR EARTHSHIP FILM

2008-05-03T12:43:00.004Z

There is a film called 'Garbage Warrior' showing at the Institute for Contemporary Arts, London, at the end of May.It is about American outsider architect MICHAEL REYNOLDS who has spent more than 20 years creating beautiful earthships/homes in the New Mexico desert.They are created out of discarded beer cans, reclaimed wood, old tyres and clay, using new and unorthodox theories of architecture.He has a lifetime passion for sustainable living.
He is a 1 man eco-movement whose ideas will help save the planet.The film, by director Oliver Hodge, UK2007, 86mins, was shot over 3 years in New Mexico, U.S. and India.It is a portrait of a man energised by his dreams of making a better world. (Google : Michael Reynolds ICA film).
I would like to try and get it a Liverpool showing at FACT.
*****************************NEWS FLASH******************************************
FACT cinema will try and get a showing of the film to run concurrent with' tenantspin from the BOX at FACT's debate:
The end of my world
This is on wednesday August 13th from 2-3pm live on the internet (google: tenantspin)
This is a discussion with various speakers about the environment, consumerism out of control and what we can do to save the planet.

EARTHSHIP LIVERPOOL WEBSITES AND E MAIL ADDRESS

2008-04-10T11:59:00.007Z

If you would like to learn more about this sustainable building look at:
www.lowcarbon.com or google low carbon trust
or e mail:
earthship.liverpool@gmail.com

EARTHSHIP afternoon on Sunday 6th April 2008

2008-03-20T12:10:00.004Z

On Sunday 6/4/2008 at the Old Police Station, Lark Lane, Aigburth, Liverpool 17 there will be an afternoon all about 'Save The Festival Gardens' campaigners' plan for an EARTHSHIP eco/environmental centre at the Garden Festival site in Liverpool.Meeting starts around 2pm and runs until 6pm.All are welcome.
Local architect David Backhouse has designed a plan of an EARTHSHIP for the old dome site near Riverside Drive.
If you google: EARTHSHIP you will see what it is.
It is a fully self sustaining building made of recycled materials, built by volunteers and very cheap to run. It would be an ideal building for:
2009 Liverpool's Year Of The Environment
People in Liverpool could visit if it's built and learn about solar power, wind energy, climate change, reducing emissions, lowering carbon footprint etc.
Hope to see you there!

Save the Festival Gardens Public inquiry

2008-01-14T16:43:00.000Z

Resumed again on January 7th 2008 in Blackburne House, Hope Street, Liverpool 8. This was the final week in the inquiry to save the Garden Festival site down by Otterspool promenade on the River Mersey.Our campaign would like to keep all the trees and build an environmental centre (google 'Earthship' for details).
The Daily Post's front page covered our concerns for the Garden Festival Site and Professor Bradshaw from Liverpool University,a well respected environmentalist who has been awarded a rare medal for his work ( other medal awarded to David Attenborough), stated in the newspaper article that the site should be left a wilderness.The feature continued inside the paper as well.
It really is an ideal opportunity in "Liverpool's Year Of The Environment 2009" to build an eco-centre for the people of Liverpool and visitors to our city in the years to come.
We'll hear in mid July central government's decision.

FUTURES DAY IDEAS FOR GARDEN FESTIVAL SITE

2007-12-04T10:44:00.000Z

SAVE THE FESTIVAL GARDENS PUBLIC INQUIRY

2007-11-16T12:09:00.000Z

The public inquiry has been running for 3 weeks and will now recommence in January 2008.There has not been enough time to cover everything during the inquiry at the Adelphi hotel, Liverpool.The Garden Festival Campaign was out in force daily and put across an expert case for keeping our 'Green Wedge' for the people of Liverpool rather than allowing over 1300 apartments to be built by property developers Langtree McLean.
The Sefton room where the inquiry took place looked great with the Campaigners' displays which included a giant tree banner which said "SAVE THE FESTIVAL GARDENS' hanging high in one of the alcoves.Well done to those local people who made it.
There was also a giant colourful map (thanks to John Davies) of the Festival Site covered with post-it notes stuck on at the successful Futures Day held on October 27th at Lark Lane.The post-it notes were peoples hopes for the site.There seems to be a desire for an ECO environmental centre like an EARTHSHIP and various nature style things like bike trails, nature trails and of course lots of trees.
There were plenty of photos,books,leaflets and literature relating to the Garden Festival,placards( inc.SAVE THE PROM),a huge Earthship display board and giant photos of before and after the tree massacre ( felled without permission by developers).
Big thanks to everyone who helped in any way whatsoever.We will continue to Save our Garden Festival Site.
***********************************************NEWS FLASH************************
The property developers have been told to amend their "incorrect boundaries" regarding the Otterspool Prom 'land grab'. They have been pulled up for taking EVEN MORE of our public land .Well done to Garden Festival Campaigners for finding this out.

Riverside Residents Association Survey for Garden Festival Site (1999 ?)

2007-10-09T09:57:00.000Z

Local residents Woodland and Wildlife ideas

2007-10-09T09:54:00.000Z

I conducted a survey asking local people what they would like to see on the Garden Festival Site and most wanted it to stay as it was..If any developments are to be put there they need to be things like an 'Earthship'. This is an Environmental Centre one of which has just opened in Brighton. check out www.lowcarbon.co.uk/earthships.html or http://www.visitbrighton.com/news/799asp for details

Otterspool Prom ...Land given away to Property Developers

2007-09-28T16:52:00.000Z

I believe some of the Otterspool Prom public land ,by the Brittania pub and adjacent to the Garden Festival Site will be given away to the property developers at a council meeting after about 10 minutes 'debate'. This is after the council said they had no intention of handing over the prom public land to Langtree McLean , handily just before the local elections recently. I suggest e mailing colin.green@liv.gov.uk if you object to this.

FUTURE FESTIVAL GARDEN

2007-09-06T09:59:00.000Z

Saturday October 27th 11am - 3pm at Old Police Station, Lark Lane, Liverpool. The event may continue until late evening.
Have your say on what you'd like to see at the Garden Festival Site next to the River Mersey in Otterspool.In the police station there will be a space for children with games,help make a woodland collage, posters and face painting hopefully.
There will be a talk on ideas for the future of the Garden Festival Site.
Some food and drink available for donations and some local music.
Please come along and show your support for our Green Space.
Keep checking website listed below for up to date news on our campaign.

*********************NEWSFLASH*****************************************************
Futures Day was attended by about 200 people who sat in at workshops to 'have their say' and listen to an Earthship talk.There was a film to watch,banners to make and lots of Garden Festival stuff and Earthship things to look at.Lovely food and drink and live music from Kevin followed by Stan the harpist finished the day.Thanks to all those who helped to create this.

PUBLIC ENQUIRY IN LIVERPOOL OCTOBER 2007

2007-09-03T10:24:00.000Z

The enquiry is to be held for 12 days starting October 30 2007.
It will be held at the Adelphi hotel in the Sefton room.
We are currently collecting as many letters of objection to the plan to build 1300 flats on the Garden Festival Site. For letter download see website listed below.

GARDEN FESTIVAL CAMPAIGN WEBSITE

2007-07-21T09:07:00.000Z

http:/www.geocities.com/savethefestivalgardens
Please look at this site to keep up to date with all the news about the ongoing campaign to save our green space in Liverpool.
The e mail address is savethefestivalgardens@googlemail.com .

PUBLIC ENQUIRY granted !

2007-07-16T10:30:00.000Z

Central Government have realised this case needs to be looked at properly and have agreed to carry out a full public enquiry.
They are sure to realise that the development of the Garden Festival Site needs to take into account the strong local feelings of objection.
Over 900 letters sent in to ask for this public enquiry.We will continue to keep up our campaign for this green space to remain.

FUTURE OTTERSPOOL PROM artwork by Tracey Dunn

2007-06-05T10:36:00.000Z

2007-06-05T10:25:00.000Z

BENEFIT GIG FOR GARDEN FESTIVAL CAMPAIGN

2007-05-29T12:45:00.000Z

We are currently putting together a fundraising night of bands,acoustic sets and d.j.s at Liverpool Cricket Club sometime soon.
Look out for details on this site and locally.

WRITE TO THIS ADDRESS to demand FULL PUBLIC ENQUIRY

2007-05-24T10:47:00.000Z

Michael Ashton
060/3442
Government office for the North West
Sunley Tower
Piccadilly Plaza
Manchester
M1 4BE

BETRAYED by Liverpool City Council planning committee

2007-05-22T09:25:00.000Z

The Planning Game.
'Screw the skylarks' seems to be the planning committee's attitude regarding the Garden Festival Site.
At the meeting on Monday 21st May in the Council Chambers at Liverpool Town Hall 'outline' planning permission for the flats was given and full planning permission for the 'manicured' park.

We've had feedback that we made an excellent case which was then totally bypassed, but the council officers were huddled in a corner having an uncomfortable time and the developers (Felltree McLean !) when questioned about tree felling outside the licence actually hung their heads in shame and a few blushed.

They claimed these extra trees needed to be felled due to them being dead and also anti social behaviour at the Festival Garden Site, but the only bad behaviour seems to be theirs.
This was enforced when they were informed that the Forestry Commission had definitely Not given permission for all this destruction.

There had been a tip off by a councillor regarding the outcome before the meeting started and if the decision hadn't already been made in advance to give approval, at minimum the decision would have been deferred.
This is Garbage on a Garbage Dump. What a STITCH UP !

There is a meeting on Wednesday May 23rd at the usual place to discuss the next step....possibly a Public Enquiry.......We'll keep you posted.

GARDEN FESTIVAL SITE TREES ILLEGALLY FELLED ACCORDING TO FELLING LICENCE

2007-05-17T08:38:00.000Z

The felling licence 010/56/05-06 was issued on 20/10/05 by
The Forestry Commission, North west England by Peil Wyke, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria. CA13 9YG. It was sent to :

Langtree McLean
Enterprise House
28 Parkway
Deeside Industrial Park
Deeside
Flintshire.
CH5 2NS.

It appears that over 50% of the growing trees have been ILLEGALLY felled. 204 oak trees have been destroyed even though it was agreed that NONE would be felled. I trust this information is accurate.

DEMO AT OTTERSPOOL PROM BY BRITTANIA PUB ON SUNDAY 20TH MAY MEET 2 -5PM. ALSO...... DEMO OUTSIDE TOWN HALL ON MONDAY 21ST MAY AT 12.30

2007-05-15T10:06:00.000Z

TREES FELLED BEFORE PLANNING CONSENT AT GARDEN FESTIVAL SITE

2007-05-10T11:47:00.000Z

There will be a DEMO/CELEBRATION on the prom at Otterspool by the Brittania pub on Sunday 20th May at 2pm until 5pm.

On Monday 21st May there will be a demo outside the Town Hall at 12.30 during the council meeting with the property developers. All are welcome at these events. PLEASE TELL EVERYONE ABOUT THIS. WWW.OURGROUND.NET website for more information

photos by Tim(ber!) Claydon

PROPOSED EYESORE FOR OTTERSPOOL

2007-05-08T10:51:00.000Z

Over a 1000 trees have been chopped down BEFORE PLANNING CONSENT on the Garden Festival Site...some with nesting birds in them.We need all the trees we can get to help make oxygen so we can breathe in this polluted world ! Especially being opposite Ellesmere Port's toxic industrial estates.

This is what the property developers want to build.They are also planning to take some of the prom. Surely the council can keep the green space rather than allow more luxury flats to dominate the area? A third of the new luxury apartments in town are still empty!
We need as much parkland as possible in a city and this isn't good enough.A lot of schools have had their playing fields sold off and lots of people don't have gardens so it is vital we keep areas to relax in.
If you want get involved please e mail Lucy Page at savethefestivalgardens@googlemail.com or by post to :

Lucy Page

Save the garden Festival site Campaign

c/o Community Centre
Old Police Station
Lark Lane
Liverpool L17.

There are also meetings weekly on wednesdays at 6.30pm in Aigburth cricket club near St.Michaels' station, Aigburth.
If you want to write to the council to complain about the plans and tree felling before planning permission please contact

Stuart Clark
060/3442 ( reference number )
Planning Department
Municipal Buildings
Dale Street
Liverpool
L2 2DH

2007-05-01T11:08:00.000Z

2007-05-01T11:05:00.000Z

Save Garden Festival site in Liverpool

2007-04-03T11:49:00.000Z

2007-04-03T10:23:00.001Z

Ringo's House

By George Lund

www.lundart.co.uk

The campaign to save Ringo Starr's house has gone worldwide.I have contacted Beatles,Apple Corp.,George Martin record producer,Abbey Road Studios,Capitol Records U.S.A.,The Cavern Club (replica) in Mathew Street,Liverpool,Beatles' shop,The Beatles ' story museum,various fan clubs,B.B.C. radio and television,Granada T.V.,E.M.I. records and loads of other people and organizations.Please help to save our heritage.Thankyou.

save RINGO STARR's house from liverpool city council's demolition squad

2007-03-13T11:06:00.002Z

Ringo Starr, former drummer with the Beatles, was born many years ago at 9 Madryn Street, Toxteth, Liverpool 8.

Unfortunately the Welsh streets area is under threat from the usual suspects. The working people's houses are listed in Pevsner's architectural guide to Liverpool written by Jo Sharples who only recently gave a guided tour of the houses of interest around Princes Park,Toxteth.

The houses are quite old and generally run down but lots of the residents would like their houses modernised. It could actually be a chance to convert these houses to environmentally sound buildings as it has already been proven that this would be cheaper than demolishing them and rebuilding.

Sadly the powers that be, Liverpool City Council, has already destroyed one of the greatest wonder's of the world- the Cavern Club in Mathew Street where The band honed their act in the 60s.

There are land grabs going on right now all over the city and many people are having their communities torn apart by the city council so that greedy property developers can build more soulless homes for those who could afford them. The locals certainly can't.

Sure, some residents want new homes but couldn't the council save our great heritage and rehouse the people that want to move?

I would like all the people who wish to stay in Madryn Street the chance to do so and then with any homes left I would like to see them used for Beatles related tourism:
Guided tours of Ringo's old home, a small museum,,themed cafe and gift shop. Using all the original houses of course.

. Think of all the Beatles' fans wanting to visit !

Time is running out FAST.

***NEWSFLASH*** JULY 21 2007***
I met John Lennon's sister Julia Baird recently and she has kindly agreed to help with the campaign to save this important landmark.

If you can help: please phone (44) 0151 233 3000 and express your concern to the council.

Or write to
Warren Bradley.
Liverpool City Council
Municipal Buildings
Dale St
Liverpool
L2 2DH
UK
Or E mail
liverpool.direct@liverpool.gov.uk