Museum of Liverpool-A Complete Cock Up From Start To..................When Will It Finish.

THE opening of Liverpool’s flagship new museum has been put back by up to six months.

Museum bosses had hoped to welcome their first guests in spring next year but are now not likely to open their doors until the summer.
The Daily Post can also reveal the Museum of Liverpool’s X-wing building has been plunged into a legal no-man’s land after the contract between National Museums Liverpool (NML) and its main contractor expired and was never renewed.
NML, which commissioned the £72m waterfront building, allowed its contract with builder Peel Galliford Try (PGT) to lapse in February.
It means NML, which is headed by director Dr David Fleming, has not technically taken ownership of the building and PGT is still responsible for it.
Final “snagging” works at the site are still to be completed and are now threatening to delay the project further. And because no agreement exists between NML and PGT, the taxpayer-funded museums body is potentially exposed to a huge bill. PGT is effectively babysitting the site but has not agreed what fees it will be paid to do so.
When pressed about the contract issue NML could not confirm it had taken “vacant possession” of the Museum of Liverpool building or if it was now its legal owner.
It is understood that the building is still technically in the hands of the construction company that built it and is under what is known in the construction industry as a “contract at large”.
But in February – around about the time the last contract between NML and PGT expired – NML chairman Professor Phil Redmond hosted a gala fundraising dinner in the museum’s People’s Gallery, ostensibly to mark the handover of the building from PGT to NML.
Referring to the opening being put back an NML spokesman last night said it has been reluctant to give an exact date because it wanted to “get things right”.
He added: “This is the largest new museum built in the UK for more than a century.
“We’ve been reluctant to give an exact opening date as this is a massive scheme and we want to get things right.
“We are making really good progress on site and are looking forward to opening next summer.”
Prof Redmond’s dinner was also held to mark the end of construction on the museum but NML has now also admitted the site is still an “operational building site”.
The Daily Post understands one of the reasons the contract was not renewed was because NML was not happy with how certain parts of the building had been finished off.

One of the most significant sticking points was the amphitheatre-style steps that were installed at either end of the building, which apparently did not “mesh” together satisfactorily.
After seeing them in situ, NML directors asked for them to be ripped out and re-laid.
The Daily Post understands one of the sets of steps has been taken out, but neither has yet been replaced.
It remains unclear if NML and PGT have come to an agreement about their final design at all.
Last month the Daily Post revealed how NML had been dragged through a £500,000 legal dispute by its architects, AEW, over unpaid fees.
It also emerged that the epoxy resin flooring in the museum needed attention after the surface bubbled up.
Nevertheless, NML said it hopes to continue fitting out the museum and preparing to let in visitors. Last month an overhead railway carriage moved into the building and became the first object to arrive. More than 10,000 local people were consulted on the content of the exhibits on show in the three-storey building.
And NML expect the museum to attract more than 750,000 visitors a year, and lead to more than 70 permanent jobs. Responding to the contractual issue with PGT, the NML spokesman added: “We are happy with progress being made on site. Fit-out is under way and we were thrilled when the overhead railway carriage became the first object moved into the new museum last month. This marked a significant development in the creation of what will be a world class museum.
“As we’ve stated before the Museum of Liverpool is still an operational building site. Works inside and out are continuing with a variety of contractors working on this £72m scheme as you would expect with one year to go before opening.
“The project is continuing apace and we can’t wait to open next summer.”
A spokesman for PGT was unavailable for comment.

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/08/24/museum-of-liverpool-hit-by-delay-at-contract-row-looms-92534-27123299/2/


When Dicky Felton joined NML as press officer, he may have thought he was going to be employed to give packets of swizzels to kids at the new wacky warehouse-on-sea.
 I bet you he didnt anticipate that he would spend all his time pulling Fuzzy Felt Fleming out of the "shit" he has created for himself.

Dr David Fleming-To Be Investigated by Liverpool City Council

After another Dr David Fuzzy Fleming comment, this  time "I Want All Young Black Men To Feel Shit". It now seems that a full investigation has been started by Liverpool City Council after Council Leader Joe Anderson was made aware of his comments made at a recent symposium about Slavery.

He may wish to be controversial but this just shows him for what he is.

 http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-want-all-young-black-men-to-feel-shit.html A Black Lady from the floor said "I do not wish this for my two sons when they visit a museum"

More to Follow.

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/03/museum-of-liverpool-citadel-of-disaster.html

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/03/watching-detectives.html
He had previously said while being interviewed in New Zealand by Dr Diana Cobley.

"Why is it that most curators and museum staff are completely dysfunctional in normal society?


"Most of them you would not want to take out for a drink. They’re weird! And why is it that our sector thinks it’s appropriate to put weird people at the head of it?"
 
Yes well.........

Here Lies the Mole of Edgehill.

What is the difference in the two images above?

One is a picture of a Vase designed by Geoffry Baxter for Whiefriars in the 60s...called a Drunken Bricklayer

And the other is a wall surrounding a memorial site for a graveyard built a couple of weeks ago by a Drunken Bricklayer

Not all agree those chaps over at Sevenstreets like it.

http://www.sevenstreets.com/city-living/feature-city-living/paradise-street-williamso/

They say So completely has Liverpool ONE reshaped our city’s geography that it’s hard to believe Paradise Street doesn’t end at the Sony Centre. But, underneath the newly chiseled granite, the old city streets still stubbornly remain. And, such is our desire to reinvent ourselves every generation or so, precious little of our history ever rests in peace.

In fact, it’s not just the old streets you’re walking above. In one spot, you’re actually standing on the resting place of giants…
going on they say.........SevenStreets has heard a rumour that the original gates of the Sailor’s Home (the only remaining fragments from this fabled, long-lost Liverpool landmark) are to be returned to the city – from their current home in Smethwick, Birmingham. The gates feature the first ever cast Liver Birds.

So, tread carefully. For, just a couple of feet below this beautifully serene spot, with its driftwood, lavender and maritime plants, lies a man who’s been known to tunnel himself out of the trickiest of underground situations…
I think its a shame that such a shameful piece of Jerry-building has happened, its like Grosvenor has given up because there is no money in it. So here lies the Mole of Edgehill..........not a fitting tribute really.

Liverpools World Heritage Site-More Demolitions Planned.

How many more demolitions are planned in the world heritage site. Well is fair game isn't it you just get to know a councillor who champions your cause, this time its Joe Anderson who welcomed the news of the applications and further investment into the city. So whats the sketch. John Hinchliffe the world heritage officer doesn't give a hoop, buy a property let it get a bit run down, and Bobs your Uncle, its down. Now a hotel, another one, is planned in Dale Street and its just over the road from the old municipal buildings, that Iliad own. Yes, Iliad, the perpetrators of world heritage vandalism and facade hacking of 6 Sir Thomas Street.

Remember our old friend Jamaica House take a look at the picture below, click on it it shows it demolished but the next building has a sign in the window and what does it say, is that, Iliad.

Now call me cynical, but how did that get there. It seems developers are crawling all over the area, despite 6 Sir Thomas Street not even finished. 

 http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/search/label/6%20Sir%20Thomas%20Street

But the planned hotel in Dale Street – which would see the demolition of a row of buildings which until recently housed the Spar store – has raised objections from both Merseytravel and car park company NCP.

Merseytravel objected to the development of the 123-bed hotel with restaurant and bar on the grounds that it includes a 285-space multi-storey car park, which they say would have a negative impact on public transport.
NCP said they believed it would lead to "over-provision" of car parking and lead to a loss in available office space for the city.
But council leader Cllr Joe Anderson welcomed the news of the applications and further investment into the city.
Cllr Anderson said: "People tell me there’s not enough hotel space. I had a meeting with someone the other day who was saying you just can’t get a room.
"On the one hand, that’s good news, but it shows we need more and I think the city can sustain these hotels."
But the Dale Street hotel plan, put forward by Belfast-based company FourTwoFour Ltd, initially prompted several objections, including from English Heritage, which argued it would "harm the character and appearance of the conservation area and the outstanding universal value, authenticity and integrity of the World Heritage Site".

English Heritage withdrew its objections after design changes, but Merseytravel lodged a formal objection against the plan on several grounds, including that the hotel is directly adjacent to the route of the Merseytram scheme, and also because of the hotel’s proximity to the Mersey tunnels underneath.
Now theres a thing.

Trinity "Smoking" Mirrors Group- Burying Dynamite

I posted a blog last week about Dr David "Fuzzy Felt" Fleming who made the remark "I want all Young Black Men to feel shit". Yes you heard that right the director of the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool who has invited Barack Obama to Liverpool, said this in a public forum to the floor. What an idiot!
There are not many words that can defy the crass and imbecile twasser that has been let loose in charge of my museums, the place I used to love. No wonder they are in such a precarious state. This was picked up by a local correspondent for the Daily Ghost, writer for the museums, who questioned Fleming while on holiday, who did not deny it.
Dicky Felton Flemings personal press officer placed in charge to help him out of the holes he keeps digging himself, has asked personally that this potentially damaging comment be "Buried".
How can we trust a paper that cherry picks its news to suit its advertisers and advertorial-ists, its nearly as shameful that the local press sit on the story.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-want-all-young-black-men-to-feel-shit.html  and do nothing with it. How can we trust these people at the local press who are supposed to report and inform the public.
Picked up by Correspondent at the weekend who rightly says Fleming needs to answer questions.
http://condensedthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/08/fleming-should-explain-himself.html

Heaps Rice Mill-Needs Grade II Listing, Its Going Downhill Fast.

Regeneration, we keep hearing that word bandied about in Liverpool by people who are far from educated in the art of restoring Liverpools Historic past. Or don,t care. While Warren was creating his war zones in Toxteth and elswhere, in the poorer regions of the city such as the Boot Estate in Norris Green http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/08/07/boot-estate-wasteland-that-shames-liverpool-100252-24338104/ along with John Kelly, parts of Liverpool are still in abject decay.  http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/08/john-kelly-liverpools-regeneration.html Heaps Rice Mill is 100 yars from the start of Grosvenor-pool, now thats what we call a tale of two cities. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/02/grosvenor-pool-putting-co-into.html This was part of the Trevor Jones/Windsor Development triangle that saw the demolishing of the Greenbergs building, a handsome Victorian structure operating as a going concern, on the next block. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/08/knock-me-down-with-feather-its-clever.html
Now that clever Trevor has retired to Chester after cashing all his chips in, (it was reported in the New Satesman in the 1980s he has up to 20 interests in properties in this area) and he may have stopped spivving for Windsor developments who had up to six companies of the same name numbered 1-6 and were registered in the same accountants address as Lamb and Sons, in Surrey. Windsor who attempted to share the profits of the old Maritime Buildings owned by Trevor and Doreen Jones of Lamb and Sons http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_method=full%26objectid=15669888%26siteid=50061-name_page.html that was knocked down while a listing application was at the council to list it. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/09/trevor-jone-steps-down-good-riddance.html

What will happen to this building if it does not become a Grade II listed structure? Which backs on to the old Lamb and Sons site.
Part of the Baltic Triangle  http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/10/liverpools-baltic-triangle-to-become.html Will it fall down or as is usual be declared too far neglected that it needs demolition to help it out.
Meanwhile the Scandinavian Church http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-life-features/liverpool-special-features/2008/02/26/threatened-church-is-great-advert-for-city-64375-20523091/ which is next door is at risk too....still.
All this in the Dame of Dereliction her shyness Loiuse Ellman's constituancy.

John Kelly-Liverpool's Regeneration Chief Leaves, But Its 10 Years Too Late.

LIVERPOOL'S head of regeneration will become the latest senior figure to leave the local authority.

John Kelly, executive director of regeneration, was last night in the process of hammering out the terms of his departure.

Mike Burchnall, head of planning, will follow them at the end of this month, and community services executive director Cath Green will leave next month.


Seven other un-named senior managers have also be granted redundancy.
When Mr Kelly's departure is confirmed, education chief Stuart Smith and city solicitor Paul Evans will be the only surviving senior managers since Labour took control of the council in May. Chief executive Colin Hilton announced his retirement just days after the Lib-Dems lost control. Joe Anderson is having a right old clear-out.
Mr Kelly was responsible for the council's number one priority area – growing the city's economy.
He has also overseen planning and development, transport and traffic, tourism, culture, and major regeneration projects. On the council's website, Mr Kelly, a married father-of-one, enthuses about working at the council.


He is quoted saying: "I've got a job which is staggeringly exciting in a great city with some really bright and passionate colleagues. I'm determined to do my best."


This is good news for Liverpool, unfortunatly for Liverpools Historic Environment and its World Heritage Waterfront is 10 years too late. Now can we have Nigel Lee, the Chief Planning Officer, out please.

"I Want All Young Black Men To Feel Shit"- Dr David Fleming.

At a recent symposium about Slavery. Dr David Fleming made this statement.
What a disgusting little man.
He may wish to be controversial but this just shows him for what he is.
A Black Lady from the floor said "I do not wish this for my two sons when they visit a museum"

More to Follow.

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/03/museum-of-liverpool-citadel-of-disaster.html


http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/03/watching-detectives.html


This idiot needs stopping

English Heritage-Its Like The Goon Show In There.

Last night on the BBC was a re-run of a series originally broadcast to show off the work that the English Heretics do, and, to be a showcase for its then Chairman, the Little Lord Fonteroy of a director, their very own Saville Row Bazooka Joe, Dr Simon Thurley.
Instead it exposed the sham facade that is English Heritage to be nothing more than a incompetent bunch of Hooray Henry's sneering down their noses like condescending little balloons. As it where!
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00k89m5/English_Heritage_Romancing_the_Stone/
Here is where they, at the ministry destroy a building
You have to watch it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k7x6c
The Ministry of country walks showing just how dumb they are.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/05/dr-simon-thurley-and-restoration-of.html
Here is what I wrote about it at the time.

Next weeks is even worse. Basil Thurley sets out to build a historic garden as a present for his wife, with our money despite there being no evidence that there was ever one there. Here is the original review.
  http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/05/simon-thurley-chief-english-heretic.html
It seems to be the Heritics make up their own rules.

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/07/english-heritage-dumber-and-dummer.html
While allowing the destruction of Liverpools world heritage site.
 http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/06/english-heretics-report-what-load-of.html
While complaining of how difficult a job they have.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/07/henry-owen-john-same-old-english.html

Now there are secret meetings with Peel Holdings where deals are already being done behind closed doors.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/07/liverpool-waters-english-heritage-hold.html

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/07/joe-anderson-backs-peel-holdings-wirral.html
Where ex English Heretic employees now are ...advisors http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/04/who-polices-heritage-police.html

Phil Redmond's House, Is Featured In Cheshire Life.

No they wont be having many Scouse weddings in this part of leafy Cheshire. In the hamlet of Utkington by Tarporly. While he is organising Camerons "Big Society" and telling us all to volunteer to run the underfunded Liverpool Museums. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/07/are-liverpool-museums-skint-phil.html Phil, whose wife, Alexis has been the trustee responsible for finances at National Museums Liverpool for years needs to take a long hard look at the script he has served up for those scousers that he pretends to be one of.
Phil, Lord of the Manor, Redmond, should be a little less patronising to those good people of Liverpool and stop pretending he lives here in the city when in reality he hires a team of gardners and serfs to mow his lawn, and do all his menials.
Dr Redmonds House has a history of volunteers being at one time the base for a sort of sect called the Moral Re-Armemant Movement.
Not quite a Mosely Blackshirts organisation but well a sort of "Big Society" idea to transform the country.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_Re-Armament
It was apposed by C.S Lewis who was against the group, and said "If you try to suppress 'it' you only make martyrs".
The Oxord group was led by Frank Buchman  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Buchman who once said "I thank Heaven for a man like Adolf Hitler".
Tom Dryberg described Buchman as a soapy racketeer.
Was it Oxford or Eton that Cameron attended? Anyhow big ideas Phil may well and truly be in his own world now.  But he is kidding the people of this city. All Millionares together telling us to tighten our belts.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/03/phil-redmond-professional-scouser.html

Dr David Fleming-Calls For Him To Be Sacked As Director of Liverpool Museums.

Yesterdays letters page in the Echo had a letter from a A. Woods.

It sums up the mess that Liverpool Museums are in and spells out what we and all those who have to endure the NML dictatorship have known for an age. The Director should be sacked.

What a waste

PERHAPS the threatened closure of The National Conservation Centre and the Piermaster’s House (July 27) could have been avoided if so much money hadn’t been wasted on the new Museum of Liverpool?

If the press reports are to be believed, £750,000 was paid for a covenant breach and over £500,000 in an architect’s dispute. These amounts would have gone some way to covering any potential budget shortfall.

Regardless of how these projects are funded, these examples suggest just how cavalier National Museums Liverpool seems to have been with public money.

In most professional bodies the head person would have resigned or been sacked for presiding over such a scandalous waste of funds. Maybe National Museums Liverpool can begin the process of addressing its budget deficit by replacing its director, David Fleming?

A. Woods, Aigburth

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/views/echo-letters/2010/08/02/liverpool-echo-letters-august-2-2010-100252-26976266/2/

Maybe those at the DCMS need to look at pulling in the strings of this argumentative upstart who is a bit too arrogant for his own, no, our good. 

Here is a prediction. All the publicity and funds will now go towards the new museum leaving the old institution of NML, the grand old lady of Liverpool underfunded.

 http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/07/27/liverpool-s-museums-facing-closures-due-to-government-funding-cuts-92534-26936676/

The proposed volunteers don't materialise, or do, but dont have the expertise and slowly we watch as the much loved museums such as Sudley Art Gallery close...............and we go back in time, all because Fleming was not reined in, on time and was let loose with a kings ransom in funds that he argued away.

Picture of Rome MAXXI opened in 2009. (Well they do look exactly the same)

SS. Manxman-Do You Really Care What Happens To It?

One last ditch appeal is happening now-with asbestos stripping well underway the new SOS Manxman Trust is attempting to galvanise a political appeal to Pallions for a stay of execution- to allow the new trust to organise the necessary funding scheme. Support has been given by the Remembrance Line Association of Folkestone who wish to hire the restored Manxman to operated a classic cross channel service during the summer months.

Cant be confident as to how serious all this hot air is. But lets hope something gets done in the nick of time before it is cut up for scrap. 

This is a comment left on an old post http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/12/ss-manxman-lies-rusting-its-disgraceful.html
There was another comment left when I originally wrote it.

Is it over is it scrap? http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/04/ss-manxman-its-over-its-scrap-and-its.html
Does the Shyster still own it? http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/03/ss-manxman-owner-charged-with-fraud.html
The full fact of the matter is do those trustees or do-gooders have the power to make this happen. Do bodies such as Peel Holdings care?  Will it really be saved? You decide, let it rust if you like...........or do something about it.