Two Faced Liverpool Museums-Will Alsop Declares.

And Mike Storey has Twelve. The disgraced ex council leader has a face for everyone...when it suits him, or his mentors Trevor and Doreen Jones who passed all the plans for the three black coffins at Mann Island.
Moving on from my questions to Will Alsop. It is clear the Development Cabal have taken another hit here. Showing up the "cosy" relationship between the North Vested Interest Development Agency and Neptune Developments.
But we must not forget that Storey was on the NWDA committee, he was also the Council leader. He was also on the board of Liverpool Vision and was a trustee of Liverpool museums.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/06/wayne-colquhoun-asks-will-alsop.html


Today David Bartlett take the time to tell the news where it is.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news//tm_headline=architect-will-alsop-criticises-liverpool-s-8216-mediocre-8217-waterfront-buildings%26method=full%26objectid=26753889%26siteid=100252-name_page.html

THE ARCHITECT behind the failed Fourth Grace scheme has launched a withering attack on the buildings that are being built in its place on Liverpool’s waterfront.


Will Alsop, whose company designed the Cloud, said the buildings the city has “ended up with ... lie in the general malaise of architectural mediocrity that we find so popular with the current architectural press”.
He added: “In the end, this is all history but I do believe that Liverpool deserves much better than it got, whether it was my building or not.”
Three glazed black blocks in the Mann Island development and the new Museum of Liverpool are currently nearing completion at the city’s Pier Head where the Cloud would have been built.
Mr Alsop also hit out at the National Museums Liverpool (NML) for the organisation’s role in the collapse of the Fourth Grace, saying it had its own agenda.
He also claimed the North West Development Agency (NWDA) had pulled the plug on the project to meet a shortfall in funds for the ECHO Arena and BT Convention Centre.
The architect also claimed the city council had used its planning department as a “stalling device.”
His comments, during an online architectural webchat, have resurrected the row that erupted after his Cloud building was sensationally scrapped in July 2004.
The decision to abandon the project was made after it emerged that projected costs had risen by almost £100m.
Last night the council, the NWDA, and Neptune Developments who are building the three blocks rejected Mr Alsop’s claims. NML declined to comment.
Steven Broomhead, NWDA chief executive, said it was untrue that the scheme had been stopped because of a funding shortfall on the arena and convention project.
He said: “The public sector partners involved in the Fourth Grace – Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Vision, National Museums Liverpool and the NWDA – jointly concluded that the project had become unviable due to increasing costs and fundamental changes from the original scheme.
“The estimated cost had risen from £228m to £324m and there was a massive increase in the residential element of the project, which focused on ‘form’ not sustainable functions.
“All this was likely to have resulted in the scheme being called in, causing lengthy delays in making progress on the site.”
He said the partners had been determined to deliver a “world-class” scheme, adding: “The new Museum of Liverpool, extension to the canal link and complementary mixed-use development will deliver a major iconic visitor destination, as well as delivering significant economic benefits to Liverpool, Merseyside and the entire region.”

Steve Parry, chief executive of Neptune Developments, said Mann Island is a development of “exceptional quality” and had won many plaudits from the Commission for the Built Environment (CABE), English Heritage, and commentators like Stephen Bayley.
He said: “The appeal of the development to investment institutions, and commercial and residential occupiers is undoubtedly connected to the originality of a design.
“Will Alsop is renowned for his colourful and highly individual opinions.
“I think Will should actually come up and see the buildings before judging them.
“As he knows only too well, two dimensional images rarely do justice to visionary architecture.”
A council spokesman said its planning department had raised legitimate concerns regarding the Cloud’s design.
He said: “This was not a stalling device nor was it the reason the project did not happen.
“That was because Šthe estimated cost of the scheme spiralled to nearly £100m more than the original figure and that the scheme’s character changed fundamentally from what was originally envisaged.
“This included a proposed massive increase in the residential element of the scheme – doubling the original number of apartments to 700, and 200 apartments in the Canning Dock.”

The Cabal defend English Heritage...well http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/05/sir-neil-cossons.html who was also a trustee of Liverpool Museums. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/04/who-polices-heritage-police.html
And CABE http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/06/cabe-who-funds-them.html

Bryan Gray the Chairman of the NWDA was also a trustee of NML.

They are All Shysters together as far as I am concerned, they who destroyed Manchester Docks http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/03/manchester-docks-obliterated.html and who is Stephen Bayley anyhow to comment on a city he left decades ago.

LIVER-PEEL The Conflicts of Interest Begin

I recently met with a researcher from the BBC who were to do a programme about the stranglehold on the region by Peel Holdings.
http://www.peel.co.uk/ Wiki article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peel_Group
PEEL boss Robert Hough has now been named as the new chairman of the NWDA. Mr Hough’s appointment is the culmination of a career working for one of the region’s biggest companies, which owns Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and the Trafford Centre. http://www.nwda.co.uk/who-we-are/the-board/robert-hough.aspx
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2009/07/10/peel-boss-robert-hough-is-new-head-of-north-west-development-agency-92534-24119567/

Now the serious conflicts of interest begin. And the jockey-ing for position enters another chapter. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2009/06/26/peel-holdings-to-sponsor-liverpool-s-presence-at-shanghai-world-expo-2010-92534-23985642/ Peel are sponsoring the Shanghai World Expo 2010. The NWDA has already pledged £1.25m for the Shanghai showcase, and Liverpool Council is also contributing £300,000.
Steven Broomhead, chief executive NWDA, said: “Peel’s involvement demonstrates that this is a truly regional opportunity, supported by Liverpool’s positioning at the Expo as the Gateway to the North West.
Cllr Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The impact of Liverpool’s presence at World Expo 2010 will be felt beyond the city region, and Peel’s involvement clearly demonstrates the value this event will deliver to the whole of the North West.http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2007/07/27/300million-tower-planned-for-liverpool-64375-19528805/
IS THIS ALL BEING STITCHED TOGETHER BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO KNOW ABOUT IT. Will we the public be Shanghai-ed. What about the Eldonians their village is right on the edge of the next Dubai.
The NWDA is set up to assist the region in regeneration and as such they have unlimited powers in the marketplace to buy land assign land, just look what they did at the Pier Head funding the world heritage decimation,which was our cities best asset.

Bryan Gray the outgoing Chairman was a trustee of NML. Council leaders have been on the committee, I am sure if I am not mistaken that Louise Ellman was on the committee at one time as was Mike Storey. http://www.nwda.co.uk/who-we-are/the-board/robert-hough.aspx
So for Peel who own all the Liverpool docks and are proposing a massive development there, along with another on the Wirral in and around the world heritage site that looks like Dubai on speed. http://liverpoolwaters.co.uk/ This is a very convenient appointment for Peel.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/search?q=nwda NWDA Posts
The Daily Post put a really strange spin on it all glossing it over as if the editor is ignoring the fact that there is a conflict of interest saying that the NWDA is fighting for its future if a Tory Government get in, (Que) which is only deflecting the argument, WHY WOULD YOU CREATE A HYPOTHETICAL? Although it did mention a possible conflict of interests. Interviewing Hough they quoted. He said there would be no problem managing any conflict of interests.
“There are strict protocols dealing with conflict of interests, either non-participation [in discussions] or withdrawal [from meetings]. It’s something that is not peculiar to me.
“It’s something I am aware of and abide by meticulously – I don’t think it’s an issue.”
He is also a non-executive director of a number of other companies, including Provident Financial plc and Styles & Wood Group PLC.
SO THAT'S ALRIGHT THEN.
At the recent fact finding mission to Shanghai that Mark Thomas was present at he twittered. http://www.ldpeditor.merseyblogs.co.uk/2009/05/tweeting_from_shanghai.html. (Not sure who funded his trip as the Daily Post are usually a bit tight). I hope the DP are being objective about this whole situation and not getting PEELED and are not getting caught up with all THE PROMISES. They do have a duty to inform the public in a proper and correct manner and not let the vested interests steamroll through what they want. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/06/dlib-in-skip.html

Louise Ellman MP, Why Wont You Answer Expenses Queries?.

I thought the days of arrogant politicians pulling the wool over our eyes in the current wake of the allegations to what the Thieving Bar-Stewards MPs have been up to it would bring about a new transparency.
The need for the public right to know whether their MP or a Peer has been bunged or not has never been questioned before, they appeared above that.
In my opinion, It is not just about expense claims it is about the side plate that goes with the Sunday feast.

I wrote to Louise Ellman on the 15th May and requested detailing of where her expenses could be found.
She then published a sample which included a claim of 64p for a Biro (you wouldn't would you) and details that, we the public, have paid for her toaster and a load of other stuff as part of the Westminster gravy train. It was later revealed that she claimed for a set of leatherette chairs.
http://condensedthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/05/ellmans-expenses.html
She has refused to answer all my requests for further information she even had the arrogant cheek to ask me where I lived to see if I was entitled to ask her questions. Madam this is why we are in this mess you MPs think we are plebeians, and we pay your wages.
I have lived in her constituency but on the matter of principle I advised her that operating a business for 13 years in her kingdom is enough for me and not to be so impertinent.
I knew she would be pedantic so I then decided to write to Gordon Brown and as yet I have not had a reply from him but yesterday I received a e-mail from the "Dame of Dereliction" Ms Ellman saying basically, stuff you, if you want to know about my details, its a FOI request.
This is tactics in my opinion, as that would take months. I replied.



Madam
I consider you are being rather pedantic and may I say arrogant to consider you do not have to explain questions raised in relation to your expenses to those who live and work in your constituency.
I consider I have made a reasonable request.
While most of my requested information may or may not be available elsewhere it is, in my opinion not for you to choose what you declare, as that was not part of my request for information which was clear and concise.
With this sort of attitude I consider that my course of action to contact the Prime Minister direct was the correct one.
I am sure his office will be contacting you shortly.
I would also advise you that it looks as if you are being deliberately difficult especially with the refusal to answer questions to those who you think may not live within your Riverside constituency.
I will give you a further opportunity to supply me with the requested information within the allocated time.

Wayne Colquhoun

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/search?q=Louise+Ellman

It seems to me that whenever there is a problem with Liverpool's Heritage it is generally in her kingdom which includes the WHS.
If I recall she was on the Board of Liverpool Vision who muted the ideas that destroyed the WHS and if I am not mistaken I recall she was on the committee of the NWDA who funded the museum and the black granite monsters the "Three Grotesques" along with all the other ill thought out plans that was to be Liverpool's Renaissance, y'know we had architecture to rival Paladio and they give us Puff Daddio.
When I recently attended a meeting in St James Church where she was present I noted it was organised by Livserve Ltd. Bryan Gray is the Chairman of the NWDA he was also a trustee of NML as was Mike "Jackanory" Storey. Both Gray and Ellman were directors of LivServe and as such they want to dig up 3,000 bodies and develop the land.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/search?q=st+James+Church
It seems we have been fighting for years, so much of her inability to identify problems....or is it.

These are my questions raised and it is now with the Prime Minister, I am not even saying she has done anything wrong I just want to know as I pay my taxes and rates and she represents my area.
My original request to which she has refused to answer is;

1. Details of where I can find, or a copy of your expenses for the past 5 years with details of any directorships you have whether paid or unpaid.
2.I also would ask you for any details of any payments in kind made to you or by you in the same period.
3.Any payments made to any members of your family.
4. A total of your income for that period.
5. Your Register of Interests for the same period.

Sir Neil Cossons.How did he get away with this.

Sir Neil Cossons-English Heretic. 

When the Liverpool Council planners under the Chief planning officer Nigel Lee secretly slipped in the plans for the then proposed museum in Liverpool’s world heritage site on 20th December 05, I could not believe it, I should have been shopping for socks for my Uncle Billy, I did not even know of the proposals despite being very involved in planning matters for some time and specifically World Heritage. Armed with a report from Icomos UK and my own speech. I SHOT OVER TO THE TOWN HALL TO BE THE LONE OBJECTOR. No one knew about this even though the Ombudsman later cleared them because a one-inch advert appeared in the Merseymart or somewhere that conveniently nobody knew of. http://councillors.liverpool.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=307&MId=4716&Ver=4

IT WAS STITCHED UP WELL AND TRULY BEFORE-HAND. David Irving as Chair standing in for Lady Doyenne Jones nodded it through.

 I got the list of letters sent out by the council one was addressed "the Statue Pier Head" another "The Car Park" Mann Island another to a shop next to mine that did not exist and my shop did not receive one. How strange. 

I thought that Peter de Figueiredo http://www.defigueiredo.co.uk/index.html who was English Heretics historic building advisor at the time has something to answer about so I wrote to the Heretics under the Freedom of Information act requesting all the documents to show how a reasonable decision could have been made with our world heritage site without public consultation. Something the toothless UNESCO would later confirm was undemocratic. 

Then by chance I stumbled across a strange bit of information that the then Chairman of English Heritage Sir Neil Cossons was working for Liverpool Museums…along with ex top knob at the Heretics bureau, Loyd Grossman who was then the chairman of NML…along with the then leader of the city council the now disgraced Mike Storey (who conveniently didn’t tell anyone, in fact it appeared to be a secret)…and the Chairman of the North West Development Agency, Bryan Gray who was to fund the museum by the sale of the land to build 3 huge blocks on the Mann Island site that they owned. They were in the plans but with transparent pen. http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=controversy-as-building-plans-set-to-go-ahead%26method=full%26objectid=17867193%26page=2%26siteid=50061-name_page.html Copy thereof 149. Declaration of Interest The Chairman invited Trustees present to indicate whether they had any conflicting or prejudicial interests within the items of business set out below. Not specific to any agenda items Mr Grossman advised that he may have conflicts of interest arising from his Deputy Chairmanship of the Liverpool Culture Company. Mr Gray advised that he may have conflicts arising from his Chairmanship of the North West Development Agency. Sir Neil Cossons advised the he may have conflicts of interest arising from his Chairmanship of English Heritage. Councillor Storey advised that he may have conflicts of interest arising from his role as Leader of Liverpool City Council. RESOLVED that the Board accepts that none of these possible interests give rise to undue conflict or could prejudice the proper transaction of the business of this meeting and the Trustees concerned should not therefore be expected to withdraw from the discussions. 150. Decisions of Trustees Permission to accept offer of £32,700,000 from the North West Development Agency RESOLVED that the Trustees accept offer of £32,700,000 from the North West Development Agency The list of conflicts of interest was immense one of NMLs trustees had even had a job done by 3XN the architects the strange occurrence that not a soul in Liverpool had heard of until the plans for the WHS had been approved. Despite the Conflicts of Interest, lets move on, and ignore them, they then decided. http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/about/trusteesDotNet/meetings.aspx?tid=47 http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17112292%26method=full%26siteid=50061-name_page.html How can you have a then Chairman of English Heritage working for the very perpetrators of WHS disaster. It should not have been allowed? What the English Heritage series show is that if its convenient, it’s a stitch up right from the top down. Thurley denied there was any conflict of interests after I wrote to him. Well he would, wouldn't he. Current trustees http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/about/trustees/index.aspx 

  I hope this man who makes a fortune writing and talking about heritage can sleep at night.

Update 30.9.2021

Liverpool has now been stripped of its World Heritage Site Status.