Cruise from Liverpool

It would really be nice to support my city, no-one wanted the regeneration of Liverpool more than I but the way those in power in the city have and are behaving makes me embarrassed to be a Liverpudlian. Nowhere is it more evident than,in what Southampton Echo has called cruise wars. Yes Liverpool are behaving like thieving scousers, its hard to admit it, only its not the populace, its the polititions making a show of us with their tactics. Only this time they have run into big burly sailor type, a seaport with a history for no-nonsense. And look what happens when they start 'frigging in the rigging' with Southamptons sailors and their cruise trade. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/10/cruise-wars-scouse-wedding-on-sea.html   So its always interesting to get the other side of the story which the Oldham Hall Street brigade wont do, so imbedded are they with Peel Holdings and their plans, instead they try to sell the idea to an unwitting public http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/03/19/liverpool-city-council-in-cruise-terminal-swap-deal-plan-with-peel-92534-26065120/ and we get Peeled.  
http://condensedthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/03/peels-press-gang-plan.html


So here is a Southampton take.
By Gareth Lewis » http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/business/shipping/shippingnews/5077150._Port_wars__resume/

A REPEAT of the bad-tempered port wars between Southampton and Liverpool looks to be back on the cards after the northern city revived controversial plans to use taxpayer-funded facilities to muscle in on the lucrative cruise business.
“It stinks,” says port director Doug Morrison after learning Liverpool still hoped to use its Pier Head landing stage, which was built with £21m of public funds, despite the idea being rejected by the Government in December last year.
The plan to use the Pier Head terminal on the iconic Mersey waterfront as a start and finish base for liners, known as turnaround cruises, is seen as a threat to Southampton’s core cruise business as the largest base for such trips in northern Europe.
It’s galling for Southampton docks owner ABP, which has invested £41m of private money in its cruise facilities in the past five years.
The Department for Transport (DfT) decided against relaxing its rules on publicly funded competition to allow a full turnaround facility at Liverpool’s Cruise Terminal on the grounds that it would have an “unfair and adverse effect” on the market.
Now officials from the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, owned by developer Peel, are again in discussions with the city council to transfer cruises from its existing turnaround facility, a tatty dock in Bootle, to Pier Head.
Now, however, Peel says the move would just be temporary, while it presses ahead with ambitious plans to build its own cruise terminal as part of the £5.5billion skyscraper Liverpool Water scheme. That scheme, the largest urban regeneration project in the UK, is likely to take years, with a planning application not due to be submitted until later this year.

In a bid to appease concerned rivals they say the number of turnaround cruises would remain the same, but ABP is unimpressed arguing if they wanted better facilities “they should have invested in them years ago”.
Mr Morrison said: “It’s nonsense. It’s the same proposal again only described as temporary.
“They are determined but ultimately if they want to use the publicly-funded terminal then let them pay back the £21m and they can start using it.
“I think this is a threat to all the other cruise ports, to the Tyne, Holyhead, Harwich and Dover and it’s a threat to Southampton. It’s a distortion of the marketplace.
“We will be lobbying for them to use the existing facility. They should have invested in their facilities years ago.”

Southampton Cabinet member for economic development Councillor Royston Smith said: “Whatever way they try to do it it’s still wrong. If you’re using public subsidy on a commercial basis it’s just wrong.

“I am surprised and disappointed. You can’t keep asking the question again and again until you get the answer you want.” Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead said: “The key point is whether Liverpool is still using public money to compete with Southampton’s port. This move certainly appears to be against the spirit of the Government’s ruling and I will be speaking urgently with ABP and the Government to ensure Southampton in no way loses out because of it.”

Oh and this is what Peel Holdings do with our heritage..let it rot while Oldham Hall street tell us how wonderful they are.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/01/liverpool-waters-developer-peel-unveils.html
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-have-peel-holdings-ever-done-for.html

New World Square at the Pier Head……Kyboshed.

Dead and buried in the water that’s the only way to describe it. This was a very bad scheme.
Described as part of Peel Holdings Liverpool Waters shame........what chance for them when this carbuncle next to the Liver Buildings cant get off the board.


I received a planning application on these plans on the 24th December…..Xmas Eve. Those who are a law unto themselves at the planning department had decided to knock this one under the table and bury it to oblivion during the worst weather conditions for decades. I put in an official complaint over this strategy, and after this official complaint was received everything changed, it seemed they have been found out.

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/01/liverpools-pier-head-another-carbuncle.html   The credit crunch has come too late for the bulk world heritage site but its one carbuncle, less, which is better than a kick up the behind. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/01/27/landmark-liverpool-waterfront-development-in-jeopardy-after-developers-fail-to-get-finance-92534-25693570/
Councillor Nick Small now comes out of his closet and claims he is a campaigner against this…. what a despicable character, he has watched the world heritage site be destroyed and now he says the residents are against this. Stinky Ink Bartlett at the Liverpool Daily Ghost (dead man walking, will someone put it out of our misery writes Last night, campaigners against the scheme said they were pleased by the news the project was now facing an uphill struggle to get planning permission.
Cllr Nick Small, who represents the city’s central ward, said: “I don’t think the proposal stacks up in the current economic climate, and there is a question mark over whether it would get planning permission with the new World Heritage Site planning blueprint in place.
“Residents were unanimously opposed to this.
“I am pleased it has been withdrawn and I am confident if they re-submit they are going to have their work cut out to get planning permission.
“There will be a massive amount of opposition from residents and heritage campaigners.”

He forgets to mention there were only two objectors to the original plans myself and Florence Gersten. http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_headline=cries-of--sacrilege--as-first-five-star-hotel-is-approved%26method=full%26objectid=18254253%26siteid=50061-name_page.html

The developers now say the application is going to cost £100,000 surely the planners don’t charge this much. They said the company had been hoping to take advantage of a change in rules that could have seen it cost as little as £500 to resubmit the application.
But, due to a delay, it meant the company was facing the costs of essentially submitting a new application, which would cost more than £100,000 in fees.
Given the downturn in the property market, Mr Chowdri said the company had decided to “tweak” the scheme before submitting the plans.
He could not say when new plans would be submitted or when work would start.
This is all rubbish of course and I am awaiting the outcome of the official complaint from Colin “Cover Up” Hilton. Who is on £200,000 plus a year and has let the world heritage site be destroyed before his very eyes. He said the company had been hoping to take advantage of a change in rules that could have seen it cost as little as £500 to resubmit the application.
But, due to a delay, it meant the company was facing the costs of essentially submitting a new application, which would cost more than £100,000 in fees.
Given the downturn in the property market, Mr Chowdri said the company had decided to “tweak” the scheme before submitting the plans.
He could not say when new plans would be submitted or when work would start.


http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17159104%26method=full%26siteid=50061%26headline=five-star-vision-of-city-s-top-notch-dockside-hotel-name_page.html

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_headline=opening-to-all-a-bird-s-eye-city-view%26method=full%26objectid=18086130%26page=1%26siteid=50061-name_page.html

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17112292%26method=full%26siteid=50061-name_page.html

Museum of Liverpool-Radio 4 Take an Interest.

I recorded an  interview for Radio 4 that was broadcast last Friday on the You and Yours programme.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/ I met with Winifred Robinson to give her our views about the New Museum slap bang in the World Heritage Site. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/listenagain/friday_previous.shtml She gave a fair account of the contentious idea to slap bang us with world heritage decimation.She brings the current museum director David "Fuzzy Felt" Fleming to account. Winifred is from Liverpool and at one time asks about Liverpool turning into a theme park. The programme was well thought out and thought provoking asking why we actually need a museum which in my opinion is Flemings Folly. Fleming talks about it being unique. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/11/museum-of-liverpool-sad-rip-off-of.html   She did not go into the surrounding world heritage decimation with the Three Grotesques on the Mann Island part of the world heritage site or the Carbuncle Cup winner the new Terminal Ferry Carbuncle http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/08/liverpool-wins-carbuncle-cup.html   but well done Winifred.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/03/museum-of-liverpool-flemings-folly.html

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/03/ptolemy-dean-talks-about-liverpools.html

Flemings Folly-Liverpools New Museum, One Disaster after Another.

Now Fuzzy Felt Fleming with Professional Scouser Dr Phil Redmond in tow is to make swinging cuts to the loyal staff at NML. .http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/03/phil-redmond-professional-scouser.html  That is those who have not already been made redundant, and there are many. As NML has already culled off a lot of staff, or made it too difficult for a lot of those loyal staff to comprimise their principles so they have have left. Alexis Redmond, Phil’s wife does the finances…badly…at NML, and it is now for sure that Flemings Folly the new museum that they are trying to sell us, has drained the resourses to such an extent that the staff are now to bear the brunt of the cuts. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/03/museum-of-liverpool-trustees-have.html

I received an anonymous letter from a member of staff at NML stating that the staff will no longer be able to wear badges with their names on, so much for the art of communication.
It goes on to finish.” Just another week in the mad/maddening world of NML as administered by David Fleming.
Flem blames the government for these cuts stating the institution was like thousands of publicly funded organisations facing cut backs.

He said NML was braced for bad news, but that he would not allow budget cuts to stop the institution from running the best museums in the country.
The opening the new Museum of Liverpool at Mann Island will be one of NML’s key priorities when making decisions on spending, the briefing note states.
As a general principle, there will be a recruitment freeze, although managers will be able to lobby the executive team if they feel a post is crucial.
“Managers will need to consider whether the post could be covered on reduced hours,” the note states.
“Like almost every public sector organisation facing these uncertainties, we will need to work with the unions to look at the feasibility of voluntary redundancy and early retirement policy.”
There will also be opportunities for staff to request part time, flexible working, a career break or unpaid sabbatical.
“We anticipate that following the next General Election, in common with all publicly funded organisations, we will face a difficult time,” the note states. “There are indications that we should expect a significant cut to our budgets during the period 2010 to 2014.
“We need to prepare ourselves for cutbacks and put measures in place to manage expenditure and at the same time deliver our strategic objectives.”
It states that NML is determined to continue growing its audience growth.
Last night, Dr Fleming said: “We are one of thousands of publicly-funded organisations nationwide likely to face cuts to our budgets.
“It is very difficult to predict what may happen when the next round of grants is announced, but clearly the public sector can expect bad news.
“It would very naive of National Museums Liverpool to assume that our grant will remain at the same level.
“That’s why it makes sense for us to prepare for challenging times ahead.
“We want to safeguard jobs as far as we are able, and we want to enable as many people as possible to continue to enjoy the marvellous cultural and educational opportunities offered by our museums.”
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/02/museum-of-liverpool-are-trustees-out-of.html
What a disgrace he fails to mention that they have just paid £750,000 of the museums money to a property developer next to the new museum………how very convenient and how unloyal to those staff who he has not already upset http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/03/watching-detectives.html  During this interview he said: "Why is it that most curators and museum staff are completely dysfunctional in normal society?
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/views/liverpool-columnists/mr-brocklebank/2009/01/27/mr-brocklebank-inspired-leadership-64375-22789200/

Just who does he think he is how can you upset the staff like this.
So the new dawn of a new museum is destroying the institution that was.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/03/manchester-docks-obliterated.html

Some recent PR disasters by his Feltness.
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/dailynews/3xn_boss_slams_meddling_museum_of_liverpool.html
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/dailynews/3xn_and_the_museum_of_liverpool_part_company.html
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/dailynews/3xns_museum_of_liverpool_is_revived.htm
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/03/03/new-pier-head-museum-will-offer-great-views-of-mersey-64375-20549233/
http://www.apollo-magazine.com/news-and-comment/architecture/502421/looking-after-liverpool.thtml

Redmond said in the local press yesterday.
“The new Museum of Liverpool is not a ‘Museum of Scouseology’, but the only new national and international one outside a capital city.
“The 2.8m visitors to NML in 2008 had an economic impact of £120m.
“While 45% of our visitors are from Merseyside, that means 55% are not.
“In terms of visitor spend, they are more valuable, especially as 10% of those are international.
“To me, that’s a really good and interesting profile.”
NML is practically the elephant in the city region tourism enclosure, so big and long-term is its presence.
It spreads down William Brown Street with the Walker Gallery and World Museum, along the waterfront with the Mersey Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum and new Museum of Liverpool and into Wirral with the Lady Lever Gallery.
He reckons there is even room for one more between the new Museum and the Albert Dock.
“We have national museums in Liverpool and national museums outside Liverpool,” said Prof Redmond.
“We do not celebrate that enough. The new museum encapsulates how this particular city played such a crucially interesting role in the modern world.
“We have more to tell than just celebrating the Grand National or the Kop.
“Going back to the first dock in 1707, we revolutionised sea trade and it’s about explaining this strange place we came to occupy in the world.
“The decision to build the museum in that waterfront position reflects that history.
“We went for a memorable shape, which was the brave and right thing to do.
“This is called the ‘Bilbao effect’ as that Spanish city, which is very similar to Liverpool, was the first to revive itself with an iconic new museum.
“My other focus as chairman is to make sure the International Slavery Museum is not only about social justice, but about he fact that slavery still exists.”
When completed in 2011, the waterfront museums’ “cultural offer” will be equivalent to London’s South Kensington museum range, he believes.
“The waterfront museums are linked to the adjacent hotels, Arena and Convention Centre,” said Prof Redmond.
“We’ve got to work together to sell the brand, as we’re a cold-water, northern city.
“We have to market ourselves in a different way.
“People who come to see the football generally aren’t going to visit the museums.
“But those who visit Aintree might do. It’s what I call ‘dwell time’.
“If you come to shop, arrive four hours earlier and do something else.
“By being smart, we convert £30-spend-a-head visitors into £45 ones.”

So how come he told me in front of Tristram Hunt that it should have been built in Birkenhead?
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/03/26/jelly-mould-exhibition-at-sudley-house-mossley-hill-92534-26113145/

Today Sudley House part of NML opens a exhibition of jelly moulds………it just sums it all up really our once proud institution is now dumbed down to Hollyoaks culture.

The Liver Bird-A Corruption of its Former Shadow.

Corrupted, by the power they possess The Liverpool Daily Ghost and the Oldham Echo just keeps churning out PR trash for Liverpool’s property developers.

This is a picture one of their snappers took, of the world heritage decimation that has unfolded under the very eyes of the blind leading the blind at the Trinity “Smoking” Mirrors Group local headquarters in Oldham Hall Street. You may think its just me thinking outloud but always worth a read is a real Correspondent who cant be bought, he tells it as it is. http://condensedthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/03/showing-true-picture.html
The headline that accompanies this picture is as obscene as the notion itself
Everything changes but you……the Liver Birds still stand proud on an ever changing skyline. Mark Thomas again, I am cringing, No Mark should be ashamed of himself proclaiming that as a paper they are proud to see the changing skyline, but its alright you can still see the Liver Birds, the symbol of our city.... if you go down to the Maritime Museum where they got rid of all the Herculaneum Pottery http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/10/maritime-dining-rooms-maritime-disaster.html lean out of a window squint your eyes with a pair of binoculours and find a gap through the Three Grotesques.
It is no wonder they got away with it with educated idiots who have sold their soul and the cities soul for an advertorial selling us down our own river. http://condensedthoughts.blogspot.com/ 

But hey! now we have the Liver Guy, Peel Holdings new symbol and yes with the help of No Mark they will turn the symbol of our city the Liver Bird into a Gooney Bird and tell us its all alright its progress.

Museum of Liverpool-Flemings Folly

I have just done a brief interview with Winifred Robinson for You and Yours Radio 4 to be broadcast on Friday morning about the New Museum-Flemings Folly. Phil Redmond as Chairman of Liverpool Museums was also to do an interview http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/03/phil-redmond-professional-scouser.html  but cancalled it so its Fleming standing in. Lets guess what he will say in a broad gay sounding Yorkshire accent "Well all those years ago when they built the Catholic Cathedral they hated it and now its a piece of Liverpools heritage".  Thats what he always says.
The Cathedral too ran out of money and they had to go cap in hand like the new carbuncle, it was unaffectionatly chtistened Paddy's Wigwam by Arthur Dooley. So what name is going to stick with Flemings Folly......squoshed ciggy packet, the sun lounger.....The Trashy Tart next to our three ageing edwardian beauties, the Three Graces is indeed a carbuncle. The New Terminal Ferry Building http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/08/liverpool-wins-carbuncle-cup.html was built to resemble it and that won the BD Carbuncle cup award for 2009. He will try to sell it on the basis that it gives views out of the giant Rome MAXXI rip off http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/11/museum-of-liverpool-sad-rip-off-of.html TV Screen..........but in creating the views it has destroyed the World Heritage Site. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/11/loyd-grossman-lectures-us-on-heritage.html No wonder Loyd Grossman buggered off. Oh but we will love it one day he has said well you are wrong Fuzz its an anachronism. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/03/museum-of-liverpool-trustees-have.html  

Ptolemy Dean Talks About Liverpools World Heritage Destruction.

I wrote up a Channel 5 programme in which Ptolemy Dean the respected architect and historian talks of the then soon to be disapearing views of the Three Graces. I will let Ptolemy explain.
Wayne Colquhoun