Monday, 16 May 2011

Liverpool Waters-Heading for a Public Inquiry, Its The Only Way.

THE £5.5bn Liverpool Waters scheme would cause “significant damage” to the city’s World Heritage Site – according to a scathing new report.

Peel Holdings wants to regenerate the city’s northern docklands with a series of skyscrapers claiming it will create more than 25,000 jobs and 14,000 apartments in a £5.5bn development.
But Government advisers English Heritage commissioned an independent report into the project after revealing it had concerns about the scheme.
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/05/16/liverpool-waters-scheme-could-damage-world-heritage-site-new-report-warns-92534-28699451/ David Bartlett who has already won an award for reporting on the arrogant Peel Holdings, and their idea to sell our world heritage site down the river and create Dubai-on-Sea. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/09/peel-holdings-arrogant-bastards.html
It seems now we are heading the only way for a public inquiry...lets hope so.

The Liverpool Daily Post say there is an opportunity for compromise. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/views/liverpool-daily-post/2011/05/16/an-opportunity-to-compromise-92534-28699480/
I question what they would know about heritage with their track record of being led by PR companies on heritage matters such as October Communications, watching while the Pier Head was decimated.
The only way forward is for a public inquiry.
Lets hope this is not just Orchestral manoeuvres in the Dock by Henry Owen-John and he finally does something to regain his awful record on Liverpool's Heritage.  http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2011/03/liverpool-waters-orchestral-manoeuvres.html

The Liverpool Chamber of Commerce has appointed a Senior Executive of Peel Holdings on to its board. Who it is heavily claimed is involved in the Liverpool Waters Scheme.
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/ldpbusiness/business-local/2011/05/03/liverpool-chamber-of-commerce-appoints-top-peel-surveyor-to-board-92534-28622154/
Its current Chairman is N eel Scales...........who got upset because we suggested he was far too close tp Peel Holdings. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2011/05/merseytravel-try-to-gag-us-we-will-not.html Yes Mr Scales, you should feel well and truly rattled..........we are watching you.
The truth often hurts. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2011/02/neil-scales-spiv-for-peel-holdings.html

While all the current crop of carpet-baggers are destroying the place before they bugger off to Spain with their loot...it is us who will remain who have to afford their tacky and corrupted architectural disasters to our world heritage site.
 Lets hope this is a turning point by the local press David seems to have grasped the mettle of this argument.......but it must not be allow our World Heritage Site to be compromised further.......that is the job of the public inquiry.

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Neil Scales and Merseytravel Spend £67,000,000 Of Your Money-Who Sanctioned This?

N eel Scales is shown walking around talking about his new plaything, the vandalised U534 U-Boat and when asked "And How Does this fit into Mersey Ferries"? he declares
"It is a concious decision" he goes on.................
"Investing in all 3 vessels the Pier Head New Ferry Terminal and SpacePort all together cost £67,000,000".
He says "Spaceport half a day, Beatles museum 2 hours and this (U534, cut up ) with the resturaunt attached 2 hours so you have a full day............So the whole purpose of this is to increase patronage of Merseyferries"  
A day out costs us £67,000,000 while care homes are closing on both Mersey sides, somehow it does not seem sensible.

Miserytravel............Out of Control why don't they just concentrate on getting the buses and trains to run on time.
£67,000,000 of your money spent on misaligned strategies that need to be questioned.
£4.2 million to cut up U534......did they own it.........or was it held in trust.
 http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2011/05/why-did-merseytravel-spend-42-million.html
All this wastage when the Manxman is being scuppered,
 http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/08/ss-manxman-do-you-care.html and will soon be scrapped, if it has not been done so already.
 http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/04/ss-manxman-its-over-its-scrap-and-its.html

The Whimbrel fund cant get the cash to bring an intact ship home, to the Battle of the Atlantic Port. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/12/hms-whimbral-what-ever-happened-to.html

£17,000 would have saved the MV Wincham being cut up by morons, who-ever was to blame they should have been scrapped http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/04/wincham-scrapped.html
Where is our sense of history http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/05/mv-wincham-and-museum-director-in.html How much more can we lose with badly thought through ideas from people who I would not let steer a pram never mind a heritage based organisation.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/04/lynch-em-over-whincham.html


The Daniel Adamson Trust would love some money so the hard working volunteers can restore it.
http://www.danieladamson.co.uk/

And down the road, at Ellsmere Boat Museum, the forgotton home of numerous decaying ships, where they cant even raise a whip round for a box of teabags.
Wouldn't it have been common sense to make them a donation of U534 with a million quid to train apprentices..................no thats common sense. Miserytravel and its Director or should I say U-Boat Disector, Out of Control.

Monday, 9 May 2011

Why Did Merseytravel Spend £4.2 million Cutting Up Historic U-Boat, U534?

It is strange what you can find out when you put your mind to it. Miserytravels Board seem to be out of control and unnacountable to the public who pay their wages, but in todays climate the public are entitled to know the fiscal structure of the likes of Miserytravel, so a little bit of delving, that the Daily Ghost should be doing and look what turns up.
U534 before it was butchered into 5 pieces. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-534 

Financial details of U534


Dave Rimmer a committeed citizen made this Freedom of Information request to Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive

The request was successful.

Dave rimmer
Our Ref: 09/0336 Contact: Mrs C Beal

Your Ref: Direct Line: 0151 330 1081
Date: 13 February 2009
Mr Dave Rimmer

Dear Mr Rimmer

With regard to your request under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the financial details of the U534. The total cost of installing and fitting out the U-534 is £4.2m. You also requested the copy invoices, we do have the invoices but unfortunately not electronically and we do have a charge for copying and postage. I would be grateful therefore if you still wish to receive the invoices you could advise me of a postal address and send a cheque for the sum of £11 made out to Merseyside Transport Authority/Executive at the address on this letter.
Yours sincerely

Colette Beal
Freedom of Information Officer

Please note that The Local Transport Act 2008 has amended the name of the Passenger Transport Authority to the Integrated Transport Authority with effect from 9 February 2009. The Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority and the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive still operate together as Merseytravel.

 
 
 27 January 2009
Dear Sir or Madam,
Could I have the financial figures for obtaining, cutting into sections, moving and permanently displaying U534 (copy invoicesplease)

Yours faithfully,
D.J.Rimmer

Beal, Colette
Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive

29 January 2009
Dear Mr Rimmer
Thank you for your e-mail and the request under the freedom ofinformation act regarding Financial details of U534, your request isbeing processed and I shall be in touch with you in due course.
Yours Sincerely
Colette Beal
Freedom of Information Officer
0151 330 1081


Dave rimmer
29 January 2009
Dear Beal, Colette,
Thank you, Colette, for your swift acknowledgement of my request.
Yours sincerely,

Dave Rimmer

Beal, Colette
Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive
13 February 2009



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Rimmer 09 0336.doc 174K Download View as HTML  


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Dear Mr Rimmer
Please find attached my response to your requestYours Sincerely
Colette Beal
Freedom of Information Officer
0151 330 1081
show quoted sections

Dave rimmer
13 February 2009

Dear Colette,
Many thanks for your swift reply.
I will respectfully decline your offer of the invoices.
Many thanks
Yours sincerely,
Dave Rimmer
Link to this
Send follow up

Beal, Colette

Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive
13 February 2009

Dear Mr Rimmer
Thank you and noted
Yours Sincerely

Colette Beal
Freedom of Information Officer
0151 330 1081

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Dave rimmer left an annotation (13 February 2009)


I suspected Merseytravel had spent a large sum of public money on the acquisition, preparation and installation of U534 but couldnt have imagined it would be £4.2 million. I am now even more disgusted at Scales and Dowd for spending £4.2 million of public money on what amounts to be a tourist attraction. Their business is Public Transport NOT tourist attractions. No wonder they flatly refuse to subsidise tunnel tolls for the residents of Wirral.


Mr Rimmer sums it up really £4.2 million of public money when care homes are being closed left right and centre I think it is fair comment to say it is a moronic state of affairs when we the public fund to the tune of £4.2 million.......... Miserytravels Whims.
Why was this not publicised in the local press.

Friday, 6 May 2011

Merseytravel Try To Gag Us. We Will Not Be Moved.

Not a chance, they at Merseytravel really should know better than wasting taxpayers money to take on personal grievences.
 I wrote one of the articles that has caused offence to Merseytravel.
The truth often hurts, especially those with the biggest ego's. but FAIR COMMENT IS ALWAYS JUSTIFIED especially when unelected officials are in charge of so much money.

Merseytravel the company that commissioned the Building Design, (The Architects Weekly), 2009 Carbuncle Cup Winner, (that a collegue of ours nominated). The Terminal Ferry Carbuncle.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/08/liverpool-wins-carbuncle-cup.html

Are they out of control with a public art programme, that give us Ken Dodd with a kebab at Lime Street Station, wasting a fortune building a worthless piece of (s)crap.
Ken Dodd did once say you have to be a comedian to live here. Well I dont think its funny anymore watching uneducated people commissioning public realm that is no more than civic vandalism. (THIS IS FAIR COMMENT) http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/07/liverpool-european-capital-ofbad.html
The company that claims South Parkway as a station with world class destinations when the London trains can't stop there, and anyone getting off the adjacent Liverpool Airport has to get a bus into town and then get on a train that goes right past it because the platform isn't long enough for the trains to stop after it had £30,000,000 spent on it. Since when is Crewe a world class destination.
Where did all the money go. ( THIS IS FAIR COMMENT)
Mike Kiddy(?) the Miserytravel PR, may think he is doing a good job Kidding us, hiding these facts from the public. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2011/02/liverpool-south-parkway-station.html

They cant get away with claiming they had to cut up the U-534 to save space and any idiot that knows Pythagoras's theorem, will understand that if you cut something up it takes more space. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/06/u-534-cut-up-into-five-pieces-by-neil.html
But they cant kid us Mr Kiddy.
Without even delving into the Trams fiasco, oh alright then just a bit,  Miserytravel have wasted 70 million pounds of public funds and are still getting away with it http://www.liverpoolcultureblog.co.uk/2009/07/merseytram-off-the-rails-for-good/
Why were they promoting a line to Kirkby? Is it to help Liverpools Visions boss Sir Terry Leahy and at the time, and his Tesco empire expansion? Are they kidding us? Was it to make friends and influence people so their head honchos can move in circles that benefit them.
We are now about to delve into all these questions.
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Steve.ALPHA-DBBB2EDC2/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/DVOII2BG/Light%2520Rail%2520Conf%252013-10-05[1].ppt#423,1,Light

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/01/17/70m-bill-for-failed-merseytram-project-64375-20359744/ David Bartlett reported January 2008 WEAK management and decision-making led to huge sums of public money being committed to the failed Merseytram project, a damning report concludes today.

Miserytravel incompetent clowns IT LOOKS LIKE FAIR COMMENT TO ME.
I dont think they at Miserytravel are in fact aware of what will ensue.


Are October Communications, now Aurora Media employed by Merseytravel?
A message to you all at Miserytravel...........You are not gagging any of us of FAIR COMMENT.
In fact quite the opposite we a the LPT will be making some further FOI act requests to you at Miserytravel and we believe they will show results that may be even more revealing than what we have already written.
REALLY YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GAG US. You are accountable.
Charles.

The actual letters from Louise Outram Miserytravels Head of Legal Services.


Mike Storey-The Boomtown Rat is Dumped-Good Riddance.

The only thing is its ten years too late to get rid of the caniving(in my opinion)little monkey. He who sold out our world heritage site. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/09/city-has-been-run-by-spivs-and-gamblers.html
My Opinion is he was A spiv for any developer who wanted to throw any old shoebox up. Good Riddance. http://blogs.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/dalestreetblues/2011/05/liverpool-council-election-201.html Today he and othe Liberal Democrats get dumped.

Now Storey will not be able to sit on the planning committee.
Just what was his relationship with Bill Le Breton of the then October Communications, now Aurora Media? One high profile and openly gay Liberal councillor said "how can we trust someone who dosnt even tell his wife the truth about his own sexuality" 
This is the end of the sadest era of Liverpools architectural past and its destruction of its once great architectural legacy that was blighted by  shower of Fib-Dem Cowboys who were in with every dodgy developer this side of Chester. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/09/trevor-jone-steps-down-good-riddance.html They all did more damage to Liverpools Heritage than the Luftwaffe.

http://liverpoolsubculture.blogspot.com/





But will the new Crew be any Better Here is Joe Anderson with Peel Holdings


Tuesday, 3 May 2011

Mann Island-Radio 4 Take An Interest For Its Beyond Westminster Programme

I was asked for an opinion to the Mann Island Disgrace for Radio 4's Beyond Westminster which was aired Saturday Last. Its worth a listen http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b010r7by/ on the BBC i-player.. Mann Island is about 12 minutes into the intelligent programme about planning and the new localism bill.
Steve Parry makes a weak defence for his atrocious development that political strings, by the likes of, The Dame of Disaster, Doreen Jones who played the casting vote, were well and truly pulled.

Beyond Westminster - The Perils of Planning
John Kampfner examines what the coalition's new proposals for planning decisions mean for 'localism'.


This week's Beyond Westminster looks at one of the most controversial elements of local politics: planning. Planning decisions for new developments are usually fraught and most people agree there needs to be change.

In the latest budget, the Chancellor, George Osborne announced he wants to see a 'presumption in favour of a yes to sustainable development in future planning decisions'. At the same time, the government has introduced a localism bill which will empower local communities to have more say in planning decisions. Can the two approaches work together?

John Kampfner visit the Copmanthorpe Wind Action Group, battling against wind turbines and Paul Vickers reports from Merseyside where a controversial new development, the Mann Island project has polarised opinion.

Producer: Paul Vickers.


Further BBC reports for Radio Merseyside
http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/content/articles/2006/03/14/capcult_regen_mann_island_feature.shtml

Sunday, 1 May 2011

The Welsh Streets -SAVE Britains Heritage Give Thier View

From Will Palin at SAVE

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2011/04/save-us-from-save-britains-heritage.html
Hi Wayne,

Wayne, disappointing that you've swallowed the LCC spin on the Welsh Streets - I thought you'd be more perceptive. You've played straight into the hands of a council which has perfected the divide and rule tactic. In the Welsh Streets the council has either trampled on residents or used them as pawns in their political games by promising smart new homes - which elsewhere have not materialised - and blaming those wanting to stay for the delays.As Salford Star says, Pathfinder is a 'rip off process'. On average, home owners lose £35k equity when rehoused. And that's quite apart from the affects of being uprooted from home and seeing your community
broken up and dispersed.
We are not 'slowing down' the process. LCC has had 10 years to come up with revelopment plans for the Welsh Streets but has produced nothing. All we are slowing down is the demolition of 400 decent, repairable houses and the grassing over of the site. Look at dozens of other cleared sites in the Toxteth area. Where is the new housing? Could it be that the developers are no longer interested - even though they'll be getting the land for next to nothing? Surely not?And we are not 'buying up houses to have them CPO'd' we are buying a house which we intend to refurbish in an attempt to demonstrate how, with modest outlay, some life and dignity can be restored to a shamefully neglected street which 6 years ago people wanted to live in. We hope this will draw national attention to the scandal of the Welsh Streets and eventually lead to the retention and renovation of all the surviving housing stock.Perhaps you should be asking on your blog why 'a city besieged by massive public sector cuts' has been paying a consultant £182k a year for to advise on the Welsh Streets - http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/02/18/consultant-paid-more-than-182k-for-liverpool-s-welsh-streets-work-92534-28191659/  Or why the heads of its HMR-colluding Housing Associations are (all?) paid in excess of £150k. They should be your targets, not us.Or perhaps you're too concerned with the 'glamorous' cases in the World Heritage Site and that you don't care the peripheries of the city. We are not playing games, Wayne, we are deadly serious.

As for your comments on Edge Lane. Yes, why bother objecting to the CPO of your life-long home - after all you'll just be slowing down a pointless 1960s-style road widening scheme and jeopardising the chance of a developer profiting from your misery?

William Palin

Secretary

SAVE Britain’s Heritage

70 Cowcross Street

London EC1M 6EJ

Tel: 020 7253 3500
Fax: 020 7253 3400

http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/