CITY officials will this week begin sifting through comments and objections over controversial plans to develop Sefton Park Meadows for housing as well as part of Woolton Woods for a replacement building for St Julie’s.
The deadline for the public's input on both schemes passed on Friday.
When the original Sefton Park was planned, with its grand mansions and villas, Liverpool was an entirely different place. The people who made their wealth out of Liverpool were happy to inhabit buildings of grandeur in a spectacular setting.
One-by-one they left and few of the homes in the park are these days in single occupancy. The beneficiaries of this leaving of Liverpool were places like Heswall, Hightown, Freshfield and Cheshire.
One of the justifications for building on the Meadows is to attract wealthy executives back into Sefton Park.
The proposal is a housing estate of executive homes that will be occupied not by captains of commerce but well heeled yuppies.
Redrow must be rubbing its corporate hands with glee at being offered, on a plate, such a handsome piece of real estate.
Last week the company banged in an application to demolish the former Watergate School in Woolton village, a pre-curser to yet another housing development. Villagers will be wondering whether Redrow has set its sights on the expected release of land for residential development alongside St Julie’s.
Woolton, unlike Sefton Park, is likely to be a much better settlement for executive types, judging by the numbers eager to occupy homes on Woolton Hill.
Gateacre
Redrow’s new executive estate in Mather Avenue is a taster of what to more or less expect. They are no doubt built to a high standard. But when it comes to the Meadows, is it worth sacrificing a stunning piece of rural England within a city?
There’s a new plan submitted by Macbryde Homes to build a small development of executive homes on the site of the recently closed-down Gateacre Garden Centre.
Just a few days ago the Garston-born owner of Redrow, Steve Morgan, delivered the company’s half-year report to the end of 2014. Revenue of £560m generated in the second half of the year was 54% up on the same period in 2013. Operating profit in those six months almost doubled to £95.4m over the latter half of 2013.
'Alt Meadows'
Some cynics may have preferred Incidental Open Space in Croxteth or even Alternative Meadows.
The council say the name was chosen after the local community was asked to put forward ideas about what to call the new green space. More than 50 names were suggested by schoolchildren, residents and community organisations. Alt Meadows was chosen by an overwhelming majority.
The park has been created on a brownfield site which has been transformed by extensive civil engineering work, the diversion of almost 1km of the River Alt, the creation of accessible paths, meadow, wetland and woodland habitat.
Liverpool based charity, The Cass Foundation, have led the project in partnership with the Community Forest Trust.
Mayor Anderson, said: “I saw the work start on this park after the River Alt had been diverted and met the local residents and schoolchildren who were thrilled about what was being created. They will be the park users so it is only right that they should choose its name – and they have made a very good choice.
“It is a great example of how we are converting disused sites and giving access to green space through all parts of the city. Alt Meadows is a really attractive new green space which will benefit local people and visitors.”
Helen Rawlinson, The Cass Foundation, Project Manager said, “Over 2000 trees, nearly 4,000 shrubs and 2,100 wetland plants have been planted by volunteers and the contractor. Sixty miles have been covered during our regular Walk and Talks. Twenty conservation volunteering and tree planting days have been held and the project has received support from 300 volunteers. Birds have been surveyed, mosaics have been created and 1400 people have attended our events and activities. The community involvement has been fantastic.”
Alt Meadows will be officially opened by the Mayor on Sunday 29 March, 12.30pm -3.30pm, when the event will include fun, family -friendly, activities including seed sowing, environmental art and crafts. All are welcome.to attend.
