THE Liverpool community that refused to let in the bulldozers has been rewarded with a scheme to bring life back to a once-doomed street.
Houses in Cairns Street, Toxteth were boarded up like hundreds more in the Granby area, awaiting their fate.
People power triumphed and saved the streets from being turned into rubble.
Now 10 boarded up houses in Cairns Street are to be refurbished, with the keys handed over to the Granby 4 Streets Community Land Trust.
The trust is determined to see the area rise again, with the 10 houses due to be ready for occupation next summer. Five will be put up for sale, the rest offered for rent.
Carole Foulder, a founder member of the trust, and one of the few remaining residents of Cairns Street, was given the keys by Cllr Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for housing.
The trust is a key player in the Granby Four Streets project which includes Liverpool City Council; Liverpool Mutual Homes; Plus Dane Group; the Northern Alliance Housing Co-op and social investor Steinbeck Studio, all working together to refurbish properties on Cairns Street, Beaconsfield Road, Ducie Street and Jermyn Street.
Carole Foulder, left, a founder member of the trust, and one of the few remaining residents of Cairns Street, is given the keys by Cllr Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for housing
“Even though many of the houses here in the four streets are empty we have never given up hope that things would improve.
“We have been revitalising the area for a number of years with a monthly street market that attracts people from all over Liverpool; we also planted up derelict sites and spaces turning them into green and cared for social spaces designed to revive the community’s spirit in preparation for when work could start.
“Receiving the keys is a real boost and exciting times are head especially with all the other work going on in the neighbouring streets.”
Cllr O’Byrne said: “I’m really proud of the people here in Granby. They have been determined to show that this area can be restored as a pleasant and vibrant place to live and what they are achieving is nothing short of remarkable.
“I am delighted that I have been able to hand the keys over and I look forward to watching the properties being restored over the coming months. We are with them every step of the way.”
