SEFTON Park’s historic Meadowlands is set to be sold on the recommendation of Mayor Joe Anderson as part of a £10m sell-off by the city council.
The Meadowlands, close to Aigburth Vale, has survived at least two previous sell-off bids to make way for housing developments.
But a report to the council cabinet on Friday says the land will help the Mayor’s mission to provide high-banded executive homes in the city.
'Anderson is copying everything that the Militants tried to do by destroying the very green essence of the character of the city' - Mike Storey
The proposal is certain to spark fury among environmentalists and protectors of Liverpool’s parklands and green spaces.
In the 1970s a housing co-op had it sights on the Meadowlands, surrounded by mature yew trees, to replace terraces homes in Dingle. It was one of the first campaigns to be fought by the then newly elected Liberal councillor Mike Storey, backed by David Alton, then a city councillor.
Swings and roundabouts: What Sefton Park is all about
In the 1990s another bid was made to sell the Meadowlands. In 1998 Mike Storey, by then leader of the Lib Dem group, came to power and vowed there would be no sell-off of Liverpool’s parklands and open spaces.
But in the report to the cabinet, the Meadowlands is described as “incidental open space in Park Avenue”, with a recommendation that it is declared “surplus to council requirements”.
The “incidental open space” spans 2.62 hectares and is not classified by English Heritage as part of Sefton Park.
If, as a report to cabinet members suggests, it is offered on the open market it would attract considerable developer interest. It should also realise a significant capital receipt which would support delivery of the city’s investment priorities.
Marketing of similar south Liverpool sites at King David Primary School and New Heys Comprehensive will realise capital receipts in excess of £10.0m, providing quality 4/5 bed housing and increase the number of higher council tax banded properties in the city.
Objections
The council considers the marketing of the land at Park Avenue will offer the same financial benefits.
If the cabinet, consisting entirely of Labour councillors, backs the Mayor’s recommendation, the city solicitor will have to advertise the loss of open space and “in the event of any objections report them (the objections) to the cabinet ‘for consideration”.
The regeneration director, Nick Kavanagh, will, subject to any objections being resolved, be authorised to dispose of the Meadowlands on the open market, with the millions raised ring-fenced to support delivery of investment priorities in the city.
An April 23 deadline for any objections will be set.
Mike Storey, now Lord Storey of Childwall, told Liverpool Confidential: "It's back to the future. Anderson is copying everything that the Militants tried to do by destroying the very green essence of the character of the city.
"We are back to the days of selling off our green and open spaces to the highest bidder. The only people who will benefit will be the property developers.
"Sadly, there is no one to oppose him. He has an iron grip on the city, and anyone who stands up against him is ridiculed and threatened.
"Hopefully, the local residents and the people of Liverpool will stand up against him to protect our open and green spaces – the very lungs of our city."
Maintaining the description of the Meadowlands as "incidental open space" a report to councillors says it is opposite Sefton Park and accounts for just 1.58pc of open space in the surrounding area.
The report adds the disposal and development of the site will remove any maintenance and management risks for the council associated with retaining public open space.
The proposal, put forward by regeneration executive member Malcolm Kennedy and Regeneration chief Nick Kavanagh, outline the reasons for the sell-off in a report to the cabinet.
They say the "incidental open space" would provide high quality housing (in support of the city’s emerging Housing Strategy) and generate a significant capital receipt to assist delivery of the Council’s investment priorities.
Their report adds: “The financial constraints which the council will continue to have to operate under will require the authority to maximise the effectiveness of its asset base in order to generate savings and realise capital receipts to support its investment programme across the city.”
Losing the plot
In 1999, environmental campaigners seized control of a tiny strip of land, adjacent to Princes Park and less than a mile away from Meadowlands.
'Liverpool can ill afford to lose any more
parkland and trees' - Fritz Spiegl, 1999
They claimed that dozens of species of birds, animals, plants and trees were endangered by a planned development of flats on Park Nook, Ullet Road; land which had been owned by builder Peter Webb's family since the 1960s, but which had been left overgrown for decades.
Park Nook Today
Within days of contractors' hoardings going up, the protesters had torn them down to use as barricades at the plot on the edge of Princes Park.
Overnight, the protest became a cause célèbre with activists living in the trees and enlisting high profile supporters to the fight. One resident, the late writer and broadcaster Fritz Spiegl, said: "Liverpool can ill afford to lose any more parkland and trees".
In a rare legal move, campaigners applied for the site to be declared a "town green" under the Commons Registration Act - "land on which for not less than 20 years a significant number of local inhabitants have indulged in lawful sports or pastimes". Landowners were barred from developing TVGs even if planning permission had been granted.
However, new TGV legislation was announced last autumn as part of the Government's Growth Bill to "end abuse" and "boost aspiration".
The Park Nook row went to a public inquiry in 2001. Backed by city planners, it ruled in favour of Mr Webb, who, exhausted by the two-year wrangle, sold the land on to another developer.
AS
