Grant Shapps urges Liverpool city council to scrap plans to demolish birthplace of Beatles drummer
The terrace house where the former Beatle Ringo Starr was born could be saved from demolition after the intervention of a government minister.
The house at 9 Madryn Street, in the Dingle area of Liverpool, was due to be bulldozed as part of a multimillion-pound regeneration scheme. But Grant Shapps, the housing minister, has asked Liverpool city council to postpone the demolition of the house where the Beatles drummer was born in 1940, to allow more time for alternative plans to be considered.
"Any regeneration project will generate strong feelings," said Shapps. "But when what many people consider to be a culturally important building, such as the birthplace of the drummer in the world's most famous band, is at risk then feelings are going to be even stronger. That is why, before a single bulldozer rumbles along Madryn Street, I want to ensure every option has been considered. In particular, I want local community groups to have the opportunity to put forward viable proposals to preserve this historic house."
The minister's intervention follows a campaign by a group of Beatles fans. If the council ignores Shapps's request, his department has the power to step in to halt the project.
English Heritage has rejected a request for the property to be given listed status. Officials said it did not deserve a preservation order as it lacked "historic or architectural importance".
Some 445 pre-1919 terrace houses in Dingle's Welsh Streets neighbourhood will be replaced as part of the scheme. Starr, 70, lived at Madryn Street for the first few years of his life. A nearby home, 10 Admiral Grove, where he lived for 20 years, will remain standing.
The decision to demolish houses on Madryn Street was made in August but Liverpool's planning committee will meet this month to finalise the details. Liverpool city council says the ageing properties are "beyond economic repair", adding that local residents are desperate for better housing.
A spokesman said: "Grant Shapps may not be aware of the fact that we have consulted extensively with local residents over these plans and the overwhelming majority are in favour of them. Residents have been fully involved in developing the proposals and have shown they want decent homes to replace houses which have long passed their lifespan.
"They are telling us that they are absolutely sick of the delays and the conditions they have to live in. They want the city council to demolish these properties as soon as possible so that they can get on with their lives.
"It is vital for local people that this scheme goes ahead. We have not been helped by the massive cuts, but we are determined to get on with this work to improve the lives of local residents."
The childhood homes of John Lennon ? Mendips, in Menlove Avenue ? and Sir Paul McCartney ? in Forthlin Road ? are popular tourist attractions run by the National Trust. George Harrison's Arnold Grove childhood home remains a private house.
Last month a zebra crossing on Abbey Road in north London was given Grade II-listed status, even though it was moved in the 1970s, years after the band were photographed there for the cover of their Abbey Road album.
No comments:
Post a Comment