Topic: Lime street / mount pleasant Development

[gazzam1963]

Unveiled today and I think certainly needed especially lime street . Glad to see the two are deco cinema fronts included . Shame for any visitor , comes off train at lime street , comes down the open plan steps now which look  great .

Looks to the right and sees magnificent St georges hall , then even the big advertising screen is impressive , but go left and lime street is a disgrace and embarrassment . Hopefully these plans will come to fruition and I'd love to see the adelphi get a proper five star makeover .

Parts of the city look fantastic now day and night , Liverpool has a lot to offer in the tourist industry and certainly could become a manhattan lite

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/city-leaders-predicting-bright-future-7129536

[Red Beret]

I strongly object to demolitions along Lime Street/Renshaw Street.  I've heard several people claim that the council aims to do away with the Futurist as a precursor to demolished pretty much the whole side of that street.

On the flip side, a new car park and replacing the 051 is a sound idea.  We need to hold onto as many older buildings as possible and where newer structures have aged badly it's time to move on.

[CornerFlag]

Hope the Futurist is reprieved, it really looks like it could be something special with a little (Read: a lot) of TLC.

[gazzam1963]

I strongly object to demolitions along Lime Street/Renshaw Street.  I've heard several people claim that the council aims to do away with the Futurist as a precursor to demolished pretty much the whole side of that street.

On the flip side, a new car park and replacing the 051 is a sound idea.  We need to hold onto as many older buildings as possible and where newer structures have aged badly it's time to move on.

Agree about lime street. Well certainly the a delphi side in between the crown and the big house pubs , the other side is a bit 60/70s except for the abc on the corner . But some of the designs look good for mount pleasant . Certainly the area in the centre that needs regeneration

[Redman0151]

The 051 club has only just been done up and rebranded, and last time I went it was pretty packed, surely they wouldn't be willing to sell up?

[brownie 09]

Think a lot of it just looks to generic the designs could be any street in england. Should be in keeping with the area any design. The crown has just been done up to and looks good.

[PeterJM]

I saw the plans yesterday and thought it would be a good idea to pedestrianise Lime st between the big house and ABC cinema.I've always looked at the Adelphi and wondered why a big hotel chain doesnt own it and turn it into an amazing 5 star hotel that wouldn't be out of place on Park Lane in London.

[Red Beret]

Agree about lime street. Well certainly the a delphi side in between the crown and the big house pubs , the other side is a bit 60/70s except for the abc on the corner . But some of the designs look good for mount pleasant . Certainly the area in the centre that needs regeneration

Indeed.  Regeneration, not demolition.

[Roady]

I saw the plans yesterday and thought it would be a good idea to pedestrianise Lime st between the big house and ABC cinema.I've always looked at the Adelphi and wondered why a big hotel chain doesnt own it and turn it into an amazing 5 star hotel that wouldn't be out of place on Park Lane in London.

yep it is a shame.The Adelphi is no more than a bog standard B and B right now.the room,s are horrific if im honest.A hotel like that should be 5 star luxury.

[redbyrdz]

I strongly object to demolitions along Lime Street/Renshaw Street.  I've heard several people claim that the council aims to do away with the Futurist as a precursor to demolished pretty much the whole side of that street.

They've boarded the bottom bit of the Futurist up and cleared all the little trees that grew out of the windowsills last week - surely that's more in preparation for refurbishment than demolition?

[CornerFlag]

They've boarded the bottom bit of the Futurist up and cleared all the little trees that grew out of the windowsills last week - surely that's more in preparation for refurbishment than demolition?

Maybe they're just keeping the facade?

[CornerFlag]

Missed this, apparently the Futurist is somewhat doomed.  From two months ago:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-mayor-joe-anderson-adelphi-6872001

"The Mayor also signals the end for the derelict Futurist Cinema building, saying it would be too expensive to save due to its extremely poor condition."

Though I did find this from a week later:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/campaigners-call-urgent-meeting-mayor-6879990

"Campaigners fighting to save a derelict cinema have called for an urgent meeting with the Mayor of Liverpool  - after he claimed the building would be too expensive to save.

Mayor Joe Anderson told the ECHO earlier this week that the historic Futurist cinema on Lime Street would not be part of a regeneration masterplan for the area.

Futurist campaign leader Lesley Mullally launched the ‘Save the Futurist’ campaign in September 2012.

She raised more than 1600 signatures on a petition to save the façade and enlisted the support of the mayor, who promised he would do everything he could to retain the unique frontage.

She said: "We’ve had an amazing response from Liverpool people, especially creative businesses, who have given their time for free to come up with alternatives to demolition.

"We’ve had incredible contributions from architects, artists, urban designers, engineers and digital media firms who believe the front of this building can still be saved – and must be saved!"

She said she has written to Mayor Anderson calling for an urgent meeting with the building's owners Neptune.

The cinema has been empty since it closed in 1982.

Now campaigners have enlisted the help of local planning and digital media specialists to come up with an alternative vision for the building.

Jonathan Brown, who runs urban design and planning consultancy Share the City, said: “Stylish historic architecture like the Futurist helps Liverpool stand out from the crowd - caring about it asserts the city as smart, successful and confident of our place in the world.”

Spencer Kelly, a senior lecturer in architectural technology at LJMU, said:“The Futurist cinema’s distinctive façade expresses the spirit of the age. It adds character to Lime Street, one of the true ‘Great Streets’ that brings together Liverpool’s greatest architectural, cultural and infrastructural assets.

"With more transparency from developers and constructive engagement with the creative community we can ensure the Futurist isn’t lost forever.”

The old Futurist picture house on Lime street, LiverpoolThe old Futurist picture house on Lime street, Liverpool 
Liverpool artist Paul Rooney has used the theatre as a location.

He said: "The statement from the Mayor about wanting to knock the Futurist building down is absolutely shocking.

"Yes the restoration of the facade will cost money, but it seems that there has been little attempt to actively find private sector or other funding to cover this."

Lesley said she remained optimistic about the future of the building.

She said: "We’re confident that if Joe Anderson and Neptune Developments will meet with us, they will want to keep the front of this magical old movie theatre at the heart of their new vision for Lime Street.

"The Futurist has the potential to be one of the most beautiful façades on Lime Street, and we believe restoring it compliments rather than conflicts with Joe’s regeneration plans."

For more information about the campaign go to www.thefuturistcinema.wordpress.com

So there's hope.  I'd love to see it completely rebuilt, Liverpool's original purpose-built cinema.  Once it's gone it's gone.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/Y2_JRTwP4J0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/Y2_JRTwP4J0</a>

Also, sign this: http://www.change.org/petitions/save-the-facade-of-the-former-futurist-cinema-building-lime-street-liverpool

[Red Beret]

They've boarded the bottom bit of the Futurist up and cleared all the little trees that grew out of the windowsills last week - surely that's more in preparation for refurbishment than demolition?

And Illiad decimated the facade of a building on Stanley street a week before it was due to be assessed for listing, as "preparatory works for demolition".  That was in a protected zone of the city but Illiad wanted to build a boutique hotel and this middle building had different floor levels to the buildings either side of it....

[gazzam1963]

Permission being sought for this 35 million pound development , but the futurist won't be incorporated or saved
Just looks a bit like London road around the tj Hughes area to me , very uninspiring and yet even more student accomodation . Though I can agree with the reasoning for building for students here giving the JMU
Plans for copperas hill and it's proximity to the unis , if the facade of exchange station was saved I'm sure the futurist facade could have been .

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-lime-street-35m-plans-8791052

[thekitkatshuffler]

Exactly the kind of hideous, bland, immediately dated shite that I'd expect from this council.  Certainly not in keeping with the existing architecture.

[Red Beret]

Just.  Fuck, no.  Just fuck off with that.  Sick of this shit.  Totally demoralising.   

[Elzar]

Looks awful!

[PeterJM]

Totally bland and soulless.Is this really what we deserve?

Any objectors just get shouted down as proven by the echo comments under that article.

[Shazz]

Just.  Fuck, no.  Just fuck off with that.  Sick of this shit.  Totally demoralising.   

Totally agree, so annoyed!

[gazzam1963]

Awful aren't they , joe Anderson bleating on about how it's the gateway to the city for rail visitors , so it should have been or should be a flagship high end development , id rather it was turned into a gardens similar to st johns gardens than what's on show

[Spongebob Redpants]

Wow !

If you tried to think up a worse design you'd really struggle .

[OOS]

More student accommodation.   

[Pistolero]

absolutely fuckin horrendous.....we are the city that never learns from its mistakes

[macca888]

Permission being sought for this 35 million pound development , but the futurist won't be incorporated or saved
Just looks a bit like London road around the tj Hughes area to me , very uninspiring and yet even more student accomodation . Though I can agree with the reasoning for building for students here giving the JMU
Plans for copperas hill and it's proximity to the unis , if the facade of exchange station was saved I'm sure the futurist facade could have been .

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-lime-street-35m-plans-8791052

What in the holy fucking hell is that monstrosity??  Fat fucking c*nt of a mayor, ruining the gaff yet again. What a legacy he's leaving our kids and grandkids eh, a fucking Lego City.

Everything Is Awesome!




<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/E4Kx-jqDgRo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/E4Kx-jqDgRo</a>

[Haemoglobin]

Never normally get involved in this stuff on this part of the boards, but that is some astonishing fucking dogshit. That walk out of Lime Street is what the majority of new visitors first see of Town; if it's gona be regenerated, it's gotta be something really special, surely? What in the name of utter fuck is that?

With the Futurist smashed to rubble just for that kind of trash and all, scandalous. Actually makes me feel a bit sick in my stomach - way too much of this crap has happened to the city already. Those buildings with such soul and history are lost forever, only then existing in memeoies and photos and archive film, and characterless ugly nonsense appear to be popping up everywhere in their place. This council want shooting

[Rome-77]

the city as come on brilliantly over the last 20 years,
but this location needs something amazing, its the first thing visitors see,

get your email sent off to the city council,           

[gazzam1963]

Proposals here for the abc on lime street , no planning application yet but seemingly a bit more thought has gone into this than on the opposite side , same developer too . Remember the furore ove the heaps mills proposals which proposed demolition , that was changed over angry complaints hopefully the monstrosity
Proposed on the other side off the abc will go the same way

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/exclusive-9m-regeneration-plan-see-8793115


Edit

Maybe a bit of hope

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-mayor-joe-anderson-admits-8795230

[redbyrdz]

Permission being sought for this 35 million pound development , but the futurist won't be incorporated or saved
Just looks a bit like London road around the tj Hughes area to me , very uninspiring and yet even more student accomodation . Though I can agree with the reasoning for building for students here giving the JMU
Plans for copperas hill and it's proximity to the unis , if the facade of exchange station was saved I'm sure the futurist facade could have been .

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-lime-street-35m-plans-8791052

Fucking hell, what is wrong with these people.

Two simple things would help:
1. New developments can't be higher than existing buildings.
2. Similar cladding materials as on existing buildings have to be used

... but obviously keeping unique buildings like the futurist should be at the top of the agenda.

And I know the universities are growing, but how much student accommodation can you possibly need?

[Red Beret]

Sent to the Echo today:

I am writing to register my anger and disgust at the proposed "redevelopment" of Lime Street, ie - the demolition of yet more of Liverpool's irreplaceable heritage and the construction of yet more students' accommodation.

Considering how our civic leaders love to wax lyrical about Liverpool's architectural heritage and boast about the number of listed buildings in the city, the powers that be seem happy enough to allow such assets to be destroyed when the prospect of a quick buck is to be made.

When you consider the site is barely a stone's throw from two of the biggest acts of cultural vandalism the city has experienced in the past 50 years - St John's Market and Clayton Square - you would think SOMEBODY somewhere would have thought demolishing some of the oldest remaining buildings left on Lime Street - including the façade of The Futurist - and replacing then with a out-of-scale Lego brick might not be a great idea!!

I have nothing against high quality accommodation for students, but really, when are we going to see affordable, quality housing for the people who actually live their whole lives in the city and aren't just passing through?  I've seen plenty of new "houses" being built that are the size of matchboxes, whilst beautiful three story houses are bordered up.

None of this makes any sense.  Have we learned NOTHING from decades of shooting ourselves in the foot!?

[Pistolero]

Good article on this abomination over at Seven Streets....


http://www.sevenstreets.com/csi-lime-street/

[Red Beret]

Beautiful; diverse; character in every building. 

I've been inside where students live and yes, the accommodation is not top notch and it is very much a warren, with staircases and split levels.  THAT'S what the new development comes down to: conformity, simplicity.  Retaining the Futurist and even a handful of the other buildings' façades means a much more complicated new building, architecturally speaking.  (For "complicated" see "expensive").

Retaining the the façades gives you the options to create open spaces at the back: atriums; mini parks as has been said.  But no, they just want to squeeze as many students, sardine style, into the footprint as possible.  People who pay no income tax (or council tax for that matter?).  It makes all kinds of the wrong type of sense.

[CornerFlag]

I genuinely hate what they're planning to do.  Liverpool is a unique city in its heritage and inch by inch it's being lost in the name of 'progress'.  No nods to the past, no recognition of what lay there before (and if you think that stub of the Futurist is anything, you must be fucking joking) just wanton destruction of what makes your fair city great (I'm over the water).

When I head to uni this is my main route, even though it adds on a minute.  I'll make the time to walk past on the World's Apart side, usually stopping for a second or two to just look at what's there, and what might not be there tomorrow.  Buildings that have stood for over a hundred years, bringing Liverpool its first dedicated cinema, shops that have been emphasised by the removal of the shitty shops and the crappy tower block that was there.  And torn down for that shit?  It's bullshit.  Absolute bullshit, it gets me really wound up.

Progression?  More like regression.  The character of Lime Street will be lost.  Here's the thing, they're saying that Lime Street is a gateway to the city.  Fine, but so was Central Station and that was fucked over, why should this be the same?  Demolition for the sake of demolition is not progress, it's vandalism of a city on a grand scale.

And Nick Small can go get fucked as well, fucking toolbag.

[Red Beret]

You fancy getting even more pissed off, go check the comments on those Echo links.  Some douche called John Bradley taking potshots at anybody criticising the proposals, demanding evidence for developers' interests in the site and basically moaning like a fucking blueshite at all the "gullible" people who think the area should be preserved.  Reminds me of how I have to deal with asshats over the Royal Iris.  I think he must be on Neptune's payroll.

Given that this latest proposal is essentially a cack handed rehash of the one put forward last year, it seems somebody is patient enough to wait out the protestors.  They will just continue to release their variations of a stunted theme every year - as the area slowly degenerates - until people simply tire of complaining, all resistance is ground down, and there's no viable preservation options remaining.

Progress eh?

Progression?  More like regression.  The character of Lime Street will be lost.  Here's the thing, they're saying that Lime Street is a gateway to the city.  Fine, but so was Central Station and that was fucked over, why should this be the same?  Demolition for the sake of demolition is not progress, it's vandalism of a city on a grand scale.

You would think, given the concrete bullshit on the opposite side of the street, and with Clayton Square and St John's in plain view, that we would be past making these sorts of mistakes.

Given Uncle Joe's response about how the concept needs to be "re-thought", I'm guessing this was an exercise in testing the water, but so far they still can't sucker people into accepting the plans.

[The Gulleysucker]

....Some douche called ....

I suspect he's the one and the same named character stirring it in the comments section here.

[Red Beret]

Yeah.  He is pretty much the only person supporting the development, or certainly the most vocal one.  Next time he replies to me I will challenge him on what he thinks the design looks like....

[Pistolero]

I suspect he's the one and the same named character stirring it in the comments section here.

It is the same John Bradley - he haunts Liverpool Confidential...all over every thread as a mouthpiece for Anderson and his shithouse cronies..defends everything fatboy does from the Cruise terminal debacle to the stealing of the land at Sefton Park Meadows ..had a few run-ins with him...he's a ringpiece of the highest order

[Red Beret]

Yeah, he basically said the businesses could just "relocate", which had me damned near spitting my coffee out.  Like where??  When the knocked down the shops in front of Lime Street station the only business that relocated was Barbara Daley - all the others closed!

He keeps making claims, then side stepping the - he said several properties on the Futurist side were derelict, so when I asked him which ones he says the ABC!  He then says Scripts Menswear, which I point out is NOT derelict but rather an empty shop unit and likely having tenants living above it.  He then replies "I don't care about the people living above, what matters is the shop is empty".

He really is tool.  Both of my most recent reponses appear to have been deleted - he probably wants to show himself as having the final word so reported them.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

When the knocked down the shops in front of Lime Street station the only business that relocated was Barbara Daley - all the others closed!

The bookshop moved to the bottom of London Road, it didn't close AFAIK. And we all know that getting rid of that concourse and shite tower block that the spider climbed was a good idea, it looks a lot better now.

Of course, I agree with all your other points regarding the Futurist, it should totally be saved even if it is just the facade, just wanted to stick my oar in and be pedantic, sorry

[Red Beret]

Ah, good, I've found our conversations, my comments were not deleted:

Save the FUTURIST

The street could be made better if the existing buildings would be refurbished/restored, for example, the petition is going around to save The FUTURIST facade. https://www.change.org/p/save-...

    John Bradley

    Is there a fund to go with this for people to donate money to pay for this and keep an income when there are no tenants.

        Paul

        Lime Street is full of tenants. The businesses are viable and students live in the buildings above. I know 'cause I've been in there. It's only the Futurist that is 100% derelict.

            John Bradley

            But that isn't going to pay for it redevelopment is it. It isn't full there are several closed sites rainging from the ABC a couple of restaurants, Scripts menswear, the building next to the futurist.  So either you haven't been there recently or you weren't pay attention.

                Paul

                Ah John, but we're not talking about developing the ABC side of the street - which is slated for redevelopment and those who support saving the Futurist support those plans wholeheartedly.

                You say "several" of the premises are closed, but are very vague other than Scripts menswear. Can you please list the other closed properties on the Futurist side of the street, other than the Futurist itself? And it is quite likely - after my being inside - that the building above Scripts has residential tenants so I think it is you who isn't paying attention.

                We're talking about the side of the street that's about to be squashed by a giant Lego brick. Tell me, do you personally approve of the design? Do you believe that it is possible, through protesting, to force a design chance more sympathetic to its surroundings? Or will you just take any old building as long as it's new?

                In any case, I'm calling you out as a troll, or at the very least somebody who is blindly supporting anything Joe Anderson and his developer cohorts come up with. Such as your comments re Sefton Park meadows here:

                http://www.liverpoolconfidenti...

                You are clearly only interested in undermining the prospects of sympathetic regeneration and accusing anybody not towing the line of wanting to no nothing, without offering up any constructive ideas of your own. You are, in short, a broken record and everybody is tired of listening to you.

                    John Bradley

                    You may be but that just shows the limit of your ambition and imagination.  I don't care whether or not it has tenants, the shop front is derelict and that is really the point her, it drags the place down.  You begining to show just how small you vision is, plaster here, plaster there.
                    That an easy solution anyone who doesn't agree with your view is a troll. Your clearly up for keeping Liverpool in the pit it is in and just reject everything anyone else wants to do. Your 100% predictable, you will reject everything because you can't take responsibility for change.

                    You blindly oppose everything put forward but seem to fail to understand that your 100% controlled by Joe, whatever he say you say the opposite. Same sheeple different Shepard.
                    The last line gives you away, you think you speak for "everyone", you haven't got the guts to stay things on behalf of yourself.
                    If the choose is between the development and what is there now the choice is the development. It clear you choose nothing and keep on choosing nothing and claim there is Jam tomorrow, without even knowing what a jar is.
                    You are the 100% predictable, you do nothing but whine.

                        Paul

                        Ahhh no, y'see John, you can't demand explanations and evidence of other people and then stamp your feet and say "I don't care about this and that" when somebody counter challenges your point of view and asks YOU to stump up some evidence in return.

                        Again and again you insist that we want to do nothing, when we clearly do - we simply want the developers to make an effort and not throw us something shoddy and lazy. And again and again you evade my questions about the area and resort to mud flinging and stamping your feet in a huff, which clearly proves you're trolling. But I don't mind indulging you; it's not like anybody here hasn't already realised it.

                        So again I ask: the Futurist is derelict and Scripts is not currently occupied as a business, although it has tenants above. Name the other so-called derelict buildings on that side of the street? Prove to me your knowledge of the area as you say I've not been paying attention. I can do this ALL day John.

                        You are worse than a troll - you're passionless. You accuse people like us of being blind but the truth is you are just describing yourself. You will blindly accept any development that is put forward if there is a promised financial return from people whose job it is to convince you of that. I bet you think the old Liverpool Corporation had the right idea bulldozing the Overhead Railway, St John's and Clayton Square and the Old Seaman's Home in the name of "progress". Look how well they turned out eh?

                        What you continue to wilfully ignore is that everybody opposed to this scheme is speaking from a position of EXPERIENCE. We have seen civic leaders - regardless of who is in charge - pull this kind of crap time and time again and it ALWAYS ends in tears, where we lose priceless heritage and end up saddled with some faceless monstrosity of a building.

                        Admit it: you wouldn't care if the entire city looked like a bland, concrete jungle, like something out of a cold war movie, if it were turning a profit. That is the kind of senseless attitude that has destroyed hundreds of quality buildings in the city.

                        You are offering no evidence to back up your position or your claims. You are 100% laughable, you do nothing but heckle without offering any constructive ideas of your own.

You know it makes sense

Surely the main priority here is to clear up the mess that is Lime Street. I would hate to see that put in jeopardy because of the protests of a few do-gooders

    Scouse Power

    No that isn't the priority.

    The Priority is do it they way it should be done. Not any old crap.

        John Bradley

        Your priority is to do nothing.

            Paul

            No, our priority is not to see the remains of the cultural heart of the city torn out for the sake of a few quid. You on the Neptune's payroll, John? Have you even seen Lime Street latey? Take the Futurist out and it's still a busy and diverse street full of people and businesses so don't try to confuse the issue.

            The real issue here is that it is cheaper and easier for them to just knock down the entire street and build a sardine can rather than put some effort into incorporating the existing street plan into their designs. You are aware that none of the business owners on Lime Street have even been consulted over these plans?

                John Bradley

                Are you on Manchester's pay roll? You haven't been looking at Lime Street. It is a taty mess nothing like it was in even the 80s.  The real issue is you don't want to do anything.
                The vast majority of the Businesses on Lime Street will only be effected by increased foot fall. It is interesting you think the interests of the petite capitalists on the street are some how important but not the bigger ones.

                    Paul

                    No John, that's not the real issue at all and you know it. People want something done and they want it done in keeping with the historical and cultural heritage of the area, which is slowly being lost bit by bit. Your response that people protesting "want to do nothing" is nothing short of wilful ignorance.

                    I walk through Lime Street almost every day and find a place of colour and character. Yes it is run down but that can be easily fixed. Far more easily than Neptune want us to believe.

                    The businesses you claim will benefit from an increase in footfall wont BE there anymore, because they will be forced to close when their current premises are demolished. If you think these proprietors are going to receive a nice tidy CPO paycheck, then go on holiday for eight months whilst new premises are built for them, then you are quite wrong.

                    These are business owners who have not been consulted on these plans in any way, shape or form - check out the Liverpool Preservation Trust for more information on that. The reality will be what we have seen elsewhere - we will end up with yet another bland, generic shop frontage, populated with the likes of Greggs and Tesco Express, that will throttle small business diversity.

                        John Bradley

                        Oh the Liverpool Preservation Trust, Wayne Colquhoun 1 man band, shows where you get you information.
                        These business owners will do what business owners have always done, they will relocate. I know that takes a bit of imagination which is beyond you.  The CPO will go to the owners of the property not the business, the businesses will relocate.  Your twee of what the City should be like, is basically an atmospheric, down at heel place, not a successful because, but a place where you can live your BoHo, rive gauche put I don't think that what most people think of a successful Liverpool.

                            Paul

                            "They will just relocate" eh? That's a very haughty attitude John. Mind if I pop into one of these businesses with you whilst you tell them that? XD

                            You try to convey yourself as knowledgeable but your simplistic arguments show up your trolling. How many of the businesses that used to be in the line of shops in front of Lime Street Station "relocated"? Only Barbara Daley. The others CLOSED.

                            I love my city and want to see it progress, and I am tired and embarrassed of civic and business leaders who continue to cling to the Beatles as an economic cash cow. For years I felt as though People in charge wanted to pickle the city in vinegar or pump embalming fluid into it to keep it exactly as it was.

                            Yet Liverpool One proved that it was possible to redevelop in sympathy with the surrounding area and incorporate existing buildings into a vibrant new city vista. And it has been repeatedly proven that historical, derelict buildings can be redeveloped or even rebuilt from the original materials. All that is needed is a bit of willpower.

                            Your vision of the city appears to be wall to wall student accommodation with a retail economy geared entirely to serving students. I've been in Manchester city centre many times and I can honestly say I've not seen any discarded Lego bricks lying around.

                            This proposal is the developer's attempt to see what they can get away with. It's clear to me you will let them get away with virtually anyything. It is you, sir, who lack imagination and vision, not I.

                            william red

                            So a prison wall with windows seems good for you then John.
                            Pretty sure the present lease holders who are in business there would somehow like to be included in the plans , or like Paul has suggested it is already boxed off with the multis moving in.

                                Paul

                                Do you notice how John repeatedly claims people opposing this development want to do nothing with the city? How he completely ignores it when people say they DO want something done, but not such an obviously poor development as this? How he claims those opposed don't come up with any ideas of their own, when he refuses to offer a personal opinion himself? And all the while ignoring the fact there are multiple redevelopments in the city, such as the impending renovation of the ABC, that we are all perfectly happy with? (Which is hardly what you would expect from a bunch of people who want the city to stand still!)

                                I've said my piece to him now. He long ago resorted to insults which just marks him out as either a troll somebody on the council payroll

[Red Beret]

The bookshop moved to the bottom of London Road, it didn't close AFAIK. And we all know that getting rid of that concourse and shite tower block that the spider climbed was a good idea, it looks a lot better now.

Of course, I agree with all your other points regarding the Futurist, it should totally be saved even if it is just the facade, just wanted to stick my oar in and be pedantic, sorry

No that's fine mate.  The bookshop used to be Chapter One comic shop and I'm happy the store itself is still in use.  Still that's a pretty poor return from the demolitions.  And I'm not complaining about renovating the concourse as it was an eyesore - it is both an example of how we actually DO want renovation, as long as it is sympathetic to its surroundings, and also illustrates that the remaining businesses on Lime Street will likely be permanently lost in favour of a Tesco Express, Greggs and Starbucks like up by the Metropolitan Cathedral.