Power to the People

PEOPLE from across Liverpool are voicing their views, opinions and concerns over next week about the future of three key sites along Mersey Waterfront.

The North West Development Agency backed Mersey Waterfront programme launched People Panels to give people across the City Region more of a direct role in driving improvements along the one hundred and twenty kilometre coastline.

Three separate Peoples Panels of sixteen people have already met in Wirral, Halton and Sefton earlier this year. Now the final piece of the jigsaw will come together as Liverpool residents concentrate on the Pierhead, Otterspool Promenade and the canal at Vaxuhall.

The Mersey Waterfront is a cornerstone project of The Mersey Partnership's Action Plan for the City Region 2002 to 2005. The project is funded with almost £9m from the Northwest Development Agency. Its aim is to develop the waterfront to elevate and distinguish Merseyside from competing international locations creating a strong, sustainable platform on which future prosperity for the Liverpool Region. 

Chair of the Mersey Waterfront, Sara Wilde said:- "The Peoples Panels will give local people the change to have an influence on the regeneration of their local waterfront. It makes perfect sense for the communities who live near the waterfront to have the opportunity to have a say on the future development of their local area."

Consulting the public through Peoples Panels is a method little used elsewhere in the UK, but will form an important part in determining the shape of Mersey Waterfront over the coming years.

CITY OF POETS CELEBRATES!

LIVERPOOL was in fine voice to celebrate National Poetry Day as all of the city's 24 libraries will came alive this week with a taste of verse, displays, readings, competitions, quizzes and giveaways. 

Best selling children's poet Nick Toczek - whose 30 books have sold a quarter of a million copies - will be at Central Library this today (October 9) to entertain with a narrative of his poems to celebrate National Children's book week. 

Meanwhile, Liverpool's first Poetry Readers' Day - entitled Best Words - is being held at Blackburne House on Saturday from 10am - 4.30pm. It will include readings, discussions, workshops and a poetry fair and book stall, and has been organised by the city council, the Reader Magazine, the University of Liverpool and Time to Read - a regional library network that promotes reading. 

Councillor Warren Bradley, Executive Member for Leisure, said:- "Liverpool has a fine tradition of producing some of the world's best writers and poets, and National Poetry Day is a great opportunity to celebrate their work. 

Perhaps more importantly, it is an opportunity to help develop the next generation of Adrian Henri's and Roger McGough's by encouraging children to write their own verses." 

A Spooky Special!

LIVERPOOL'S The Masqueis to host a Halloween Special.   They want all punters to come in fancy dress!  The event will be run by  Circus versus Underwater on October 30.   

Do not miss it...