Edge Hill residents celebrate homes success

A MAJOR housing development in Edge Hill has reached an important milestone and to celebrate, delighted residents are throwing a big housewarming party.

Phases 1 and 2 of the £19million Williamson Place scheme have been completed, with 54 local people now moving in. They have invited the council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, Councillor Ann O’Byrne to see the stunning new homes for herself.

Williamson Place is part of the Wavertree Zone of Opportunity and falls within the Kensington Renewal Area. The completion of the work is a major success story for the local community, who have played an instrumental role in making the new housing development a reality.

Led by the Edge Hill Housing and Issues Focus Group, they have been champions for regeneration and better housing in the area since 2003, and have worked closely with housing developers Bellway and the city council to drive forward the delivery of the scheme.

By the time the scheme is completed (Phases 3 to 6) in late 2012, 167 new homes will have been built, providing a diverse range of modern properties, from bungalows to 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes.

Councillor Ann O’Byrne said that:- "I’m delighted to have been invited to visit these fantastic new homes and to meet some of the residents who have worked so hard with us to deliver this important scheme. It has brought a big boost to the area, and perfectly reflects our vision to deliver a diverse mix of housing in our communities, guided by the views of local people. Improving the quality and variety of homes throughout Liverpool continues to be a major priority for us and it’s vital we work effectively with the community and with partners to make this a reality. This is a great example of how, by working together, we can transform neighbourhoods and drive up the quality of local people’s lives."

The new homes all have off-street car parking, gardens to the front and rear, and include ‘Sustainable Homes’ features, such as innovative ‘heat recovery’ ventilation systems which reduce energy use.

The scheme has already picked up a national accolade, earning a ‘Gold’ award Building for Life Accreditation to Deliver Great Places to Live.

Residents began working with the council in 2003 when the city produced its ‘Kensington Blueprint’, laying out the regeneration and housing renewal plans for the area. Work began on the homes in 2008 and was guided by a Design Working Group - comprising of representatives from the community, the city council, Bellway, Halsall Lloyd Architects and CABE - which met regularly with local residents, over a 6 month period.

The scheme, which was also awarded a Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) KickStart grant of £1.2 million, and Bellway’s new sales house will be officially completed in September. Bellway will launch their new sales homes with a community party for local residents.

Local resident Norma Lee is the chair of the Edge Hill Housing and Issues Focus Group. She said:- "We are absolutely delighted with our new homes. It’s fantastic that what was promised has been delivered. The whole community has worked together for many years on this, and it’s wonderful to see all these lovely, modern homes with gardens. They are everything we have asked for and will bring a real change to people’s lives."

Williamson Place is the fifth new housing development on site in the Wavertree Zone of Opportunity. The council’s housing renewal Team is working with its partners Bellway, Lovell, Riverside Housing and the HCA and local communities to deliver a comprehensive programme of housing renewal in the area.

A total of 531 new homes will be built in the area for existing and new residents by the end of 2012.

DW Fitness Southport Beach 10k Legacy Event – Leaving a legacy in Southport

SOUTHPORT Beach will he the site of a 10k Legacy Event that starts in front of DW Fitness Southport on Sunday, 4 September 2011 at 10:00 am. DW Fitness have told us that people can enter on the day and registration opens at 09:00 am. Southport Beach 10k Legacy event provides an opportunity for people of all abilities to run, jog or walk 10 kilometres. Get involved and find your own personal reason to take part; whether getting fit, achieving your personal best or raising much needed funds for charity. The 10k will start at 10:00am and follow a flat route along the promenade and sea wall before finishing on Southport Beach overlooked by the pier. Enjoy an ice cream on completion and get in the Great British seaside spirit. Each legacy event invites people to leave a legacy in their community. If a participant chooses fundraise, the decision of who to raise funds for is their personal choice. Consequently hundreds of charities, sports clubs and voluntary groups, both big and small, are supported. This is a fantastic opportunity for all local charities, clubs or voluntary groups to lace up their trainers and start fundraising straight away. The 10k is a UK Athletic registered and anyone aged 13+ can enter the DW Fitness Southport Beach 10k Legacy event. There will also be an London Olympic inspired 2012 metre fun run, which is open to anyone under the age of 16; this is not a timed event but allows younger age groups to get involved. There will also be fantastic prizes provided by the sponsors DW Fitness. To find out more information about the event and to enter please visit:- legacyevent.org. Jayne Wignall Marketing executive at DW Sports said:- "We are really pleased to be headline sponsors of the first Legacy 10K event in Southport. This is a great event and with 18 DW fitness club in the North West we are confident many fitness club members will participate along with many other local people who are looking at ways of raising funds whilst getting fit."

Book Review:- "Formby and Freshfield Through Time"

THIS is a fascinating book, especially for those who lived in or visited the area in the past. The authors are well known and respected and are thoroughly conversant with their material. Encapsulated in its 180, mainly full colour, photographs and drawings and descriptive captions is a wealth of information; historical, geographical and sociological, which both satisfies the curiosity, but simultaneously invites more questions. Some scenes still look familiar to modern eyes, but much has changed beyond recognition. It is interesting to look at the bygone scenes and then to search the modern day versions, both in the text and in reality, to perceive hidden traces of the past which remain today. The book is divided into topics, such as shopping and housing so its information is readily accessible. An intriguing book, it is well worth considering for a present.

The book is written by Reg and Barbara Yorke and it is published by Amberley Publishing Plc.  List Price:- £12.99. ISBN:- 9781848682955. Other titles in the series include:- 'The People of Ormskirk Through the Ages', by Mona Duggan... 'Liverpool Landing Stage Through Time', by Ian Collard and Rogue Docker, 'A Life of Crime in Birkenhead Docks', by Len Burnett. This book and the others will be also available on our online shop via Mersey Reporter very soon.  Click  here  to see current books we have listed.