Bid to preserve jam making village

AN industrial estate famed for its jam-making is to become Liverpool’s newest Conservation Area. The city council’s cabinet has approved plans for Hartley’s Village, Fazakerley, to be given the status.

The city’s heritage team has carried out a full appraisal of the village - home of the famous Hartley’s jam from the 1880s until the mid-1900s. It follows a request from residents, led by the Hartley Village Heritage Council, and supported by Warbreck ward councillors.

The appraisal has recommended that Hartley’s Village is designated as a Conservation Area because of its importance as an example of Victorian manufacturing philanthropy, comprising a purpose-built factory, model village for employees and land for recreation.

William Pickles Hartley founded the factory complex in 1886. A staunch Methodist, he advocated the highest standards of workers’ welfare as well as jam production. The factory was located so that fresh fruit could be transported into it and processed as quickly as possible, while the workers’ housing and recreational facilities were built immediately adjacent to it.

The proposed conservation area boundary includes the surviving elements of the Hartley factory, including the grade II listed red brick factory buildings; the workers’ houses in the adjacent residential square; and the reservoir for the steam engine boilers that provided the factory’s power. All of these remain a distinct entity within the surrounding 20th century industrial estate.

Since the factory’s closure in the mid 1900’s, there have been major losses in the area’s original character, including loss of factory roofs, removal of soft landscaping in the recreational areas and the alteration of architectural details on many surviving buildings in the wider area. The site of William Hartley’s own villa is now a commercial complex on Long Lane.

Becoming a Conservation Area will halt further losses, help enhance sites where losses have occurred and continue to preserve the character and appearance of the village where possible.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, said:- “Hartley’s Village is an area with a special architectural and historic character, and it’s really important that this is protected.  As well as preserving our historic buildings, the proper management of Conservation Areas helps exploit the city’s cultural offer and encourages investment. And it gives residents the chance to play an active role in protecting their cherished local heritage.  By granting Hartley’s Village this status, we would hope to protect this important part of Liverpool’s history for future generations, as well as identifying opportunities to improve the area.”

Although being designated as a Conservation Area does not prevent new developments, it means:-

► Any proposed demolition of buildings is subject to greater controls with a presumption that there should be no demolition of architecturally or historically significant buildings.

► There is greater consideration given to the design of new buildings and structures in planning decisions.

► Minor works, not normally subject to planning permission, such as replacing windows and adding minor extensions are subject to greater controls.

Councillor Ann O’Byrne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, and Warbreck ward councillor, said:- “We see Hartley’s Village as a real gem in North Liverpool. And given the passion and determination of local residents, we really believe that the village will eventually rival Port Sunlight. The ward councillors have worked closely with the residents’ group for a number of years, providing some funding to enable them to bid for important heritage grants, as well as helping them draw up the master plan for the area. We will also be absolutely delighted if this historically important village is designated as a Conservation Area.”

Liverpool City Council has consulted local residents on the plans, sending letters to every property within the proposed Conservation Area. All those who responded supported the proposals.

Hartley’s Village will be designated as a Conservation Area immediately, and the Secretary of State and English Heritage will be notified. 

Liverpool currently has 35 conservation areas, covering 1,005 hectares (about nine per cent of the city area) and protecting some 19,000 properties.

Duo sentenced for £650,000 duty fraud

2 men who incorrectly declared the origin of imported goods to avoid paying £650,000 in duty have been sentenced at Croydon Crown Court as a result of a criminal investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HRMC).  John Sutton, director of a company called Ashby Scott Ltd and operations manager Michael Kirk, both based in Widnes, Cheshire, smuggled large quantities of steel pipe fittings into the UK from China. They falsely declared they had imported the goods, which were used in the petro-chemical and gas industries, from Japan and India, instead of China. This was to evade paying tax, known as anti-dumping duty, which became due on import to the UK.  Peter Millroy, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation, for HMRC, said:- "This plot was designed to divert substantial funds into the pockets of these 2 businessmen, money that should have gone to the nation’s public purse. Instead, they paid overseas companies to falsify paperwork in a bid to evade duty and gain a commercial advantage over other UK companies. This latest prosecution will send a powerful message to those who engage in this form of criminality to the detriment of legitimate UK companies."