EUROPEAN MONEY POURS IN FOR US
And gets diverted into the pockets of the well off
More
than 60% of adults in Liverpool earn less than £10,000 a year, according
to the latest “Wealth of the Nation” survey. The areas of Vauxhall, Seaforth
and Kirkby are in the lowest income bracket, with Vauxhall bottom at an
average of £9,100. (The national average household income is £23,000.)
Figures produced by the North Liverpool Partnership show Vauxhall is tops
when it comes to death rates from injury and disease. You are 21/2 times
more likely to die early, if you live here, than the national average.
According to Barnardo’s recent study on health inequalities, the poorest
children are twice as likely to die by the age of 15 as those from families
with higher incomes.
And Sefton Council is sending out information leaflets on early detection
of cancer, because the disease causes 1/3 of all premature deaths in the
area.
So what happens to all that Money Europe gives Liverpool? Well here’s
where the latest £10 million is going.
- Kings Dock, £1m:
- Pier Head ferry terminal, £150,000:
- Liverpool Vision masterplan, nearly £1m:
- Bluecoat Triangle, £250,000:
- Chavasse Park, at least £500,000:
- Roman Catholic Cathedral and site, up to £1.5m:
- Stanley Dock, £300,000:
- Liverpool Football Club’s new stadium, at least £100,000:
- Liverpool Airport, £8.1m:
- International Garden Festival, £50,000:
- Richmond House, £200,000:
- Beetham Tower, £200,000:
- Liverpool First, £1.25m:
- Moorfields, estimated £250,000:
- Hotel demand study, £6,000:
Just like a recent report shows: architects, surveyors, lawyers, letting
agents and specialist consultants are all collecting fees ‘on an unprecedented
scale’. Meaning the latest flow of money from Europe will not go on local
people to improve our lives, it will go on people who are already some
of the highest earners in Liverpool. People who will increase their bank
balances by collecting huge amounts by looking at buildings, sitting in
meetings and writing reports, And bear in mind this money is only being
spent on feasibility studies and surveys, as the report admits ‘the plans
may never get off the ground’. Tim Johnston, whose Liverpool-based firm
Amion Consulting said: “It’s a buoyant time for the professional services
in the city’.
And what do you think the city will get, at the end of it, if the plans
do go ahead? – More trendy pubs, more statues of dead people who made
their fortunes off the backs of the people of this city, more ridiculous
statues of animals? More hotels, casinos or places were the majority of
Liverpool people would not be welcome. More ways for the business elite
to make money?
PNP have a better suggestion for the money; let’s ask the people of Liverpool
what they want? Maybe the first thing would be to sack all the leaches
oh, er sorry ‘Professionals’. Then set up committees and discuss what
our communities need - better housing, better repairs, decent jobs instead
of slave labour, more and better equipped community and youth centres,
better facilities and support for the elderly. More money into local education.
And for the city centre? Cheap affordable cafes, decent transport, decent
facilites. And as for the so-called artist quarter? We know hundreds of
local artists, musicians, poets who given the right opportunity and support
would advance a lot more the cultural richness this city is famous for.
If any of the companies in this article would like to reply and tell us
how many local people will benefit from these studies or the possible
development afterwards, please contact us.
