FESTIVAL SITE IS SAVED
Plans to dig up the Festival Gardens site in South Liverpool have been scrapped after a popular and determined campaign. People were worried about toxic chemicals in the ground being disturbed, the loss of a wild life haven, traffic problems and profit driven motives for the new housing and road. This is just the latest disaster for developers Wiggins, who’ve seen their share price drop to almost nothing recently. The council is apparently determined to see the site developed in some way, but leaving the place alone looks like a better option than most of the proposals that have been made.

NO FUN ON THE WIRRAL
Wirral authorities banned 2 festivals this summer. The Oxton Free Community Arts Festival was born last year with a small turnout and lots of hard volunteer work. There were big hopes for this years event, but the council stopped it after a petition from residents, not prepared to share their park for one day in a year. The Eden Festival was banned for health and safety reasons; a spokesperson for Wirral council said there were objections from the police and emergency services ‘there was no choice because public safety is paramount. Had somebody been killed, there would have been demands for a public enquiry.’ They did not say how people could get killed by the new event, which was planned to raise money for environmental charities.

NUCLEAR VISITS
Nuclear Submarines may be berthed in Merseyside in two years or more, according to the Royal Navy and a recent Big Issue article. The subs visited berths in Sefton up to the nineties and in the sixties one of them caught fire, almost leading to disaster. The subs would come on ‘rest and recreation visits’. Merseyside CND has more info.

IMC LIVERPOOL
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/liverpool is where you’ll find the brand new local activist and alternative news site. Help is wanted and you can post your own stories.

ANTI-FASCIST GROUP FORMED
The Merseyside Coalition Against Racism and Fascism was formed last month, to fight against the racist British National Party’s attempts to spread their poison on Merseyside. The Coalition is an umbrella group, including representatives from the local trade unions, youth groups, and individuals committed to a fair and equal society. Meetings will be held at the Trade Union Centre on Hardman Street, Liverpool, with regular actions and leafleting campaigns planned. Contact the Centre on 0151 709 3995 for details.

MORE FLATS
Residents living in North Studley Street, Aigburth are fighting plans to build dozens of luxury flats, which they claim would ruin their neighbourhood. Proposals are to convert the former Crofton day care centre into a four-storey apartment block including 71 flats and an under-ground car park. Liverpool City Council are too busy selling off day care provision for the elderly and the disabled, cashing in on the ‘Get-rich-quick’ schemes of regeneration and City of Culture. But local residents are mobilising quickly to counter this madness, hundreds of leaflets raising awareness of the plans have been handed out and residents will lobby the greedy planning chiefs.

ON THE ROOF AT WALTON
Walton Prison (now named Liverpool Prison) saw a series of protests after a damning report at the end of May, criticising the prison for its Victorian regime. The inspection found it swarming with cockroaches and prisoners’ hygiene was questioned as many had not got clean underwear for a week. At one point 100 prisoners refused to leave the exercise yard. A group of 14 prisoners climbed on to a low pitched roof at the side of the yard and stayed there demanding more time out of their cells, better access to showers and regular privileges for all detainees.
Police surrounded the Prison, roads were cordoned off and negotiators were called in. The men were persuaded to end their protests and prison chiefs said they would look into the demands, however, as far we know the same conditions continue.

EXPRESS YOURSELF!
At www.liverpool.gov.uk the council invites people to give their views on things, but letters can be posted to Town Hall, High St. Grosvenor Group, the big boys behind the Paradise St. development have a website where they pride themselves on their ‘ability to work with local communities to ensure the regeneration of their communities meets their wishes.’ They will be delighted to hear your views then: rodney.holmes@grosvenor.com 020 7312 6247