Beatles fans joy as Govt stalls demolition of Ringo's birthplace

Beatles fans battling to save Ringo Starr's Liverpool birthplace for posterity are celebrating after the Government stepped-in to postpone demolition plans.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has asked for a delay on the demolition of number 9 Madryn Street, so alternative schemes to preserve it can be examined.

He is calling on Liverpool City Council to postpone a scheme to raze seven of "The Welsh Streets" - an estate of Victorian terraced homes in city's Dingle area.

The move is a complete about-turn on the policy of the previous Labour Government and comes after English Heritage sai the building should not get "listed" status.

Officials at English Heritage turned-down a request for Number 9 Madryn Street to be put under a preservation order saying it lacked historic or architectural importance.

But Mr Shapps said he wanted to ensure the people of Liverpool have a chance to have their say in what happens to what many consider to be a culturally important building.

He has written to Liverpool City Council asking them to halt the planned demolition "to give the local community and other interested organisations an opportunity to put forward alternative viable preservation options".

A special meeting of Liverpool City Council's Planning Committee is scheduled for January at which the demolition of 9 Madryn Street and the other Welsh Street houses will be considered.

If the demolition scheme was approved the council would have needed to give only two weeks notice before the bulldozers moved-into action.


But now it appears that the Government is seriously considering a request from SAVE Britain’s Heritage that it should direct Liverpool City Council to dispose the area.

Seven of the Welsh Streets were part of a Housing Renewal Scheme, originally fostered by John Prescott, that would have seen them flattened to make way for new homes.

But with the recession, lack of funding for house building, and local government budget cuts, there is no longer any funding in place to go head with rebuilding.

However, a number of private developers are said to have expressed interest in acquiring the Welsh Streets in order to renovate the existing properties for rent or sale as starter homes.

A spokesman for the department for Communities and Local Government said: "SAVE Britain's Heritage has entered a Public Request to Order Disposal (PROD), a process allows citizens to write to the Secretary of State, Communities and Local Government, requesting action be taken regarding under/ unused land (including buildings) and he may direct that the land be disposed of.

"The Secretary of State Local Government is considering this request in the normal way.

"But this request clearly demonstrates the strength of feeling locally and prompted Mr Shapps to call for a delay to demolition to see if an alternative community-led solution is possible and to ensure that there is sufficient time for a full and proper consideration of SAVE Britain's Heritage request."

The move to delay the demolition was welcomed by the Save Madryn Street Campaign that was launched in August in Liverpool when it emerged that officials wanted to go ahead with the demolition scheme, without further consideration by councillors.

Beatles tourism guide Philip Coppell, Chairman for the Save Madryn Street Campaign, said: "It is very encouraging that Mr Shapps has taken a personal interest in this.

"It looks like he is coming to the rescue and that will be applauded by Beatles fans in Liverpool and all over the world.

"We are not home-and-dry yet, but it's is a cause for celebration that the bulldozers will be held-off for the time being so that a fresh look can be taken by all concerned.

"There is no real prospect of building new homes on the Welsh Streets in the current economic climate.

"The money and demand is just not there to make that happen, so it would be absolutely crazy to go ahead and demolish Madryn Street just to grass it over.

"Typically thousands of tourists will visit Ringo's home every week. It is a major elelment of a tour of the city for Beatles fans.

"It is a real asset to the city and much more could be made of it. We envisage a hotel, holiday apartments and a visitors' centre in Madryn Street.

"The potential is enormous but the council has been locked-into a commitment to demolish it, as part of a bigger scheme, that is now a dead duck.

"In the past our requests for official meetings with councillors and officials have been rejected on the basis that there was 'no alternative to demolition'.

"We would like to thank Mr Shapps publically for having the courage to bring his influence to bear on the matter and to allow proper consideration of the alternatives.

"Now we have cause for real hope that the council and the Government will come together and examine proposals that are on offer.

"We are aware of at least two schemes that need proper consideration, including one by developers who renovated whole streets of dilapidated properties elsewhere in Liverpool."

Philip said Fab Four fans would be jubilant at the move.

He said: "Beatles fans around the world have been appalled at the thought that the council could demolish a building that so many of them want to come and visit.

"The reality is that it makes enormous economic and environmental sense to preserve the Welsh Streets.

"We are now confident that Liverpool City Council and the Government will allow their preservation and we look forward to the development of number nine Madryn Street as a tourist attraction."