Paradise regained in time for summer of culture

3 Oct 2007 

LIVERPOOLS new John Lewis and Debenhams department stores will open early next year because of health and safety concerns raised by the Mathew Street Festival fiasco.

The move comes after the cancellation of the Mathew Street festival’s outdoor stages in the city centre this year.

Safety consultants were worried about the movement of pedestrians between the waterfront and the city centre, currently disrupted by major road and building works.

Grosvenor now wants to open the John Lewis and Debenhams stores, along with 80 ground level shops in the spring, followed by new shops in Hanover Street and Chavasse Park.

By bringing forward the opening date, the company will be able to re-open Paradise Street and Hanover Street to create a safe pedestrian route to the new arena and convention centre at Kings Dock.

Grosvenor, contracted to complete the scheme by the end of 2008, had in any case volunteered to open in the summer to enable Liverpool One to celebrate being part of the European Capital of Culture year.

The news came as Beverley Hughes, Minister for the North West toured Merseyside yesterday, including Paradise Street, on a fact finding mission.

She praised Grosvenor’s scheme, as well as other regeneration projects, including the Anfield project where a new home will be built for Liverpool FC in Stanley Park.

The minister also said she would be prepared to engage in talks with Merseytravel about the doomed Merseytram link.

Grosvenor project director Rod Holmes said: “What happened with the Mathew Street Festival alerted us all to the issue of pedestrian movement.

“We want to see the re-opening of the corridors from the Albert Dock and the new arena, so we have brought forward the opening of part of our scheme.”

No firm date has been announced, but May is being mooted as likely for the first store openings.

Ms Hughes, after viewing the Paradise Street Project, said it would create many new jobs for local people.

She said her visit was to meet as many people as possible from organisations and communities.

Ms Hughes also praised the way businesses were recruiting new staff from within the city.

The minister, once a student in Liverpool, praised the way local people were rallying together in the wake of the killing of Rhys Jones.

She said: “I was in Liverpool the day after the shooting of Rhys Jones and I went to Croxteth to talk to local people.

“I am convinced there is in Norris Green and Croxteth the determination that this level of crime should stop. This can only happen if the local communities work together.”

She praised the United in the Name of Rhys Campaign, launched by the Daily Post’s sister paper the Liverpool Echo, and aimed at encouraging every Merseysider to make a stand against gun crime.

The campaign is demanding stricter laws against illegal firearms, and wants more police officers on the streets. by Aaron Boland, Liverpool Daily Post

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