News

Public Consultation: Changes to Liverpool's LGBT Quarter

Published: 23 July 2008

The bid for a new traffic scheme to enhance Liverpool's Gay Quarter has finally gone to consultation after a decade of persuading the council.

Liverpool's gay community are being urged to take part in a consultation about enhancing the gay the quarter by using raised bollards to close off Stanley Street, Cumberland Street and Eberle Street from six in the evening.  

Liverpool City Council is proposing to close Stanley Street (between Victoria Street and Dale Street ), Cumberland Street and Eberle Street to traffic between 6.00pm and 6.00am using the bollards.  Liverpool 's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender communities have a stake in this part of town and, as a result, the council and their consultants have said they "would appreciate any views on the principle of the closures and on the details (e.g. the proposed hours of closure)".  

They "will consider all views before deciding if and how to progress the scheme".  

The complete pedestrianisation of Liverpool's Gay Quarter is not on offer at the moment, although the council have said that "future projects under the City Centre Movement Strategy may look at options for this".  

Cllr Steve Radford, leader of the Liberal party group and Co-Chair of Liverpool Gay Business Association, said: "Eberle Street and Cumberland Street are narrow streets where clubbers walk almost straight into the road. 

The fact they have not been closed to traffic already is a disgrace."  Mr Radford hopes the changes to the quarter will attract more businesses to invest in the area and create a "café culture" which would appeal to many people."  

In the case of Stanley Street this will give a real opportunity to develop and diversify business and create a continental street style scheme," he said.  To let the council know what you think about these changes, simply download and print off the attached questionnaire, fill it in and send it FREEPOST to: 

Steven Cox
Community Involvement Officer
Liverpool Community Network
FREEPOST 
NWW7993A
Liverpool
L2 6BR

The information gathered in this way will be passed on to the relevant council officers and consultants and will form the basis of a report for Liverpool's LGB&T Network.  The consultation closes on 30th July.  You can also join Liverpool's LGB&T Network by emailing the LGBT Development Officer on matthew.fox@lcvs.org.uk or by ticking the box on the enclosed reply form.

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