For Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle, the problems of Anfield – in terms of health, housing and employment – are considerable.
He met Gordon Brown while he was still chancellor of the exchequer to see if there was funding available to tackle Anfield’s deprivation and housing issues with a unique programme.
But a positive answer was not forthcoming.
Mr Kilfoyle said: “We had a meeting where I was trying to get him to agree a special purpose vehicle to look at issues in north Liverpool.
“But it is the nature of these things that they pass them down the line.
“It needs a total sweep through, that area, to get it all done, particularly Rockfield Road. We have a lot of people coming here from overseas and what must they think about the area? It must give a very bad impression.”
Mr Kilfoyle said the club – as the major attraction in the area – needs to be definitive about its plans, which still have a bearing on regeneration, as “the only organisation of any size and credibility”.
He is in two minds about whether he feels the club appreciates the importance of its role in economic regeneration.
He said: “Christian Purslow, the managing director, is a banker – he is not a regeneration person.
“I do not think, in all honesty, he would see a football club as having a community dimension in perhaps the way we expect in Liverpool.”
But club officials insist they do sees themselves closely involved in the renewal of the area.
Regeneration director Andrea Titterington said: “It is true the pace of housing improvements has slowed, largely due to the wider economic situation coupled with the availability of mortgages.
“But the housing providers are still committed to the original plans.
“Although significant improvements have been achieved, there is still more to be done.
“We remain as committed as we always have to assist in the implementation of the strategy for the regeneration of the Anfield and Breckfield areas.”
He met Gordon Brown while he was still chancellor of the exchequer to see if there was funding available to tackle Anfield’s deprivation and housing issues with a unique programme.
But a positive answer was not forthcoming.
Mr Kilfoyle said: “We had a meeting where I was trying to get him to agree a special purpose vehicle to look at issues in north Liverpool.
“But it is the nature of these things that they pass them down the line.
“It needs a total sweep through, that area, to get it all done, particularly Rockfield Road. We have a lot of people coming here from overseas and what must they think about the area? It must give a very bad impression.”
Mr Kilfoyle said the club – as the major attraction in the area – needs to be definitive about its plans, which still have a bearing on regeneration, as “the only organisation of any size and credibility”.
He is in two minds about whether he feels the club appreciates the importance of its role in economic regeneration.
He said: “Christian Purslow, the managing director, is a banker – he is not a regeneration person.
“I do not think, in all honesty, he would see a football club as having a community dimension in perhaps the way we expect in Liverpool.”
But club officials insist they do sees themselves closely involved in the renewal of the area.
Regeneration director Andrea Titterington said: “It is true the pace of housing improvements has slowed, largely due to the wider economic situation coupled with the availability of mortgages.
“But the housing providers are still committed to the original plans.
“Although significant improvements have been achieved, there is still more to be done.
“We remain as committed as we always have to assist in the implementation of the strategy for the regeneration of the Anfield and Breckfield areas.”
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