Council round-up
In a limbo world, changed forever by Covid, more community involvement, accountability and democracy is needed. However, the government and some local politicians have other ideas.
Author: Ritchie Hunter
Festival Gardens: developer ‘hoodwinks’ the locals?
What are we to make of claims that strict regulations don’t need to be followed when removing toxic waste from this former landfill?
Plans to take your breath away
While we’ve all been preoccupied with Covid, councils and companies have used this time to intensify developments that won’t help our air quality.
‘Pop-up’ plans to shut One Stop Shops
Ritchie Hunter on Liverpool City Council’s plans to shut the remaining four One Stop Shops and replace them with ‘pop-up’ shops.
Road through the sublime is ridiculous
What would Stan Ambrose, that veteran campaigner and folk hero, have made of what has happened to his beloved Festival Gardens?
The Monster Enters – Covid-19, Avian Flu and the Plagues of Capitalism
Ritchie Hunter reviews the book The Monster Enters – Covid-19, Avian Flu and the Plagues of Capitalism, written by Mike Davis.
Safe Places – Does Liverpool Care?
Liverpool City Council say they can’t afford to run two care homes. But can they afford not to?
Zippy Joe has a plan!
Joe Anderson finally stopped plans for a zip-wire to the Central Library, but has left plenty of questions unanswered.
“How much is the life of our elderly worth?”
£8m care homes will close because Liverpool City Council can’t afford to pay the workers!
Home Care
Two council-built care homes in Liverpool have gone bust, leaving 83 families scrambling to find homes for their loved ones. But why did the council allow a private company to run these homes, and what should they do now?
Who owns the land?
Ritchie Hunter looks at the issue of private land ownership after the Duke of Buccleuch, the second largest private landowner in Britain, stymied the plans of a group of Scottish villagers to rewild nearby moors.
Liverpool’s zip wire folly
Ritchie Hunter looks at the plan agreed by Liverpool City Council’s ‘virtual’ planning committee to have a 450 foot zip wire stretching from St John’s Beacon to the roof of Central Library.
Operation Greyhound? – Are Liverpool’s ‘leaders’ barking mad?
Ritchie Hunter examines Operation Greyhound, the plan to “steer the city through the coronavirus crisis and prepare for a post-Brexit world”.
People want change
Saturday’s BLM march through Liverpool was a morale booster to those who want to see an end to racism and injustice. When you link this with protests world-wide it shows a rising confidence that a real shift in society is about to occur.
The Lucas Plan
The Lucas Plan was a bold endeavour by workers to swap from designing and making weapons of war, to socially useful products such as wind turbines, kidney machines and electric cars.
Anderson’s Fairy Tales
Joe Anderson has pledged not to introduce any more cuts. Ritchie Hunter asks if we can believe him.
Liverpool City Council declare they can solve the ‘Climate Emergency’ by economic growth!
Ritchie Hunter looks at the contradictory messages coming from the Liverpool City Council which wants to grow an economy and tackle the climate emergency at the same time.
Joe Anderson redefines what a council house is
Uncle Joe’s claims that the Liverpool City Council are to build their first council houses for 30 years turns out to be disingenuous to say the least.
Fire Stations to close at night!
Ritchie Hunter reports on campaign to stop Fire Stations in Liverpool City Centre and Wallasey from being closed for 12 hours at night.
Rob Newman at the Laughter House
Review of Rob Newman on the Total Eclipse of Descartes Tour at the Laughter House in Liverpool.
Red October People’s Gallery
Ritchie Hunter reviews the exhibition Red October People’s Gallery, public art with a revolutionary message, on display on Temple Street till 20th December.
Liverpool: A City of Protest
Ritchie Hunter reviews the exhibition, Liverpool: A City of Protest, on at Constellations till 13th August.
City College Protest
Staff and students have united against cuts, as the management of Liverpool City College continue to attack the conditions of staff.
Workers get Active
Recent gains by workers in low paid, precarious jobs, show they are getting organised.
After the Flood
Ritchie Hunter reviews After the Flood, the concert by Neil Campbell and friends at the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room.
The Happy Lands (12)
Ritchie Hunter reviews the film The Happy Lands, shown at the Plaza to mark the 90th Anniversary of the General Strike.
Undercover ‘Bob’
A song by Ritchie Hunter about Bob Lambert, who is probably the most notorious of the undercover police spies who infiltrated completely legitimate protest and campaigning groups.
Devolution – secrecy, smoke and mirrors
Why have all the Merseyside ‘Labour’ Council leaders signed a devolution agreement with George Osborne and Robert Hough, of Peel Holdings?
Mandela Becomes a Marketing Opportunity
Ritchie Hunter gives his take on the hype surrounding the funeral of the freedom fighter Nelson Mandela.