Plans to enhance Liverpool’s gay quarter go to consultation - from Pink News - all the latest gay news from the gay community

Plans to enhance Liverpool's gay quarter go to consultation

By Stephanie Phillips • July 3, 2008 - 13:06

There are plans to close off Stanley Street, Cumberland Street and Eberle Street from six in the evening

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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, and fans of the clubs and bars in the area, will be happy to hear that investors plan to enhance the quarter by using raised bollards to close off Stanley Street, Cumberland Street and Eberle Street from six in the evening.

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.

Mr Radford claimed that Liverpool City Council have refused to invest in the area previously so they would not be seen to be "picking favourites."

Previous estimates for the completion of the new quarter came to £500,000.

Mr Radford said: "The fact Liverpool City Council are timidly doing the sort of measures Manchester City Council did over three decades ago just shows how the dead hand of institutionalised homophobia still permeates the city."

Members of the Gay Business Association will be distribute flyers in venues across the city in an attempt to encourage the community to support the plans for the quarter.

The consultation closes on 30th July.

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