Liverpool loses its UNESCO world heritage status

[LSWR Cavalier]

Dresden lost WHS when a new road + bridge were built, there were warnings but the road + bridge were built anyway, disgraceful.

Predictably the Guardian reports that the same might happen with Stonehenge.

High time to stop This Madness (road building).

 

[Senex]

Dresden lost WHS when a new road + bridge were built, there were warnings but the road + bridge were built anyway, disgraceful.

Predictably the Guardian reports that the same might happen with Stonehenge.

High time to stop This Madness (road building).

IIRC the city's politicians were opposed, despite the results of a referendum coming out in favour, but the state (Land) politicians forced it through with the backing of the state constitutional court. It is a singularly hideous design and alternatives don't seem to have been fully considered. See the Carolabrücke from the 1960s for something modern that actualy fits the cityscape far better. The point of this World Heritage Site was always the Elbe Valley itself through the city and the wide flood-plain that remained green, so the impact of any new bridge needed espcially careful consideration.

 

[Grumpus63]

I also consider Liverpool and its surrounding area to be full of interest and aesthetically pleasing. Since moving to mid-Wales I find that I gravitate to Liverpool more than any other city encouraged by good connections to Chester and then the nifty Merseyrail trains up the Wirral. I had previously been to the city in 1986 and while I didn't necessarily find it to be as bad as a previous contributor at that time I do find it now to be largely clean and agreeable. It also has lots to interest those interested in public transport and what a shame that that tramways and the Liverpool Overhead Railway never survived beyond the mid-fifties as they would both possibly be major tourist pulls today. I love the walks around the Albert Dock area but have yet to explore Formby Beach, Sefton Park and the nearby Aigburth suburb, the "Bread" streets and the park in Birkenhead that was a model for Central Park in New York. I dislike the Museum of Liverpool slab on the Waterfront by the Pierhead but that is a question of personal taste. Lime Street station is an impressive structure with St. George's Hall across the way adding to the architectural joys with the "Titanic" era Adelphi Hotel just around the corner (even though it never went anywhere near Liverpool, haha!). Even to wait on James Street station is to glimpse the Merseyrail transport system as it was over a century ago as you look at the platform across from where you are waiting for Wirral Line trains. Don't get me wrong; I am not blind to its blemishes and faults, same as any other city. When I was there a couple of days back groups of youths and their hangers-on were indulging in dangerous practices of diving into Queen's Dock from the wharf although they were more of threat to themselves than to others and on the Merseyrail going back to Chester another group of high-spirited teenagers were indulging in mock-fight antics which could have turned nasty but didn't (luckily - I just kept my head averted and hoped for the best as we all do in such circumstances!!). While UNESCO has pulled out of recognising Liverpool...well...more fool them. If you have never been I do recommend one visit and then you may well be tempted to come back for more.

 

[eMeS]

I also consider Liverpool and its surrounding area to be full of interest and aesthetically pleasing. Since moving to mid-Wales I find that I gravitate to Liverpool more than any other city encouraged by good connections to Chester and then the nifty Merseyrail trains up the Wirral. I had previously been to the city in 1986 and while I didn't necessarily find it to be as bad as a previous contributor at that time I do find it now to be largely clean and agreeable. It also has lots to interest those interested in public transport and what a shame that that tramways and the Liverpool Overhead Railway never survived beyond the mid-fifties as they would both possibly be major tourist pulls today. I love the walks around the Albert Dock area but have yet to explore Formby Beach, Sefton Park and the nearby Aigburth suburb, the "Bread" streets and the park in Birkenhead that was a model for Central Park in New York. I dislike the Museum of Liverpool slab on the Waterfront by the Pierhead but that is a question of personal taste. Lime Street station is an impressive structure with St. George's Hall across the way adding to the architectural joys with the "Titanic" era Adelphi Hotel just around the corner (even though it never went anywhere near Liverpool, haha!). Even to wait on James Street station is to glimpse the Merseyrail transport system as it was over a century ago as you look at the platform across from where you are waiting for Wirral Line trains. Don't get me wrong; I am not blind to its blemishes and faults, same as any other city. When I was there a couple of days back groups of youths and their hangers-on were indulging in dangerous practices of diving into Queen's Dock from the wharf although they were more of threat to themselves than to others and on the Merseyrail going back to Chester another group of high-spirited teenagers were indulging in mock-fight antics which could have turned nasty but didn't (luckily - I just kept my head averted and hoped for the best as we all do in such circumstances!!). While UNESCO has pulled out of recognising Liverpool...well...more fool them. If you have never been I do recommend one visit and then you may well be tempted to come back for more.

In 2009 whilst based in Gtr Manchester, I drove to the waterfront at Birkenhead specifically to photograph a panorama of the Liverpool waterfront. I was lucky - the weather was superb for my project, and I now have a print, around 2-3m long and 30cm high including The Three Graces in the middle - but where can I put it on display? It's rich in detail and really should be at eye-height for easy viewing, but that's where my clutter is!

 

[Grumpus63]

In 2009 whilst based in Gtr Manchester, I drove to the waterfront at Birkenhead specifically to photograph a panorama of the Liverpool waterfront. I was lucky - the weather was superb for my project, and I now have a print, around 2-3m long and 30cm high including The Three Graces in the middle - but where can I put it on display? It's rich in detail and really should be at eye-height for easy viewing, but that's where my clutter is!

Haha! Time for that overdue clearout methinks!

 

[Cowley]

The subject of Stonehenge keeps popping up in this thread so we’ve started a new one to cover that which is now here:

A303 Stonehenge tunnel works.

Moderator note: split from this thread Liverpool loses its UNESCO world heritage status | RailUK Forums (railforums.co.uk) Predictably the Guardian reports that the same might happen with Stonehenge The very logical argument of "removing the road which currently blots the landscape by...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[75A]

It's replacing Goodison Park which is too small and in an awkward residential location. The situation is very similar to Maine Road moving to Eastlands in Manchester. (And Manchester of course has two main stadia, too).

Because Stonehenge isn't a city the arguments aren't quite the same, but tunnelling under it seems quite reasonable to me, indeed it'll mean less blight from traffic, not more.

The point I'm making is: why don't the 2 teams in Liverpool / Manchester et al, share a stadium with each other like AC / Inter Milan do?
From a business point of view, it's a much better use of assets.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The point I'm making is: why don't the 2 teams in Liverpool / Manchester et al, share a stadium with each other like AC / Inter Milan do?
From a business point of view, it's a much better use of assets.

The business model of the football clubs, which are private businesses, is entirely up to them.

 

[zwk500]

The point I'm making is: why don't the 2 teams in Liverpool / Manchester et al, share a stadium with each other like AC / Inter Milan do?
From a business point of view, it's a much better use of assets.

From the business point of view of the clubs, they'd only have half the revenue stream. Stadiums host conferences, events, and businesses like hotels and casinos when not hosting matches, not to mention the superstore, museum and tours many now have. Many shared stadiums in the continent are owned by the city authorities, so each team has the same deal. Given Anfield is already owned by Liverpool FC and they aren't going to sell, ever, why on earth would Everton accept a situation where they have limited revenue opportunities?

 

[BayPaul]

It's not just about football stadiums, it's about cities being living, breathing, evolving places for people and not historical monuments. UNESCO have proven themselves to have lost relevance with the Liverpool debacle. I'd be the first to shout if they were going to flatten the Liver Buildings, but it's not that, it's a rotting, tumbledown dock. Sure, you could convert it to like the Albert Dock, but as that exists as a monument of dockland gone by what's the point?

I don't particularly care about football, but the new stadium will be a great addition to the riverfront.

I support the A303 tunnel, though if feasible they might want to make it a little longer to avoid some of the potentially interesting unexcavated areas - or indeed make an archaeological dig part of the project.

I couldn't agree more - I love Liverpool, and especially because it incorporates history and modern life so well - it is so disappointing that UNESCO couldn't recognise that. For me the biggest act of vandalism to the World Heritage site is the Mersey Ferries terminal building - an unneccesary lump plonked in front of the three graces that ruins the view of them from the water.