ANFIELD AT THE CROSSROADS; It's not all about football. It's about real people too. North Liverpool's social issues need DAY 4 urgent DAY 3 attention and it is still waiting ATTHE REDS for a new REDS AT THE CROSSROADS LFC CROSSROADS stadium in the heart of the community, Marc Waddington repor ts.

Byline: Marc Waddington

WHILE regeneration is underway across Liverpool, the scheme in Anfield is unique.

At the heart of this neighbourhood is one of the most famous football clubs in the world.

As such, unlike areas like Kensington and Wavertree, it attracts thousands of people from across the UK, Europe and the wider world on a weekly basis.

One of the poorest parts of the country, Anfield suffers with high unemployment, poor health and poor- quality housing.

While some homes have been razed to the ground, many of the pre-1919 two-up, two-down terraces remain, a boarded-up blight on the landscape.

Above them all rises Liverpool FC's Anfield stadium.

A cornerstone of the community, in recent years the club's indecision about whether to rebuild on its current footprint or up sticks to Stanley Park has at times strained relations with residents.

Houses close to the ground were demolished in anticipation of rebuilding on site, but the plan never came to fruition.

Since the first terraces came down, more rows of houses have either been boarded up or demolished as part of NewHeartlands, the pounds 50m-plus housing market renewal programme.

But there are mixed views as to how integral to Anfield's renaissance Liverpool FC actually is.

Liverpool council and regeneration officials argue the housing programme will happen "whether the club stays or goes".

The club itself has said a new stadium on Stanley Park would be "a catalyst for the regeneration of the area".

But housing officials say the club's future and the new homes plan are, while closely related, distinct projects which happen to be running at the same time.

Certainly, the club does and will play a major regeneration role in economic terms, but recognises its decision about a news stadium is not the be-all and end-all of the area's renaissance.

Andrea Titterington, Liverpool FC's regeneration director, said: "Some elements of the regeneration of Anfield and Breckfield do not depend upon stadium development, specifically schools and housing.

"But the redevelopment of the stadium would result in a major injection of new employment, estimated at 772 full-time jobs in the economic impact assessment carried out for the planning applications, and an improved environment.

"Therefore as a catalyst for the economic prosperity of the area, it remains extremely important."

The "catalyst" claim is not without foundation. Unlike other regeneration schemes, it has not benefited from swathes of taxpayers' money.

Mrs Titterington said: "No public funding has been received by LFC, but our match-funding of more than pounds 6m has enabled the council to receive pounds 9.2m European funding for projects including the Isla Gladstone conservatory in Stanley Park, as well as highways and infrastructure improvements."

The club has invested more than pounds 650,000 on restoring 10 houses in Skerries Road, and sold 10 homes at below-market value as a pilot project in the Rockfield Road area.

Given the club's involvement in some aspects of housing regeneration, it is perhaps understandable there is a misconception that the entire area's regeneration is reliant on what the club chooses to do.

Sue Hirst, the council's principal officer for Anfield and Breckfield, said the two are not mutually dependent.

She said: "The regeneration will happen irrespective of whether the club stays or goes.

"The project is about rebuilding the area, and building the houses people want to live in. Something had to be done, the area could not be left.

"The masterplan for the area is not just about clearance and acquisition of properties.

"When we sat for hours with community representatives, we told them the masterplan stands up whether the football club stays or goes."

Since the project began in earnest in 2005, improvements have been made to more than 700 properties.

In the past four years, 800 properties were bought up, with 159 houses in Lake Street, Walton Breck Road, Glashier Street, Herschell Street, Tinsley Street and Gillman Street demolished.

But considering 1,800 properties will need to be bought and demolished to complete the project, which is expected to go on until 2021, there is some frustration with the pace of change.

The way the project must happen in phases means the handful of residents left in roads like Venmore Street face a patch of wasteland where once their neighbours' homes stood.

Mrs Hirst said: "The phasing plan caused a bit of dismay with people, depending on where they lived.

"There was a perception we were taking areas out because the club wanted to expand. But the club had given up planning to stay here."

For the newsagents, chip shops, pubs and bars lining major routes to the club, there is no doubt Liverpool FC is their major economic lifeblood.

If the club does move to the park, the Anfield Plaza development proposed for its current site would bring in hotels, shops and leisure facilities, ensuring the area remains a focal point for visitors.

Mrs Hirst said: "I think businesses will be sustainable because there will still be so many visitors who would come to Anfield Plaza.

It expands the whole operation.

"There are plusses and minuses on both sides. I do not see it as a major issue, because we can capitalise on the club whether it goes or stays."

The club said over the next couple of years it will continue to work with the council on the regeneration of the whole area.

But for people who want answers to the burning question of when the club will begin work on its new stadium, thereby unlocking the potential to redevelop the current site, the answer from the club remains the same: "Construction of the stadium will begin when the current contraction in the banking industry ends and the global financial markets re-establish their equilibrium."

What is certain is those who rely on Anfield for their livelihoods need to know when the move will happen.

Even if the housing regeneration continues, without a definite timetable, Anfield must keep holding its breath.

A COMMUNITY PLAYING FOR ITS FUTURE IN SHADOW OF STADIUM WHEN Anfield resident John Nolan first heard of the plans for the regeneration of the area in 1999, he envisaged by today there would be a new stadium for Liverpool FC.

Now, 11 years on, despite suggestions to the contrary, there is little sign the Reds will have a new home by the time the 12th year begins.

For people like John, chairman of Rockfield residents association, the feeling of "limbo" is taking its toll on the community.

He said: "We invite people to meetings and there is nothing new to tell them, so they get despondent."

John said while he does not know the reasons for the "delays", he feels there is "light at the end of the tunnel" in terms of housing regeneration.

He said: "Look at the improvements on some of the streets where there were problems and anti-social behaviour.

"People started to move into the refurbished houses in Skerries Road and Tancred Road, perhaps not as quickly as we would have liked, but there are improvements."

But for Tancred Road resident Ian Byrne, the club's inability to say exactly when work will get underway is stifling the area's full renaissance.

He said: "I think the lack of interest comes when the club drags its feet. When I moved into Tancred Road, it was supposed to kickstart the regeneration but the credit crunch hit and it all ground to a halt."

He said the number of people moving into refurbished houses has slowed, largely due to the state of the economy.

Mr Byrne said: "The people who are in here now came in at the start, but no-one has moved in since.

"It just stopped, but you cannot blame the club for that.

"But I could see that if the ground was going up, it would move it forward.

"I think a lot of the inertia is because people do not know what is going on with the ground."

MP SAYS LIVERPOOL FC MUST STILL PLAY KEY ROLE IN ANFIELD'S FUTURE 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."

PROGRESS: Anfield clearance site and (above) new housing in Robson Street 

CAPTION(S):

BOSS: Christian Purslow QUESTIONS: Peter Kilfoyle FRUSTRATION: Residents Ian Byrne and John Nolan CATALYST: Andrea Titterington DERELICT: Venmore Street, in Anfield FUTURISTIC: How Liverpool's new stadium should look