Stalemate in first round of halls fight; Residents oppose university.

Byline: MARC WADDINGTON

TWO communities each fighting plans they claim would undermine the heritage of their neighbourhoods were dealt mixed blessings by city planners.

Residents campaigning for the former jam factory in Hartley's Village, Walton, to become a heritage area were dismayed last night when plans for two industrial units on the site were approved by councillors.

But residents opposed to plans for an eight-storey, pounds 45m Liverpool University eco-halls of residence in the city centre's Georgian quarter were given some hope after the planning committee deferred a decision.

The university scheme has caused uproar in the community living around the campus.

Residents said housing around 700 students in a new development in Grove Street would turn their area into a "student ghetto".

Save Our Cities campaigner Florence Gersten said after years of "destruction" in the area to make way for numerous student developments, the university "owed" Liverpool an appropriate development.

University academics living in nearby Minster Court also opposed the plans.

Dr Henry Gibson said: "Our concern is the mass of students will in fact form a ghetto, rather than keeping the area for residents."

Fellow Minster Court resident Jane Chapman complained of the litter and rubbish currently strewn by students and said the community would "vote with its feet" if the plans went ahead.

She added: "There is currently drunkenness in the early hours of the morning. My friend had her window smashed and once had paint sprayed over it."

But a university spokesman insisted students who move into the development would not be left to run riot and it would be able to enforce its own code of conduct, unlike in private accommodation.

Planning chairman Cllr Dave Irving said he was particularly concerned the pounds 25,000 offered by the university towards dealing with parking issues created by the development was not enough considering the impact of 700 students moving into the area.

The committee moved to defer a decision to give the university the opportunity to offer more.

Minster Court tenants and homeowners said they hoped the university would reflect on its plans, particularly the size and scale of the development.

But the hopes of residents of Hartley's Village, off Long Lane, suffered a blow when the committee approved plans for industrial warehousing units on the site.

Warbreck Cllr Ann O'Byrne had pleaded for planners to take a "holistic" approach and think about the possible detrimental effect the scheme could have on efforts to become a heritage site.

She argued the council would not be thinking about the longterm potential of the site as a cultural centre if it approved the units.

Tony Siebenthaler, deputy chairman of Hartley's Village Heritage Committee, said: "Residents and councillors have worked towards this for three years, and wish to use this as a key to future development."

But Cllr Irving said: "We would be rather pleased if he could at least clean this building up to a standard which makes them more attractive and give impetus to the community's request for a heritage and conservation centre."