17. "Following the transfer of OMH to LHAT in 1993 a scheme was devised which proposed to demolish two of the tower blocks along with the school annexe building and community centre and develop 44 new-build flats. The third tower block would be retained and refurbished. A more preferable scheme whereby all three tower blocks would be demolished and replaced with new dwellings more appropriate to the predominately elderly tenants currently living in the tower blocks, required additional land and was therefore not possible at the time". [PS 0.10]

David Lock Associates are wrong in some details. This was the so-called 'preferred option' and was finalised in 1998. The community centre was not to be demolished and in fact its retention was listed as a 'pro' of the option. The option was quietly dropped by LHAT when the school site became available.

18. Garages: The option would have retained 28 out of 42 garages. This was of importance both to tenants in OMH and to other residents nearby who rent the garages. LHAT did not consult garage tenants in any way. Save OMH Campaign has contacted fifteen garage tenants resident in OMH, twelve of whom have signed statements that they wish to retain their garages.

Conclusion

19. (a) The proposals for Olive Mount seem to us to be money driven with reasons and justifications plucked out of the air to support the pre-determined plans. The application documents contain nothing of substance to back up the statements made which range from the contentious to the absurd.

(b) The proposal to demolish OMH means the loss of a fine housing environment ideally suited to older people. It is a betrayal of the stewardship of these public assets which was entrusted to LHAT and which it has abused and betrayed.

(c) The current application and presentations I have heard by LHAT staff have been characterised by inaccurate statements unsupported by any research, surveys or other evidence.

(d) LHAT proposes to spend £11.3 million on its schemes, giving an average gross cost per flat of £120,000, about twice the average price of a house in Liverpool 15, to provide two dense clusters of dwellings.

The Save Olive Mount Heights Campaign asks the City Council to refuse planning permission for this application.

Jim Hart
Campaign co-ordinator, SOMHC

APPENDIX - Living in the Heights . . .