Read the full text of the proposal to save Ringo Starr's Madryn Street home

Thanks to David Bedford of the Save Madryn Street (SMS) committee, here's the full text of the proposal to save Ringo Starr's Madryn Street home that was given to Sheridan Scott of the Liverpool Planning Department Wednesday.

There's more information online at the group's Facebook page.

SAVE MADRYN STREET CAMPAIGN

Proposal to demolish seven of the "Welsh Streets"
Planning Application 10PM/1551

Dear Sheridan Scott

We are a group that was formed at a public meeting in Liverpool today (25th August 2010) with the aim of seeking the preservation of Madryn Street by reason of its great historical importance, by virtue of the fact that Ringo Starr, of The Beatles, was born at number 9 Madryn Street.

Further to the public notices in relation to this Planning Application, please take this as a formal objection to Liverpool City Council (LCC) to the above mentioned Planning Application, as described, and in particular that element of the proposal that would see the demolition of Madryn Street.

For the reasons set out below in further detail we consider that the scheme to demolish the Welsh Streets is ill-conceived and should be subject to further detailed scrutiny, by the Planning Committee and the City Council, rather than by officers under delegated powers.

We also give notice that if Planning Permission is granted by Liverpool City Council we intend to seek a Public Inquiry into the element of the Scheme that involves the demolition of Madryn Street.

We are aware of an objection raised by the Welsh Streets Home Group, and we strongly support their assertion that changes in the housing market significantly call into question the entire scheme, rendering it unlikely that funding will be found in the foreseeable future to re-build homes on the site. We therefore urge LCC to subject the entire project to a review, in order to establish the potential to retain Madryn Street, for its historic associations and huge tourism potential.

Number 9 Madryn Street was the birthplace of Richard Starkey on 7th July 1940. It was the house where he lived in the early years of his life. Madryn Street is therefore a vital and irreplaceable element of Liverpool's Beatles Heritage, and has tremendous potential to help the regeneration of the area and promote the economy of the wider city.

In its current, boarded-up state, it is already a very popular stopping-off point for tens of thousands of Beatles tourists each year. You will be aware of the furore that has been caused in the UK and around the world when it was made known to the wider public that 9 Madryn Street has been scheduled for destruction.

It is our belief that tide of opposition will grow and intensify and we therefore urge LLC to refer the proposal to the Planning Committee and for the Planning Committee to instigate a full review of the proposals, commissioning a feasibility study of an alternative scheme, namely to retain and refurbish Marin Street. We envisage that such a scheme would entail Number 9 being opened to a limited number of visitors each day; neighbouring properties could be used as a visitor and interpretations centre. Other homes in the street could be renovated and made available for rent as social housing or as self-catering accommodation or as hotel accommodation.

Destruction of Madryn Street would destroy a unique historic property which has the potential to act as a focal point to stimulate tourism and spending in an area of the city that has failed to benefit directly from the growth in tourism in the Liverpool City Region..

The homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon are already preserved and Ringo is no less important. He was twenty-five per cent of the Beatles and 9 Madryn Street was his actual birthplace, not just a place where he lived. It could be argued that it is more important than Paul's house in Forthlin Road or John's at Mendips.

We urge LLC to take note of the widespread public opposition to the proposal and to go back to the drawing board to commission a viable scheme to save Madryn Street and preserve it for posterity and as a tourist resource.

If demolition were to be sanctioned the rest of the world and future generations in Liverpool will not understand how those in power in 2010 approved such a short-sighted decision.

Philip Coppell
Chairman,
Save Madryn Street Campaign

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Paul McCartney Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-34954-Paul-McCartney-Examiner
Vintage Rock 'n' Roll Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-19248-Vintage-Rock-n-Roll-Examiner
TV on DVD Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-10254-TV-on-DVD-Examiner