Inspecting Liverpool, part one

I’ve been doing this for years. No one asked me and no one thanks me, but someone’s got to do it. Check how the place is doing.

So every now and then, particularly when it’s a nice day, I take my camera and my curiosity and go where my feet, and the occasional bus take me. To inspect Liverpool.

Today begins, as so many have these last few years, with Granby 4 Streets, the last remaining original streets in Granby. And they’re looking beautiful in the sunshine.

Now, whisper it, and cross all your fingers, toes and thumbs too, but things are looking reasonably positive for the 4 Streets at the moment. ‘Discussions are continuing’ – that’s all I’m saying.

Meanwhile, along Princes Avenue:

Showing the damage that gets done when a street’s houses are removed, and replaced by new ones that turn away from the street. There’s not much there there.

On a day like this nearly all these south Liverpool streets look wonderful and much loved. Even the largely empty streets of Granby, I know, are much loved and being much worked on. I’ll be back another day to see how things are for the Welsh Streets, but now it’s Festival Time.

I liked it. It was a bit more low key than I’ve known it to be. Less visiting stalls. But I think that placed more attention on the shops and cafés that are there all the time. And that’s as it should be. A beautiful place, celebrating itself and, ideally, attracting in some new people.

All good there then. So, next I’m off to inspect some of North Liverpool.

But that’ll be for the next post. Walton, Stanley Park, Anfield, Everton and back to the City Centre, on foot.

So, come back next time for ‘Inspecting Liverpool, Part Two.’