Latest news with #Wavertree
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Liverpool street where Beatles legend George Harrison was born puts a chain up...to stop tourists getting in
They come from Here, There and Everywhere to see the childhood home of the Beatles legend George Harrison. But residents in the terrace street where the late guitarist spent the first seven years of his life have become increasingly irate at being inundated with tourists and day trippers – and have now chained off the road in an attempt to stop the disruption. Access to Arnold Grove was restricted earlier this month after residents complained that the number of Beatles fans descending on the street had surged since a blue heritage plaque was put up outside number 12, where Harrison lived, last year. A chain now in place across the entrance to the street in Liverpool's Wavertree district carries a sign which says: 'Private Road - Residents Access Only'. Arnold Grove is unadopted, meaning Liverpool City Council is not responsible for it. Harrison, the Beatles' lead guitarist, was the youngest of four children and lived in the street until his family moved into a council house in the suburb of Speke. The three-bedroom property is now and Air BnB marketed at Beatles fans. As is the case with John Lennon, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney's childhood homes in South Liverpool, Arnold Grove has become a hotspot for tourists - featuring on tours - and residents of the Wavertree street said this has only increased since the plaque was installed. The BBC reported on Monday that a chain was put up as residents had complained about their privacy being invaded by tourists. Chris Bennett, who lives on the street and is licensee of The Cock and Bottle pub on the nearby High Street, told the BBC: 'Since the blue plaque went up it's been ridiculous.. The volume of traffic is too much now and we don't get any peace. 'The first taxi could come at 9am and my wife will see another on the road when she gets home at 9pm. 'You get people looking through the window and if you leave your front door open they look through the door.' The Magical Mystery tour run by the Cavern Club, the Liverpool venue synonymous with the Beatles, is one of the tours which frequently calls at the site. But a resident called Onyema, who didn't wish to give his surname, said he had lived on Arnold Grove for around a year and did not see the visits of Beatles fans as a problem. He told the Liverpool Echo: 'Tourists don't park here, they park the tour coaches on the main road and then they come here. They always come around but I don't have a problem with it. 'It's a good street to live on - it's a lovely place. I like the fact tourists come here.' Harrison's widow, Olivia, unveils the plaque outside his childhood home in May 2024 The tour used to take people onto the street but this has stopped since the chain was put in place. Holly Andrews, 36, from Pennsylvania, USA, was among the Beatles tourists to depart the bus in Wavertree on Friday. She was sad not to have made it onto the street but understood concerns from the residents. She said: 'I did this tour in 2008 and I was just looking at my photo from being in front of the house. But in the same token, these people have a right to their own privacy and their homes. 'It's great to be able to see it and imagine the guys walking down the street and doing their thing. But it's also being respectful to the home owners and striking that balance.' Liverpool-based Beatles tour guide Jackie Spencer wrote on Facebook: 'Many people are contacting me asking my opinion on the chain across Arnold Grove. I've been biding my time and considering how to reply, but the truth is I am livid. 'Not at the residents of Arnold Grove. Not at all. 'They've put up with a lot over the years and in my 30 years as a guide they've always been lovely and welcoming to me because I have never overstepped the mark and treated everyone with the respect and gratitude they deserve. (left to right) Ringo Starr, George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney in a Beatles publicity picture from 1963 'I am livid at the fake unlicensed guides, taxi drivers & lone tourists who have absolutely no respect for people's privacy.' 12 Arnold Grove was marked with a blue plaque to celebrate George's contribution to culture through film, music and his humanitarian work. The musician's widow, Olivia Harrison unveiled the Historic England plaque in May 2024. Somewhat prophetically, she said that while her husband would have been 'touched' by his childhood home being honoured, she felt he would be 'nervous' the current residents might get disrupted because of it. A spokesman for the Magical Mystery tour told The Telegraph that it had received no previous complaints about increasing tourist numbers, and said it had a 'great relationship' with the street's residents. Harrison died in November 2001 at the age of 58 following a battle with cancer.
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Merseyside Police reveal four of Liverpool's most dangerous roads
Four of the most dangerous roads in Liverpool have been revealed by police as part of a safety awareness roads - in Wavertree, Belle Vale and the city centre - have been identified as collision hotspots by Merseyside Fletcher, from the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership, said a number of factors could lead to a junction becoming include driver error, limited visibility due to foliage, broken traffic signs and poor road markings. "We've identified areas where the foliage is blocking the signage or blocking vision into the road and we've had that cut back by the local authority," said Mr Police said Liverpool's current collision hotspots were:Bold Street's junction with Hanover Street in the city centreChildwall Valley Road's junction with Chislehurst Avenue in Belle ValeSmithdown Road's junction with Gresford Avenue in WavertreeInnovation Boulevard's junction with Wavertree Boulevard in WavertreeRuth Bennett, a councillor in Belle Vale, said local residents had raised concerns about the junction of Childwall Valley Road and Chislehurst Avenue following several serious collisions."We are looking at measures to increase the visibility of the junction, to filter traffic better and if there is anything we can do to improve signage," she Bennett said speeding and driver error had been factors in recent crashes.A team of road safety experts will conduct on-site assessments and review contributing factors to determine what can be done to prevent further Police last year joined forces with the fire service and Liverpool City Council to try to reduce road traffic collisions across the city. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Guardian
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Bernie Carroll obituary
My friend Bernie Carroll, who has died aged 75, was an inveterate writer of letters to the Liverpool Echo newspaper, firing off four or five of them each week over a period of about 40 years. He was labelled 'the most opinionated man in Liverpool' by one Echo reporter, and embraced the title with glee. Bernie also made a local name for himself as one of the maverick members of the Liverpool School of Language, Music, Dream and Pun, a gathering place for experimental actors, writers, musicians and free-thinkers that was based in an old fruit warehouse during the 1970s. One of his chief partners in mischief there was the actor, director and writer Ken Campbell, and between them they ran the underwater theatre at Liverpool University swimming baths, where performers would go through productions dressed in full costume while breathing through snorkels. Bernie was born in the Wavertree area of Liverpool to James, a civil servant, and his German wife, Marga (nee Theel). He was too much of a mischief-maker and iconoclast to follow his father into desk-bound government work, and after finishing at Skerrys school in the late 60s he worked as a tiler, chef, gardener, bouncer and upholsterer, before setting up his own business drawing, printing and selling postcards and posters. It was in his early 20s that he came into the orbit of the Liverpool School as an artist, street musician and one-man band, and by his 30s he had begun to write to the Liverpool Echo, often on a daily basis. 'When I discovered the letters page I thought 'well, I've got a gripe with society. I'm going to write in every day,' ' he once said. Bernie married Steph Dodds, a fashion designer, in 1994, and she joined him in his postcards and posters business until he began to wind down operations over the past couple of years. He is survived by Steph, a niece, Michelle, and a great-nephew, Jake.
Leader Live
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Trio disappointed as they all slip to league losses
Paul Jenkins had the hosts in a spin, taking 6-57 in his 27.4 over haul as Wavertree were bowled out for 135. Carwyn Johnson also took 3-27 before he top scored with 37 as Hall's reply only reached 123 - 13 runs short of a winning score. Third-placed Hall are now 38 points behind leaders Ainsdale, who beat Prestatyn by seven wickets. Second-placed Caldy won by 24 runs at St Helens Town, who were bowled out for 152. In Division One of the Seconds XI League, Hall were beaten by three wickets at home to Wavertree. Mike Williamson (36) and Gareth Fox (34) helped Hall to 143 but despite Liam Evans-Ford taking 4-77, the visitors reached 144 for seven. Chirk were skittled out for just 76 in a 176-run home Shropshire League hammering at the hands of Worfield Seconds. The visitors opened up with 252 for seven, Billy Swarbrick and Hidayat Haroonkhail taking two wickets each. Shaun Walker's 34 was the highlight of Chirk's response as Tom Parker landed 5-25. It was just as bad for Chirk Seconds in Division Seven as they were thrashed by 164 runs at Condover Seconds, who posted 218 for eight (Alfie Shaw 4-55). Harry Lunt (11) was the only one to reach double figures for Chirk, who were dismissed for just 54. Rick Moore's super century was all in vain as Chester Boughton Hall lost by six wickets at home to Nantwich in the Cheshire County Premier League. Moore blasted 108 in Hall's 232 with Andrew Metcalf adding 40 before Luke Robinson's unbeaten 126 led the visitors to a match-winning 236 for four (Jack Williams 3-87). Neston celebrated a 71-run win at home to Oxton, who were bowled out for 136 chasing the hosts' 207 for five. Matthew Maritz top scored with an unbeaten 83 for Neston as he put on 98 with David Manchett (52 not out). Matthew Strong snapped up 5-39 as Oxton were bowled out cheaply.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Assistant headteacher at top secondary school sacked after giving out award making fun of student's 'sexual assault' - two years after he was branded a 'risk to children' by council official
The assistant headteacher of one of Liverpool's most prestigious grammar schools has been sacked two years after being branded a 'risk to children'. Nick Barends lost his claim for unfair dismissal from The Blue Coat School in 2023 - making it the second time he lost his job at the institution in Wavertree. In 2010, Mr Barends was dismissed over his conduct with an A-level student that was considered an 'inappropriate relationship'. Despite the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) concluding that Mr Barends 'remained a risk to children', he was reinstated by a panel of governors and continued teaching at the school. Two years later, Mr Barends was accused of handing out an award at prom making fun of a student's complaint about a sexual assault. He was accused of handing out an award to the student 'you would least like to share a taxi with' to a male pupil who had been accused of sexually assaulting a female pupil in the back of a taxi - with the alleged victim of the assault in the audience at the time. In 2022, the alleged victim came forward to raise her concerns about Mr Barends' continued presence at the school and she provided testimony to the tribunal. The fresh allegations about the senior leader's behaviour at the prom led to a new disciplinary process - resulting in his dismissal a year later. During the six day tribunal at the Liverpool Civil and Family Courts there were frequent references to the previous disciplinary situation he had faced at the school. Mr Barends' representative Darren Webb sought to suggest that the award had been simply titled 'the Liverpool Taxi award' and was related to the pupil either being sick in a taxi or having a disagreement with a taxi driver. But this was disputed by Simon Gorton, the lawyer for The Blue Coat School. Mr Gorton said: 'Why would the event, if it did not involve improper sexual behaviour and was merely for alienating a taxi driver, have any prominence two years later? 'Why would that in-joke be met with hilarity and approbation from some? The answer is because it was a direct reference to a sexual event.' Judge Ainscough stated that the tribunal found that Mr Barends was in fact guilty of gross misconduct and that he did in fact know about the sexual assault when handing out the award at the prom event in 2012. She told Mr Barends that the school 'could not have had 'any trust or confidence in your continued employment' before dismissing both claims of unfair dismissal and breach of contract. Following the result, a spokesperson for The Blue Coat School said: 'While we are pleased that we have an outcome that vindicates our decision to dismiss the member of staff; and, that it draws a line under this issue. 'The judge found the school has acted wholly appropriately over recent years in respect of this case but today is not about celebrating. 'At the heart of this tribunal is a former female pupil who came forward to share her experiences. It is her actions that enabled this case to reach a just conclusion, and her bravery and co-operation should rightly be acknowledged 'We are deeply sorry that this individual feels like she has been let down by some staff in the past, and hope that today continues to provide her with both some closure and reassurance that she has been heard. We will also continue to work tirelessly to ensure that no such issue will happen again in the future. 'We will also ensure that organisations like the Teaching Regulation Agency are fully aware of the tribunal outcome.'
