Community Design Project

LIBRARY GARDEN OPENS NEW CHAPTER FOR LIVERPOOL

2009-05-25 00:00

A new community garden has been created in Liverpool to provide a haven for the city's book worms.

The £25,000 project has seen disused land adjacent to Old Swan library on Prescot Road turned into a green and relaxing space, featuring trees and plants, seating and a community meeting area.

Funding came from water giant United Utilities, with extra cash from Greening Greater Merseyside and Liverpool City Council Working Neighbourhoods Fund. Environmental charity Groundwork Merseyside project managed the scheme and consulted local residents on the plans.

Local councillors Bernie Turner, Keith Turner and Gary Millar have been actively campaigning to see the site transformed.

Councillor Turner said: "This investment has provided a welcome boost to the area, and given a facelift to a main route into the city centre. The project has turned a disused, characterless space into something altogether more useful and attractive. It's great that the work has been done."

United Utilities is currently working in Liverpool city centre on an £35 million scheme to replace old Victorian water mains, and was keen to help the garden take root.

Tim Stanley from United Utilities said: "Our engineers are a regular fixture in the city centre at the moment, so we are delighted we could help to get this project off the ground. The garden looks superb, and has really lifted the appearance of the area."

United Utilities and Groundwork jointly run a community regeneration scheme called United Futures, which funds local projects across the North West. The garden at Old Swan library is one of the latest initiatives to benefit from the programme. To date, United Futures has generated more than £3million for worthwhile neighbourhood projects.

Derek Robertson from Groundwork Merseyside said: "We expect both library users and the wider community to make use of this relaxing new space. It has made a real difference to the appearance of the area, and we've had some great feedback from local residents."