Report says Stanley St Quarter can boost economy
LIVERPOOL City Council’s cabinet will today consider a report recommending that the public and private sector work together to promote the Stanley Street quarter as the centre of the city’s own “gay village”.
The report acknowledges the role that Stanley Street already plays as the focal point for the city’s lesbian, gay and transgender communities (LGBT) but also says that neighbouring streets such as Cumberland St and Eberly St should be included in the rebranding of the area.
Councillor Nick Small, city council cabinet member for employment and skills, said: “This is a very important piece of work on how the Stanley Street Quarter can develop in the future. It shows that the quarter can play an important role in the economic development of the city as a whole by attracting more tourists and visitors to the city.”
The report states that cities such as Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham have reaped the economic benefits of similar quarters and that Stanley Street has the potential to match them.
Small said: “Stanley Street is a vibrant area but it has nowhere near reached its full potential. The proposals set out in this report have many interesting and original ideas about how its appeal can be extended and how it can be prompted.
“We now need to look at what is achievable and how best we can go about that. What is important is that we have the support of the various interests in the area about how we go forward.”
Councilor Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for community safety, said: “As we are approaching the second Pride Festival in the city, it is an appropriate time to focus attention on what direction the Stanley Street quarter should take.
“The report makes it clear that while there is a great potential for this area, there is still a feeling that the city is less accepting of the LGBT community than other cities and we have to work hard with our partners and the community to counteract that.”
The study recommends that a community trust be established to provide a common voice for the area, that architectural changes to the streetscape are made to reduce or restrict traffic, that buildings are modified to improve access and that at least one building is demolished to create a new public square.
It also suggests working with existing and potentially a new hotel operator to create a gay hotel.
