A community in north Liverpool is at risk of “being forgotten about” without help to maintain its environment, according to a woman who has spent more than 50 years in the area.
Kearsley Street in Kirkdale is situated in a dense part of north Liverpool, with both Goodison and Anfield just a short walk away and some of the city’s busiest roads running either side.
The grass verge divides the homes from the “Pits” Powerleague centre on Whittle Street, which is partly responsible for the green space.
Efforts have been made to brighten the area up in previous years. In 2021, homeowners began to add floral displays including planters outside their properties and installing a row of planters that have lovingly been maintained ever since.
In December 2022, residents on the Victorian terrace came together to add their own Christmas decorations to brighten up the area, with 7,000 lights festooning the trees outside their homes.
Pat Edwards has lived in the area for more than half a century with her husband, John. She said the current state had left them disheartened.
She said, “When we can, me and my husband go out for a walk and everywhere else is looked after, the grass is tended to. Our little street is getting forgotten about.
“We do care about our little street and the environment around it. I’ve lived here for 52 years.
“I’ve been really concerned about the rats we’ve seen. We’ve always loved this street and tried to keep it as nice as we can.
“Every Christmas there would be lights around the trees and things like that but this is more than we can do on our own.”
Pat added how, on occasion, she and John had taken it upon themselves to paint and improve the planters that had been installed outside their home, with John out with his paintbrush as she spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Cllr Tricia O’Brien is the Labour councillor for Kirkdale East where Kearsley Street is located. She said, “I have ensured that £500 worth of flowers are to be delivered.
“The football site have told residents that they have an agreement with Liverpool Council to get the grass cut so I hope that will be done soon. We must make sure it does.
“I really do value the residents of Kearsley Street and we do our best to help them during difficult times.”
A spokesperson for Liverpool Council said, “Our parks, greenspaces and highways are part of our regular grass cutting schedule, which takes place between March and September each year.
“Part of the greenspace on Kearsley Street is owned by a private landowner, who are working in partnership with ourselves and Liverpool Streetscene Services (LSSL) to organise maintenance for the grounds suitable for their needs.
“If residents have any concerns about rats or other pests, they can find out more and report it to our pest control officers via https://liverpool.gov.uk/environmental-problems/pests-and-infestation.”
Powerleague were approached for comment.
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