Stories of ordinary lives proudly told by Echo journalists
David Byrne is one of the Tuebrook residents whose lives are being blighted by rats
David Byrne is one of the Tuebrook residents whose lives are being blighted by rats
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A lot of the stories that are most widely read by The ECHO audience focus on crime and court hearings, writes weekend editor Gary Stewart. We have an excellent court reporter in Adam Everett and an equally fine crime reporter in Patrick Edrich and they keep readers very well informed about what is going on in the seamy side of Liverpool.
But there is much more to our city than drug dealers and murderers. Sure, people are drawn to that kind of story but it represents a vanishingly small fraction of what Merseyside people are up to - people are only interested because that sort of behaviour is so aberrant.
That’s why I want to talk about some community stories we published this weekend that are less flashy but I am equally proud of being a part of bringing to publication.
To kick off is investigations reporter Jonny Blackburn who has been talking to people in Tuebrook who are sick of the filthy rat-infested streets they are forced to inhabit. For some people the ECHO is the fourth emergency service because when they feel those in authority have let them down, they hope the ECHO shining a light on an issue will force the council or the police, or their social landlord, to take action. We will be keeping an eye on Alton Road and Gloucester Road to see what happens next.
Former Winslow bar manager Teresa Walsh
Former Winslow bar manager Teresa Walsh
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We’ve recently reported on the closure of the historic Everton pub the Winslow Hotel, which closed after matchday crowds disappeared in the wake of the club relocation to the Hill Dickinson Stadium from Goodison Park.
We were proud to cover the end of an era and the party that celebrated it, but after the party it was What’s On reporter Paul McAuley who found out what happened next as a business owner from across town swooped in with an offer for the bar staff who had been made redundant.
We don’t always get things right but I am proud to work at a news organisation which remains behind after the story seems to have moved on to tell you what happened next. We are a part of this community too and will be here when other journalists have moved on to the next big story.
Aboard the No. 13 bus en route to Stockbridge Village
Aboard the No. 13 bus en route to Stockbridge Village
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You can't ever accuse Liverpool Echo Sefton and Knowsley local democracy reporter Elliot Jessett of being a house cat. Last week he reported that Arriva had cancelled buses to Stockbridge Village after 6.30pm due to anti social behaviour. After he published that report he took the bus to Stockbridge Village himself to speak to the people that had been affected.
On a drizzly Thursday night he met Harry, who is 88 and was walking home with his daily shop in the rain, now that a bus home was no longer an option. He told Elliot: “It’s not right to cancel the bus service here, not only for myself, but there’s other older people and families who rely on it to get here, or get home.”
Luckily for Harry in the wake of Elliot's reporting Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley took up the issue and by Saturday the bus service had been reinstated.
Over on the Wirral Elliot's colleague Ed Barnes was talking to people in Thurstaston who are worried that a part of the greenbelt enjoyed by generations will soon be gone forever if plans are acted upon to build a solar energy farm at the edge of their farm. Thousands have signed a petition against the move. Whichever side you come down on this is classic local journalism giving communities a voice.
A man in his 70s stood outside terraced housing in Allerton, Liverpool
Forthlin Road resident John Murray who lived in the road during Beatlemania pictured outside the former McCartney family home
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Lastly I wanted to highlight John Murray’s recollections of growing up on the same street which a young Paul McCartney called home.
In many ways this is a story of an ordinary life, adjacent to something extraordinary. But isn’t an ordinary life what most of us have?
I think regional identity reporter Rebecca McGrath told John’s story with dignity and recorded his memories for posterity. As John said, he is one of the few people still living on Forthlin Road who can tell its stories.
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