Liverpool council chiefs hit back at 'beyond revival' claims » Housing » 24dash.com

Council chiefs in Liverpool hit back at the suggestion made by a think tank that the city was beyond revival.

Policy Exchange said residents would be better off moving to London and the south-east than waiting for the once-powerful port city's economy to boom again.

Liverpool has committed huge resources to regenerating itself in recent times, and is this year's European Capital of Culture.

The economic development company Liverpool Vision touts the area as "one of the UK's leading business destinations", and says that £4 billion has been committed to improving the fabric of the city.

Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council said: "The past decade has seen unprecedented growth in Liverpool's economy, which has surpassed many southern towns and cities.

"Millions of visitors during our Capital of Culture year have seen for themselves the massive investment which is transforming Liverpool into a top European city.

"Even the report's authors said it was likely to be dismissed as barmy.

"It's the only thing they got right."

Peter Kilfoyle, Labour MP for Liverpool Walton, said the report "is bizarre, it is unrealistic, and it is untrue".

He said: "A dry statistical analysis does show that we are behind the south of England but what it also shows is that we are improving almost on a daily basis."

He said there was a good record of private firms ploughing money into places like his own constituency, adding: "I have to tell the authors that Liverpool may be in decline compared to the figures they produce for Dover and Felixstowe, it's not in decline compared to it's own record - it puts a bigger tonnage out, and is more profitable now than it has ever been."