Childhood home of Thomas the Tank Engine’s voice saved

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

A community’s efforts have saved the childhood home of a narrator of children’s television programmes.

Housing Minster Grant Shapps announced the news that the birthplace of Thomas the Tank Engine star Ringo Starr would not be demolished.

Starr, sometime percussionist with 60s riff-based band The Beatles, lived at 9 Madryn Street, Liverpool during his early childhood.

Sentimental fans of Starr, nee Richard Starkey, have long struggled to preserve the property for reasons of homage.

Shapps, previously associated with 80s rap acts rather than 60s beat combos, confirmed the property’s perseveration along with £13.3 million he was making available to bring empty homes across Liverpool into use.

Aware of local opposition to the demolition plans, Shapps stepped in to ensure that the views of local people were properly heard, and that other options were being considered.

He asked TV’s George Clarke, newly appointed as Empty Homes Independent Adviser, to work closely with Liverpool City Council, the local community and housing associations to see what could be done before sending in the bulldozers

Liverpool City Council have agreed to give the local community the opportunity to take over and refurbish 16 of the properties on the street, and in doing so gauge the demand for such properties in the wider area.

The Government are determined to bring more homes back into use. £150 million has been allocated to bring more empty homes back into circulation, including £50 million to tackle clusters of these empty properties.

The cash will be used as part of a funding package to save 750 homes from demolition in Liverpool. These will now be refurbished and brought back into use.

Shapps said: “Ringo Starr’s home is a significant beacon of Beatlemania, a bricks and mortar reminder of a hugely important influence on British music.  But it’s also a lot more than that - a real example of communities having the power and voice to step in a save the places they treasure most.

Shapps then began to pun heavily: “With the Help! of Liverpool residents we worked it out and Madryn street can be saved for the nation. Its future will now be in the hands of local residents – if they can make a success of this street then many more similar houses and streets could be saved.

“The £14million will help to transform run-down houses into homes to be proud of.  Rather than destroy swathes of housing indiscriminately, we have listened to the local community. This is a step forward in making Madryn Street a great place to live as well as a must-see stop off while on a Magical Mystery Tour of this great city.”