Moving Forward on Hollymoor Lane

Rosebery Housing Association have withdrawn from this project and the borough council are set to take the lead on regenerating the area at the heart of the Longmead Estate, which has lain semi-derelict for years.

This initiative follows on from the successful Lib Dem campaigns to demolish the Sefton Arms pub and to landscape that area. Now the Lib Dems are driving forward to see both short-term and permanent solutions. Lib Dem councillors are part of a working group set up with the objectives of attracting a new developer and improving the appearance of the site in the short-term.

Cllr David Buxton who represents Court ward said "A working group is really good news. It does seem as though we might be able to attract investors and end the stalemate we've had to deal with for so many years. A group of individuals entirely focused on this project can only be a good thing." Colleague Cllr David Morgan added "I know local residents will want to be involved too - a cross section of both owner-occupiers and tenants would be a good mix. Perhaps we can use our Citizens Panel to ask for expressions of interest from local residents.

The council has already been in touch with both the public and private sector. There have been some expressions of interest and in one case, the possibility of some community development funds to improve the look of the whole site until permanent plans are under way. The existing planning permission for the site expires in February 2011 and it is anticipated that a new project will be put forward. The importance of a general store of some kind on this site is absolutely key to the project, say the Lib Dems, but other than that any expressions of interest in the regeneration project are to be welcomed.