A controversial businessmen's plans to turn a modest residential property in a quiet Hillside street into a block of apartments with balconies overlooking neighbours' gardens seems to have been 'on hold' for the moment.

http://pa.sefton.gov.uk/online-appli...RM-1700604.pdf

http://pa.sefton.gov.uk/online-appli...=OTPAZ7NWINB00

http://pa.sefton.gov.uk/online-appli...NT-1706816.pdf

A bid by Jason Pickthall to have the current house at 5 Selworthy Road, Hillside, demolished and replaced by a modernistic three floor apartment block was due to be heard at tomorrow night (Wednesday)'s Planning Committee meeting. Local residents were geared up to present a petition endorsed by local ward councillor Tony Dawson and to explain their detailed objections to the plans to members of the Planning Committee.

However, the item has not appeared on the agenda of this month's Planning Committee meeting, as previously threatened,which is providing both hope and worry to residents.

A notice which appeared at the front of the property on a 'For Sale' sign, declaring that planning permission for the apartments had been agreed disappeared nearly as quickly as it had been put up.

Jason Pickthall, once worth £66 million, famously refused a multi-million pound bid from Vodaphone for his £160 million 'Phone People' empire which went bankrupt in 2000 only a few months after the bid. The larger-than-life entrepreneur was convicted in 2011 for beating up his then girlfriend's 15-year-old daughter but the 22 month sentence was reduced to one of 38 days on appeal. Mr Pichthall's proposals for the Selworthy Road property were originally associated with his Cayman Island based 'Crown' group of companies but are now being handled by local planning agent Paul Ennis.

Councillor Tony Dawson says: "This is a straightforward money-making scheme at the expense of the environment of a quiet West Birkdale street. I have asked the Planning Committee members to visit the site to see for themselves the impact these proposals would have."

"Like local residents, I had nothing against a modest previous 'demolish and build' proposal which has been passed on this site. There have been similar recent developments on Trafalgar Road and Lancaster Road and some of the buildings concerned are a credit to the neighbourhood."

"But this apartment plan is grossly out-of-keeping, out of scale and will destroy the privacy of neighbouring residents. It is trying to cram five properties into one. I very much hope the planning committee and its officers will refuse permission to build these flats."

"Larger than life" : a diplomatic description.

I take it that this is another news article written by Cllr Dawson rather than roving eye as the exact same article appears elsewhere.
Do Cllr Dawson and Cllr Barton get paid by Qlocal and other sites to write their news for them or are the councillors paying these sites for the exposure?

I take it that this is another news article written by Cllr Dawson rather than roving eye as the exact same article appears elsewhere.
Do Cllr Dawson and Cllr Barton get paid by Qlocal and other sites to write their news for them or are the councillors paying these sites for the exposure?

Does it matter?

Originally Posted by pedoja

Does it matter?

Yes i think it should be made clear when something is a self penned piece written by a politician rather than a balanced news story.

Its says "reported by roving eye" but i bet he hasn't written a single word of it.