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Top story
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Public consultation to start on World Heritage status
A six-week public consultation is set to start on a document that sets out the framework for protecting and enhancing Liverpool’s status as a World Heritage Site. The Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), ordered by heritage protection organisation UNESCO, recommends that the construction of all tall buildings is restricted to two clusters: the commercial district and around the southern gateway. It also outlines measures to protect views of landmark buildings. Cllr Peter Millea, Liverpool City Council’s executive member for assets and development, welcomed the report saying it provides a framework to get “the right balance between development and heritage”. Liverpool Vision chief executive Jim Gill added that it could “encourage investment and development and to enhance the economic strength of the city”. The SPD has been funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and English Heritage.
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Today's news
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Breaking news: Manchester votes NO to C-charge
The people of Greater Manchester have voted overwhelmingly against benefiting from £3bn of investment in public transport. Critics of the proposals, which would have meant new buses, trains and trams for the people of the city region, were particularly vociferously opposed to the congestion charge element of the package. All ten boroughs voted against the proposals. Manchester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein said low turnout may have been a factor in the outcome. MIDAS chief executive Colin Sinclair said: "Everyone has agreed we need better transport, so we need to work on plan B." 
MP takes port rates debate to the Commons
A reception to discuss the problems caused by the port rates issue is to be held at the House of Commons on Monday. There has been a chorus of outrage from maritime businesses and organisations over the government’s plans to separately assess port-based businesses for business rates and retroactively charge rates back to April 2005. Claire Curtis-Thomas, MP for Crosby, who is sponsoring the event, said: “This issue is of great concern to the many MPs and constituent businesses affected not just by the ongoing liability but also by the huge backdated rates bills these companies face. Liverpool has been one of the hardest-hit port areas and it threatens many businesses and jobs at a time when we can ill afford to lose either.”
Newz up for restaurant award
Liverpool’s Newz Bar has been shortlisted for the title of Best North West Restaurant at the Hi-Life Dining Awards 2009, which is taking place at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester on 30 January. The restaurant will battle it out against Dilli in Altrincham, Blackhouse Grill in Chester and Preston-based Thyme at Sirloin and Healey’s at Barton Grange Hotel. It is the 25th anniversary of the ceremony, which is organised by Blackpool-based dining club Hi-Life.
How to take your company private
It was predicted that 2008 would be the year in which a stream of quoted companies would choose to leave the stock markets and continue their corporate lives in peace and quiet as private companies. It wasn’t, but there are still plenty of companies considering leaving the markets – and plenty of acquirers and investors interested in taking businesses private. Gary Houghton, corporate finance partner at Baker Tilly, says: “We are aware of boards actively looking at the opportunity to go private, but it’s a difficult decision. It is difficult to fund, the outcome is uncertain and it’s expensive.” To read more, visit our online Deals Advice section and click on How to… Take your company private.
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Something for the weekend
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Deal of the week
It’s been a quiet week for deals, but thanks to our friends who give us purple to shlurple, there is something to celebrate. Nichols, the maker of Vimto based in Newton-le-Willows, acquired a 50 per cent of Dayla Liquid Packing for £2.78m with a further £1m deferred until December 2009. The deal will help Nichols build market share in the dispense sector in the UK and overseas, and gives it direct access to the growing premium juice market.
Hold me close
Startling news from former Brookside actor Dean “Jimmy Corkhill” Sullivan, who has said he might table a bid for Brookside Close, now reportedly available for £600,000 – a far cry from the £2.4m quoted a couple of years ago. Then, it was deemed such an exclusive offer the agents declined Insider's request for one of the special brochures detailing the fictional histories lived out in each house. Sullivan said: “It could be turned into a tourist spot.” The emphasis should probably be on the word “could” there.
Superlambanana news
Superlambanana news has been a little quiet of late, so three cheers for Liverpool-based retailer TJ Morris and its latest brainwave. The business has shunned the usual mix of Z-list celebrities to open its new Home Bargains store at Rutherglen near Glasgow, preferring instead to get one of our banana-shaped friends to do the deed. And once it has done its red ribbon-cutting duties, TJ Morris then plans to take it, and “a number” of other Superlambananas, on a tour of its new UK stores to share them with customers. Quite what a shop full of bargain-hunting Scots will make of a half lamb, half banana-shaped creature blocking the way to the tills is another matter.
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