Regional News North West The Ferry Landing Stage, Woodside, Birkenhead constructed by the Woodside, North Birkenhead and Liverpool Steam Company in 1861, is a floating landing stage connected to the land by hinged bridges is the oldest stage on the Mersey 4?ld possibly in the world. It has recently been listed, presumably as a response to the threat of redevelopment by the Merseyside Development Corporation. In spite of listing the threat to the stage still remains, the M.D.C. intending to press ahead with redevelopment, listing being considered as a minor 'hiccup' in the progress of the work! The argument being put forward is that much time, fees and effort has already been expended in the redevelopment proposals. It is astounding that a body such as the M.D.C. did not ask for a certificate of exemption from listing prior to carrying out their expensive development works. We look forward to a public inquiry on the proposed redevelopment. In Liverpool the outcome of another public inquiry into the proposals for the demolition and redevelopment of Casey Street is also awaited with interest. The choice of Architects and the method of selection for works to Grade one listed buildings in both Liverpool and Manchester is becoming a matter of concern to Conservation Officers in both Merseyside and Greater Manchester. Economic pressure, once a viable contract for adaptive reuse is underway,is used as a reason for lowering . ~ standards the result is an unacceptable compromise, grant aid is demanded of right but the conditions with grants are seen by developers as minor limitations which may be swept aside. Clearly, the Merseyside Task Force requires the advice of the Commission in monitoring the situation, once the broad principles have been agreed with R.F.A. and other consultative bodies. One conservation officer was asked by the partner of a firm of Architects who had been short listed by the G.P.O. for the Lyceu"" project could he borrow any information on Thomas Harrison since he knew nothing of his work and was to appear at a interview with his prosppective clients the following day. A.C.O. contacts in Manchester confirm that the same thing is happening there, and so it continues throughout the region. On the brighter side A.C.O. recruitment continues into the unknown regions of North Wales, where it is rumoured a lonely and almost extincttribe of Conservation officers has been recently d; .<:,covered! -10South West rrhe South West Region of ACOheld a day seminar in Bath on March 9th, hosted by Chris Pound, J'Ohn Kitley, David lV,cLaughlin and James Elliott of Bath City Council Dept. of E.:nvironmental Services. Deliberately, there was no formal agenda - with the Oxford course and AGMcoming up, it was felt that most of the outstanding issues would be well covered there, and we hoped that an informal meeting would encourage new or potential- members to raise matters.they felt strongly about. Particularly strong feelings were expressed over liaison with the DoE on s4 and slO grant work, with complaints of duplication of work and
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