How long does it take to demolish one building and build another? - In the case of the old Kirkby Job Centre - it seems that 12 months isn't long enough for the contractors to demolish one building and build another in its place. The contracts to demolish the Job Centre and build a new building would have been lucrative ones, and yet it seems no local firm got the contract - many of the workers seem to not even be from Liverpool. The photo above shows the old Job Centre beginning to get demolished back in July 2002.

Below - 12 months after beginning to demolish the old Job Centre, the place still resembles a building site. Why is it that entire housing estates can be built in a few months yet this project has rolled on for a period of 12 months? Has the project run over its funding limit?

Northwood SRB funds - were they used legally?

The Old Job Centre began to be demolished in July 2002, possibly earlier. At the time - no-one knew what was to become of the spare land but it was always odds on that Knowsley Council would see if there was any way of making money out of it. After some deliberation, it was decided by the Northwood SRB committee that it would be a good idea to fund some new shops/offices to take the place of the Job Centre.


Despite the fact that this building is not actually in Northwood, the Northwood SRB committee decided that it would be a great idea for Knowsley Council to set up another 'not for profit' management committee to run the project and to fund the project to the tune of £750,000, along with match funding which takes the total to a massive one and a half million pounds. Is this actually breaking the rules? Remember, there are plenty of empty shop/office spaces in the town centre already. Imagine how many Children's playgrounds could have been set up with the £750,000? - It is an absolute disgrace that this amount of money can simply be allocated to a project which is not in the area which the money is supposed to fund. This money has not been used to tackle poverty, someone will make a nice packet out of it, and judging by the actual period it's taken to demolish the old Job Centre then build this new building - it would seem contractors aren't exactly straining at the leash to finish it in a hurry.

SRB Committee - Sweeping changes needed.

Northwood SRB funds are being depleted at a fast rate and so far there has been few jobs created for locals, apart from the usual suspects who always land the grants etc. Many people in a position to speak out will stay quiet because kicking the goose that lays the golden egg is not an option for these people. Money meant to tackle poverty is simply being redirected to a variety of dubious and questionable schemes. We need to have more scrutiny over the allocation of Northwood SRB funds - they are being frittered and wasted. We cannot have millions of pounds being given out in the manner they have been. Given Jim Keight's recent defeat as leader of Knowsley Council - he should be kicked off the SRB committee and someone local and accountable put in his place. The whole committee should be put up for re-election and given a chance to explain their decisions so far. You can read more about the allocation of SRB funds here.