Shocking new figures reveal Liverpool City Council is sitting on over £17 Million, given to make communities cleaner, greener and safer.

This money has sat gathering interest in the council’s bank account for up to  10 years while communities miss out.

The “community cash”, know as Section 106 money, has been paid to the council by 100’s of developers over the past decade, in exchange for receiving planning permission.

The city’s Liberal Democrats are leading calls for the council to start spending this money.

“This cash can be used to improve neglected green spaces & sport pitches, make your local park safer, and install new playground equipment for local children,” says Calderstones Lib Dem councillor Liz Makinson.  “In many areas, entire generations have missed out while this cash sits in the bank earning interest for the council”. 

Meanwhile inflation and the rise in building costs over the past decade mean that communities will lose out again when the council finally decides to spend this money. Worse, if the council fails to spend the money in a reasonable time, developers have the right to demand their money back from the city.

Examples of unspent money include:

• Calderstones Park playground, where the council was paid almost £100,000 towards new play exuipment - unspent after 6 years.
• Heron Eccles Playing Field, where developers paid £100,000 to the council for flood prevention measures 10 years ago. 
• Everton Park - £168,000 of work set to start on restoring a nature reserve, using Section 106 money the council has held for up to 10 years

Wherever you live in Liverpool, there will be a nearby park, greenspace or sport pictch which could be regenerated if the council would just release our money.

Please sign the petition below