Sefton campaigner recommends Victorian verandah maintenance programme to boost grant funding prospects

SEFTON CAMPAIGNER:Pictured above, David Barton

By David Barton

A campaigner for the heritage of Sefton is recommending that property owners of buildings comprising Victorian verandahs along Liverpool Road consider the establishment of a long-term cost-effective refurbishment schedule.

Mr. Barton is suggesting that property owners consult him regarding obtaining joint restorative support between the corresponding properties as a means of improving the area and supporting key stakeholders and civic contractors alike.

This would predominantly consist of, although not exclusively, a refurbishment of a whole parade of shop units bearing the same design to retain the exact same decorative paint sequence in addition to the correct outflow of water.

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Former Councillor for the Dukes Ward, David Barton, is endeavouring with his overarching campaign to bring levelling up growth to the Borough.

The community campaigner, whose ultimate focus is the restoration of Sefton, is highlighting the value of old builds in the modern day and the multiple advantages they confer besides aesthetic appeal. Mr. Barton is mounting an educational drive to illustrate to a broader audience why people should be supporting traditional vernacular architecture backed by a strong rationale.

Mr. Barton says: “Having previously and successfully deployed this very same strategy along Lord Street - which has enabled a full and thorough restoration of up to 94% of the units there to date, I am now hoping to replicate this model across Birkdale Village and the wider Liverpool Road area.

By proactively strengthening the local authority’s chances at securing new heritage funding, which is yet to be secured here, I believe this will encourage a progressive return to traditional vernacular architecture in the long-term future. When people can see for themselves the true justification for appreciating sound construction, that is neither constrained by any one decade nor harmful to the environment, this will also prevail in old-fashioned common sense and wisdom.

The crescent of shops based along Liverpool Road is one such prime example where my tried and tested theory can be economical, ecologically and environmentally conducive should such an approach be adopted and established moving forwards.

There are many advantages for multiple key stakeholders, not least the individual and group property owners and their tenants, the chosen civic contractors and Sefton Council who preside over a key Conservation Area here.

It is exactly this type of fiscal use of resources and experience that will be paramount to Sefton’s future success borough-wide and indeed may even attract the support of wider nationwide support parallel to Whitehall, such as Architecture and Conservation Pioneers including His Royal Highness- King Charles III.”

If you would like to contact Mr. Barton to discuss any of his points you can reach him via email at: davidbarton.dukesward@outlook.com

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