Tom Crone (St Michaels Ward)

Tom Crone is the leader of the Green group on Liverpool City Council and an increasingly prominent figure in local politics. I begin our interview by asking him how it feels to have represented the ward in which he lives for over a decade. “It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years. It’s an honour and I still enjoy it. I like it when residents knock on my front door to discuss their issues and it is a privilege to help your neighbours, solve problems and be accessible to the people I represent.”

“I like to support and help the community to come together when there is a particular need. In the past, I helped to organise volunteer days at the Festival Gardens for what is now a thriving volunteer group. We recently set to work cleaning up Tramway Fields and on Saturday I took part in the St Michael’s and Lark Lane Wombles litter pick. We have a big team of volunteers, so we can cover quite a large area.”

Moving on to issues specific in his ward, Tom does his best to ensure that there is an appropriate mix of housing in the area. In particular, Tom says, that there is an ongoing trend of property developers applying to convert existing dwellings into HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupancy), where St Michaels there is more of a demand for family houses. “Recently, I run a petition to present to council and as a result, the Council are looking into strengthening protections.”

Like any area, there is some anti-social behaviour and Tom has worked with residents in the Dingle Rec/Stanyfields area to see if he could help to address the issues. “We got the football pitches upgraded in 2022 and I recently funded CCTV from my local budget. Local residents have told me about the impact of this and they say this has had a dramatic improvement in the quality of their lives. Now I’m a Green and perhaps I am naturally suspicious of CCTV, but this did made a big difference to people’s lives and I am pragmatic enough to acknowledge that.”

Despite being community focussed, Tom still retains an interest in national and international issues, and being a long-standing member of the Green Party, it is unsurprising that Tom also campaigns to reduce carbon emissions. Explaining his interest in the Rosebank Oil and Gas Field in the North Sea, Tom says that he is worried that drilling in the largest remaining untapped oil field will set the country on course to miss emission targets while only profiting the owners of the field, the Norwegian energy giant Equinor and British firm Itaca Energy, “Labour got into power promising no new gas and oil licenses, sure in the knowledge that the Tory party had approved loads of new ones before the election. The Rosebank Oil and Gas Field is a giant carbon bomb that I cannot ignore as a campaigner and an activist. In July, I bought a motion to Council that the government should rescind the license, which was carried in Labour support – quite something in such a Labour stronghold. Green politics is about linking up the local, the national and international”.

Other national issues also cross over into the local, such as the Liverpool City Region’s plan for a Mersey Tidal Barrage or the government’s announcement of a multi-billion pound Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) scheme in Merseyside. Tom explains, “part of the job of any councillor is to scrutinise the decisions that will impact residents for decades to come. So I helped the Liverpool Green Party to organise a public meeting and debate about the benefits or otherwise of a tidal barrage. I came away from the meeting convinced that while on the surface the plan might assist in reducing carbon targets, it will not generate enough electricity to warrant the damage it will do to local wildlife in and around the Mersey. The same might be said for Carbon Capture and Storage, only here we are dealing with central government spin rather than that coming solely out of the Liverpool Metro Mayor’s office. It is outrageous that a recent sharp increase in lobbying by the fossil fuel industry has led to a £22b project based on unproven technology, which then provides an excuse for fossil fuel companies to carry on polluting. The money would be far better spent on a mass insulation programme so that we can keep the carbon where it is, in the ground.”

One final aspect of Tom’s campaigning that he wanted to highlight before he had to leave was his holding Liverpool City Council to account with the “Liverpool Transport Plan”, which he sees as an opportunity to improve the transport infrastructure in the city. “The three Green councillors are relentless in our campaigning for better transport options. Acting on very poor evidence, Joe Anderson abolished Liverpool’s bus lanes after a year-long trial during which it became apparent that he had already made his mind up. Since then, the Council has published a new Transport Plan. When this plan was in development, Cllr Dan Barrington, cabinet member for transport and connectivity, said he would bring bus lanes back in order to deliver greener journeys and tackle congestion. But nothing has changed. So I am raising this at Council level to ask when the Plan will be implemented for the benefit of the local community”

November 2024

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“I have been contacted by several residents regarding the increasing number of HMO conversions taking place in St Michaels,” said Cllr Crone. “Frustratingly, anyone can convert a house in St Michaels into an HMO for up to 5 people without planning permission. In other areas of the city the rules were changed recently to require planning permission. This has helped to reduce the number of HMOs being developed there.

“I am demanding that our area is included in this scheme so residents here can have a say in the future of our neighbourhood.”

If you agree, sign our petition here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stronger-planning-controls-on-hmos-in-st-michaels-and-sefton-park

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The historic villa contains ‘the rare survival of extensive decorative schemes by S J Waring & Sons of the highest skilled craftmanship and materials, notably mahogany, which include the entrance and stair hall, dining room, drawing room, billiards room and study,’ yet it was slated for demolition to make way for a block of modern flats.

Cllr Pitchers stepped in and backed an appeal to Historic England to protect the building. She said: ‘My hope is that this building can now be restored and sensitively converted into housing which does not take away any of the stunning architectural features and enhances the conservation area where it is located.’

This building was known as Enmore after being built to the highest architectural standards in the 1860s and now sits within the Lark Lane conservation area.

Extensions in the 1880s and 1890s were carried out by S J Waring & Sons who catered for the luxury market and had a client list that included Queen Victoria, English aristocracy and the US Vanderbilt and Searle families.

Cllr Pitchers said that preserving the building ‘will also ensure that the role of the slave trade in funding much of the city’s growth in the 18^th and 19^th centuries is not lost or glossed over.’

The villa was originally named Enmore after the sugar plantation village in Guyana owned by Charles James Crosfield, an industry closely linked to slavery. 

Cllr Pitchers added: ‘Preserving this building means that today and into the future we can continue those vital conversations about our past and how together we can make reparations for the crimes of slavery.’

The house is now Grade II listed. Historic England says that the current owner is looking to sell the property and is in talks with prospective buyers.

Stephanie says, “While I would welcome new housing in the area, I would not want it to come with a sacrifice of beautiful historic architecture. My hope for this building is that it can be restored and sensitively converted into housing which does not take away any of the stunning architectural features and enhances the conservation area where it is located.”

The post Local villa saved from the bulldozer as Historic England acts appeared first on Liverpool Green Party.

Bags, gloves, litter picker and sanitiser provided.

Some advice so you can join us safely:

• Always use a litter picker.
• Wear protective gloves if possible.
• Wash your hands (before and after your litter pick), alternatively use hand sanitiser.
• Use your own carrier bag, bucket or cleansing bag to collect litter in.
• Don’t touch any litter with your hands.
• Don’t pick up litter with your hands.

September meeting point: Home Bargains Car Park, Aigburth Road with St Michaels Road, L17 9PE.

The post St Michaels Litter Pick 1st Sunday of the month from 11am appeared first on Liverpool Green Party.

Steph says: “I am thrilled that local residents voted me in on 6th May. THANK YOU to everyone who put their faith in me. I am determined to work hard to represent all St Michaels residents in the council chamber and will carry on the fantastic work achieved by our Green Party councillors. I love and cherish our city and promise you that I will do everything I can to make St Michaels the best place to live, work and play.”

Cllr. Sarah Jennings has stepped down as ward councillor after 13 years of service. Sarah says: “It’s been a pleasure and an honour to have been able to serve the people of St Michaels for the last 13 years, but I think it’s time to let someone new take up the role. I have complete confidence in Steph and know she will be an amazing representative for you. She has great ideas and is passionate about making life better for everyone in Liverpool.”

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Liverpool Green Party have applauded the residents and businesses of Lark Lane on their recent nomination as a ‘Great Street’ at the recent Academy of Urbanism Awards. The iconic Liverpool street narrowly lost out to another entrant in Walthamstow, London.

Green Party Councillor for St. Michaels, Tom Crone said: 

 “To be nominated for this award, only goes to show what we’ve always known; the people and businesses of Lark Lane make it a Great Street. The fact that we didn’t win on this occasion, doesn’t take that away. I’m positive the pride we all have in Lark Lane will just grow after this.”

The awards, held in London last night, recognised Liverpool’s Lark Lane as one of the best areas in the country in areas such as local character, amenity, environmental sustainability, and community health and wellbeing. Lark Lane, which houses some of Liverpool’s best independent restaurants and bars, has always been a favoured haunt of Liverpudlians from across the City.

“I’m engaging with local residents to look at more ways to improve all of the streets in St. Michaels; as a politician, that’s part of my job.  As candidate for Metro-Mayor I know that the city is known for its sense of community and my campaign is hoping to replicate this right across the Liverpool City Region, bringing residents,  communities and Councils together for a fairer deal in future,” added Councillor Crone.

 “Right now, here in St Michaels, we’re all disappointed but we’re also immensely proud.“

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