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Wirral Council last night announced it is to take legal action in a bid to restore historic Port Sunlight Village to its former glory. Residents of thr purpose-built industrial village will be served enforcement notices in the next few days making it mandatory for them to replace alterations that contravene listed planning laws.
Over the past 20 years hundreds of modern double-glazed windows, conservatories, satellite dishes and plastic guttering have been fitted on the 19th century homes. But planning officers say they must be replaced with original-style wooden window frames, at a cost of up to £500 each, as well as cast iron paperwork to preserve the area's unique character.

Conservation officer for Wirral Council, Graham Arnold, said:"Port Sunlight is world famous and recognised as having architecture that is second to none, but what has happened over a 20 year period is that the backs of properties have been altered with inappropriate fittings. Some replacement work has been done by people voluntarily but there is still a lot that needs to be changed. We are seeking to remedy this situation and have drawn up enforcement notices with the help of consultants. They will be served as soon as the enforcement offices are ready." It is not known how many homes willbe affected by the enforcement notices but each will be tailored to a particular property. Mr Arnold added: "Consultants have measured up each individual situation and drawn up details explaining what needs to be done so the person receiving it will know what is expected of them. There will be limited time for compliance which depends on what work needs doing. The decision that this work had to be done was made some time ago and all the residents were well informed. The enforcement notices are the logical next step."

Six people had originally challenged the council's decision that they should remove the offending fittings but their appeals were dismissed by the planning inspectorate. Port Sunlight has some 900 properties with more than 600 in private hands after they were put on the market in 1980. The Village Trust which owns 250 homes has already begun the process of replacing uPVC windows and doors at its properties. It has lodged more than 30 planning applications this month to reverse work carried out in the early 1980's under previous landlord Unilever Merseyside Limited (UML).

The Trust's chief executive, Andrew Tonkiss said:"Every year we do work at about 20 p.c of our houses which includes repointing of chimney stacks and other such minor adjustments. If there is a window,door or plastic guttering that needs work we are doing it to the original style. All of our properties were given permission for alterations in the 1960's but it was inappropriate and we are setting an example by reversing the styles. We have about 100,000 visitors each year and it is vital we preserve the original character as an important tourist attraction."

(Article from the Daily Post - June 9th 2001)

	[ VILLAGE ISSUES ] [ CONSERVATION CONCERN ]
.	Wirral Council last night announced it is to take legal action in a bid to restore historic Port Sunlight Village to its former glory. Residents of thr purpose-built industrial village will be served enforcement notices in the next few days making it mandatory for them to replace alterations that contravene listed planning laws. Over the past 20 years hundreds of modern double-glazed windows, conservatories, satellite dishes and plastic guttering have been fitted on the 19th century homes. But planning officers say they must be replaced with original-style wooden window frames, at a cost of up to £500 each, as well as cast iron paperwork to preserve the area's unique character. Conservation officer for Wirral Council, Graham Arnold, said:"Port Sunlight is world famous and recognised as having architecture that is second to none, but what has happened over a 20 year period is that the backs of properties have been altered with inappropriate fittings. Some replacement work has been done by people voluntarily but there is still a lot that needs to be changed. We are seeking to remedy this situation and have drawn up enforcement notices with the help of consultants. They will be served as soon as the enforcement offices are ready." It is not known how many homes willbe affected by the enforcement notices but each will be tailored to a particular property. Mr Arnold added: "Consultants have measured up each individual situation and drawn up details explaining what needs to be done so the person receiving it will know what is expected of them. There will be limited time for compliance which depends on what work needs doing. The decision that this work had to be done was made some time ago and all the residents were well informed. The enforcement notices are the logical next step." Six people had originally challenged the council's decision that they should remove the offending fittings but their appeals were dismissed by the planning inspectorate. Port Sunlight has some 900 properties with more than 600 in private hands after they were put on the market in 1980. The Village Trust which owns 250 homes has already begun the process of replacing uPVC windows and doors at its properties. It has lodged more than 30 planning applications this month to reverse work carried out in the early 1980's under previous landlord Unilever Merseyside Limited (UML). The Trust's chief executive, Andrew Tonkiss said:"Every year we do work at about 20 p.c of our houses which includes repointing of chimney stacks and other such minor adjustments. If there is a window,door or plastic guttering that needs work we are doing it to the original style. All of our properties were given permission for alterations in the 1960's but it was inappropriate and we are setting an example by reversing the styles. We have about 100,000 visitors each year and it is vital we preserve the original character as an important tourist attraction." (Article from the Daily Post - June 9th 2001)