Seven Scousers call for gates return

Just seven Liverpudlians have written to Sandwell Council to get a pair of historical gates returned to the city.

A campaign was started in the city to return the listed gates, which feature the oldest ever example of the Liver birds motif and have guarded Avery Berkel in Smethwick for 70 years.

However, only eight people have written to the council asking for their return while one Liverpool resident has even written to ask that they remain in Sandwell.

The gates have been at the Smethwick firm since they were brought to the Black Country for repair from the former Liverpool Sailors' Home. They were originally cast in Liverpool by local firm Henry Pooley & Sons in 1840, but had to be removed in the late 1940s to repair war damage. Henry Pooley & Sons later merged with Avery's and the gates were offered to the firm.

Liverpool City Council says city people would like to see the gates returned and put in a memorial garden as a lasting tribute to merchant seamen who lost their lives in the world wars. Avery Berkel has confirmed it will co-operate fully with whatever is decided for the future of the gates but Sandwell regeneration boss Councillor Bob Badham said the ball was in in Liverpool's court and they had not started formal proceedings over the gates.

He said: "We have received eight letters from Liverpool residents; seven who wanted the gates back in Liverpool and one who wanted the gates to stay in Sandwell.

"Liverpool Council said they were going to submit a formal listed building application to remove, refurbish and relocate the gates back to Liverpool in December 2008.

"We haven't heard anything since. We've been as helpful as we can to Liverpool but now the ball is firmly in their court." It is estimated the cost to remove and relocate the gates could be anything over £25,000 and it is not yet clear how the move would be financed.

Tom Farrell, spokesman for Liverpool City Council, said that the council is currently talking to developers Grosvenor Estates who are involved in a major shopping development in Liverpool City Centre and are discussing how the gates would be incorporated into the scheme.

"Until we've done that, which hopefully will be fairly soon, we haven't submitted the application," he said.