Hartley’s Village in battle over dumping on square
Members of the Hartley’s Village Residents Association have reacted furiously to a large green fence
People living in a model village built in the shadow of one of Liverpool’s most historic factories face a battle after ‘illegal’ fencing and plant equipment was dumped at the back of their homes almost overnight.
For more than 100 years, the square behind Hartley’s Village has been used as a recreation space for families living in the community created by William Pickles Hartley for the workers in his jam factory across the road. Alongside 49 homes, the space was once home to a tennis court and bowling green.
This was dug up in the 1970s and replaced with hard standing, which was used by residents under an agreement with various owners that anything placed on the land can be removed.
The entire village was designated as a conservation area for its importance as an example of Victorian-manufacturing philanthropy. This means planning rules are much tighter on what can and cannot be built.
Now however, the communal space previously used for Christmas tree displays, events and summer gatherings, has been blocked off by a green fence put up without permission and members of the Hartley’s Village Residents Association are not happy about it.
The new fencing and plant equipment on the land has also prompted an enforcement notice to be issued by Liverpool Council, ordering the fence to be removed.
According to the Land Registry, as of September 2024, the land was bought by NWMS Property Ltd from previous owners Paul Waite and Gerard Waite. Within the perimeter, the landowners have also left plant equipment and turnstyle-like barriers on the land.
Stephen Lancaster-Frankland is the chair of the Hartley’s Village Residents Association and is leading the charge to have the equipment and fencing removed. He said: “It is quite literally the heart of our community.
“We haven’t had a single letter from anyone to say this was going on. In December last year, there were people measuring up for a new use of the land and then in April, it was dumped here.
“They claimed they had planning permission and it would be overspill for storage units and security. At the start of June, they put the fence up anyway.” Liverpool Council’s enforcement team visited the site earlier this month which led to a notice being issued earlier this week which has now been affixed to the fence.
Stephen added: “This is just another blow the residents don’t need. We are a proper little community, it’s always been like that.
“It’s caused a huge amount of upset and if it’s allowed to stay, it will have a detrimental effect on the residents.” Alison Coppack has lived in the village for 13 years and her home backs on to the square.
She said: “We don’t know what’s being brought in. When I asked someone about it he just told me he was getting on with a job.
“They’re going to have the alley gates open but there are lots of pets, children and vulnerable people around here, it’s dangerous.”
The enforcement notice issued by Liverpool Council said the fence contravenes the founding principles of the village’s design by “currently distinct and legible industrial and residential zones, undermining the significance of the Hartley’s Village Conservation Area.” It said the enclosure also fails to “make a positive contribution to its local character and distinctiveness and adversely impacting on its character and appearance.”
As such, the landowners are instructed to remove all fence posts, fence panels and gates from the land and restore the ground surface. The order will take effect from July 28, unless an appeal is made beforehand.
Stephen added: “This is the biggest threat we’ve had in the 20 years that I’ve lived here. We always seem to get the tough end of the stick.
“Everything we’re trying to do in terms of regeneration will be delayed by this. It’s like wading through treacle.”
According to land registry documents, seen by the LDRS, the area of land was sold by the previous owner to NWMS Property LTD almost two years ago for £35,000. These documents were signed by Jennifer Farrier and Tracy Riley, directors at Nationwide Management Service.
Ms Farrier is listed as the witness on the Land Registry paperwork. When the LDRS approached Nationwide Management Services to clarify its position, Ms Farrier replied that our information was incorrect and the company had no connection to NWMS.
When it was put to Ms Farrier she was named on the paperwork, she replied: “I am unsure of what that company is sorry.” NWMS Property Ltd is registered at an address on London Road in Liverpool city centre, the same address as listed on Companies House for Ms Farrier as a director of Nationwide Management Services.
She is not listed as a director to NWMS Property Ltd. Ms Riley remains an active director having resigned from Nationwide Management Services in April 2022.
NWMS Property Ltd’s other listed director, Jason Battle, also resigned as a director of the management services company in January 2023.
A Liverpool Council spokesperson said: “The contractors and landowners have been advised that the erection of the fence is not acceptable and is undertaken at their own risk. We will take further enforcement action if it is not removed.”