Eric Pickles blocks demolition of Ringo Starr's neighbourhood

Mr Pickles ruled demolishing the streets would be shortsighted as regards the future tourism potential of Madryn Street.

Joe Anderson, the Labour Mayor of Liverpool, said the ruling was a kick in the teeth for people who wanted to see new homes built in the area.

Welsh Streets is a collective term for the 16 streets that once housed a generation of migrant workers from Wales.

Towards the end of the 19th Century there were 70 Welsh chapels in Liverpool and almost a quarter of its population, around 80,000 people, were Welshman who crossed the border in search of work.

Following protests by campaigners, the demolition project was changed to protect the musicians former home but heritage campaigners argued the demolition of much of the rest of Madryn Street would harm its historical value and its potential for tourism.

The Welsh Streets demolition scheme was first outlined in 2005 as part of Labours controversial Pathfinder project.

Pathfinder proposed for the wholesale demolition of Victorian properties in nine areas but the project was criticised by the National Audit Office, and cancelled by the Coalition Government in 2010. However, Liverpool City Council had been seeking to continue with the project by demolishing Welsh Streets.

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Eric Pickles blocks demolition of Ringo Starr's neighbourhood