A Narrow Escape…for now.

When it comes to redevelopment, Liverpool rarely dodges the bullet. In fact, it’s said council redevelopment plans did as much if not more damage than the Luftwaffe. It was city councillors who knocked down the iconic Aintree Institute for housing that never materialised, the site ever since being used as a carpark. It was city councillors who reduced the Cavern to rubble. It was replaced by a ventilation shaft for a proposed underground that, too, never materialised. And in the summer of 2020 the council only just avoided another planning disaster—for now. The proposal would have transformed the city skyline—a £4m aerial zipline that would have run from the top of St John’s Beacon down onto the roof of Liverpool Central Library. 

St John's Beacon. Listed building? What about the Aintree Institute? Oops I forgot. It's no longer there. 

Opponents denounced it as the ‘Disneyfication’ of Liverpool.  Supporters of what would have been the country’s first ever permanent urban Zipline promised ‘thrill seekers’ glimpses of Liverpool whilst flying through the air at 40 mph. 

The plans were submitted in December 2019, Zip World estimating it would attract 104,000 riders a year and with them their friends and families ie an additional 200,0000 visitors. 

Hospitality and other businesses welcomed the idea, and despite opposition, the scheme was approved by the planning committee in June 2020.

The disaster was averted by an unlikely saviour,* the then mayor, Joe Anderson. He argued that while he could not interfere in planning decisions, he did not think it right to use the roof of the library! Short sighted man. Students would have soon acclimatised themselves to the squeals and the steady thump, thump, thump of roof landings; and perhaps a few less books but gift shops and nail bars. 

Despite Joe Anderson’s opposition, the scheme might have been passed; councillors can be a pig-headed bunch, but in 2021 St John’s Beacon was unexpectedly awarded Grade II listed status, and the scheme was aborted. Liverpool City Council however is unaccustomed to dodging bullets. Early in 2026 a spokesman for Zip World was approached as to whether the scheme had been truly put to rest. The last three words in his response was the bullet being loaded: ‘there are no discussions or applications for a new Zip Wire at this time.’

With this in mind and knowing both the Beacon and the library were now out of the running, I wandered around the city looking for alternative sites. 

The Mersey Tunnel Ventilation Shaft in Birkenhead 

The Liver Birds

A zipwire across the Mersey connecting the Mersey Tunnel Ventilation Shaft in Birkenhead to the Liver birds would be fun; bit of competition for the Ferry and perhaps a new song for Gerry Marsden if he was still alive. 

A zipwire connecting the two cathedrals, ecumenism in action and offering splendid views.

 

Metropolitan Catholic Cathedral

Anglican Cathedral 

As it might appear

A zipwire connecting St George’s Hall with the Liver buildings seen here distant left in the photo. 

In fact the whole city could be connected by zipwire. Trams? So last century. 

 

* It was Joe Anderson who tried to bulldoze plans for housing development in Walton Hall Avenue Park and Sefton Park. Two vital and popular green spaces.