Residents are campaigning to save a much-loved community park, and claim their local councillor has not responded to their concerns. We tried to ask him ourselves…
10:08, 22 Mar 2026
Cllr Anthony Lavelle is the councillor for Croxteth ward(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
A dividing line has emerged between residents of a Croxteth housing estate and their local councillor. The issue relates to a proposed housing development on a much-loved community park, which has been rejected twice by Liverpool City Council’s planning committee, despite the support of Croxteth councillor Anthony Lavelle.
Some of the people living on Parkview Road have been clear about the value of the green space to them, and have campaigned against the planning proposal to build on the land, citing the damage to the local environment, and questioned the development’s value to the community, as the plans do not include provision for social or affordable housing.
The Liverpool ECHO spoke to several residents who said they repeatedly attempted to contact Cllr Lavelle about their concerns, but claim that in many cases they have received no response.
Anthony Lavelle was first elected as the Labour party councillor for Croxteth in 2016, before launching a campaign to become Liverpool’s elected mayor in 2021.
The Labour party had shortlisted the council’s Acting Mayor Wendy Simon, former Deputy Mayor Ann O’Byrne and Lord Mayor Anna Rothery, but proceeded to reopen applications and block the three previously shortlisted candidates from applying.
Liverpool Town Hall(Image: Getty Images)
At the time, this move and the lack of a clear explanation for it caused plenty of shock and anger in the city. But having reopened applications, Labour shortlisted Cllr Lavelle and Princes Park Councillor Joanne Anderson.
Despite his relative inexperience, the then 25-year-old was shortlisted for Labour’s candidate, before losing to Joanne Anderson.
A year after his failed mayoral campaign, Cllr Lavelle went on to challenge Ian Byrne for the Labour nomination in West Derby.
Mr Byrne was the incumbent MP after winning the seat in the 2019 general election, going on to win MP of the year in 2022.
After a fractious campaign, Mr Byrne defeated Cllr Lavelle and retained the Labour nomination for the Liverpool West Derby Parliamentary seat, and was duly re-elected in 2024.
Since then, Cllr Lavelle has worked for Labour North West, first as a communications officer, and is currently the party’s Regional Director.
The ECHO has made several attempts to contact Cllr Lavelle, and sent messages through his official council email address, to Labour North West and to Liverpool City Council. We also reached out on social media and made several phone calls to the last known mobile telephone number on which we have previously contacted him over the course of the last four weeks, each going directly to voicemail.
Cllr Anthony Lavelle is the councillor for Croxteth ward
Via these platforms, the ECHO passed on some of the concerns raised by Cllr Lavelle’s constituents, and also tried to establish the reasons why he supported the failed Parkview development plan.
According to the minutes taken from September’s planning committee meeting, a presentation was made by Paul Courtney, acting as the agent for the developer, and in support of a proposal to build 51 residential dwellings on land north of Parkview Road. This consisted of 14 three-bed-houses and two three-storey-blocks containing a total of 37 apartments.
The developer is listed on an application uploaded to Liverpool City Council’s planning portal, and named as Liverpool Park View Ltd (LPV). On Companies House, the current directors for LPV are John Flanagan, Julian Flanagan and Paul Flanagan.
The committee heard objections from residents in the Croxteth area, where they highlighted their concerns about the loss of a green space used for leisure activities by the local community, and the impacts of the development on the environment.
Also refused at the same planning committee meeting was an application to develop a housing scheme on land between Lancaster Street And Great Mersey Street. This plan was submitted by a company called Great Mersey Development Limited, which also lists its directors as John Flanagan, Julian Flanagan and Paul Flanagan.
Residents have posted notices around the area detailing the campaign to preserve the green space on Parkview Road
In terms of the Parkview proposal, Cllr Lavelle spoke in support of the scheme, stating he welcomed the application and that demand for property in the city is at a “record high.” However, a loss of open space led to Liverpool City Council’s planning department recommending the application be refused.
The planning committee agreed with this assessment, and following a vote, councillors unanimously rejected the application. It was the second time the plans had failed to secure approval.
Ahead of the planning committee meeting, and despite lodging their objections with the local councillor for Croxteth ward, one resident claimed Cllr Lavelle had not responded to their concerns nor replied or acknowledged any message since 2024.
Residents also said they were surprised to see Cllr Lavelle at September’s planning committee, especially after the application was recommended for refusal, and pointed to his attendance record.
In reference to the local democracy attendance tracker, Cllr Lavelle is ranked 78 out of 84 councillors with a 50% attendance record at city council meetings, more than 30% below the council average of 82%, at the time of writing.
Carole Dunn, Carl (second from left) and Mary Cotton on the fields off Parkview Road(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The tracker also shows Cllr Lavelle attended or was present for 10 out of 23 meetings over the last 12 months, including the committee meeting in September. The minutes from that meeting confirm Cllr Lavelle spoke in support of the planning application at Parkview.
One resident, Carl, said: “When have you last seen a councillor, who is supposed to represent his constituents, speak out in support of a private developer’s planning application, which didn’t even have affordable housing?
“An application which was opposed by residents, recommended for refusal by the council’s own planning team, and unanimously rejected by the councillors on the planning committee.
“If you ask us whether we feel represented by our local councillor, I’d say ‘what do you think?’.
In part, the Parkview site, comprises a previously developed plot, and in an area of grassed amenity space which adjoins a wider expanse of public open space, with playing pitches at Parkview Recreation Ground, to the west.
Prior to demolition and clearance in 2003, the eastern portion of the site was occupied by a residential development known as Randle Heights, which contained two tower blocks, now demolished, and the plot has remained undeveloped ever since.
Planning officers said the LPV scheme would result in the unacceptable loss of trees and woodland which are protected.
Mary Cotton at home in Croxteth(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The green space on Parkview sits on the periphery of the residential neighbourhood of Gilmoss and fronts Parkview Road to the south, and directly opposite the home of Mary Cotton. She told us the park is greatly valued by the local community and used for walks, gatherings and people taking out their dogs.
Mary added: “Everyone loves the park and it’s one of the few green spaces we have access to, so the whole of Croxteth we’re behind our campaign to save it, and even we couldn’t believe how many people signed our petition.”
As she’s speaking, her neighbour walks toward us with his dog. He explains he uses the park every day for some exercise and, after a recent bereavement, said it helps to give him a reason to get outside and clear his head a little.
Mary added: “That’s the reason why we’re fighting so hard to keep this place because it’s important to people in different ways, just like any other park is in other areas.
“A lot of families with children with sensory issues, who moved here especially because they rely on that space, and also the sheltered accommodation on Parkview is filled with pensioners who are all against the development because there’s no price you can put on what this place gives us all.”
These sentiments are shared by Carole Dunn who lives just off Parkview Road and keeps an apiary in her back garden, producing organic honey for herself and family and friends. Carole believes the park is vital to the environmental eco-system in Croxteth, and provides a much-needed outdoor space for residents.
Carole Dunn on Parkview Road in Croxteth(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Carole told us: “To even think about building on that land beggars belief. Everyone here wants to keep it as a park. Even if you wanted to build on it, surely they would prioritise social and affordable housing, but the plans don’t even have that going for them.
“We all know we need more housing, but we also need green spaces for people to enjoy. It’s not a choice between one or the other and when local people are telling you we need the green space, I think it’s fair to assume the local councillor would be supportive of that.”
Carl, Carole, Mary and other residents are now preparing to challenge any appeal for the Parkview development. The ECHO has seen a letter dated February 18, confirming a submission on behalf of the developer, stating: “An appeal has been made to the Secretary of State against the decision.”
As a result, the campaign to save the park has until March 25 to submit their opposition statements.
Mary added: “We’d love to have Cllr Lavelle by our side on this issue and help us oppose any appeal, and finally put this proposal to bed and move on, but we can’t seem to get hold of him.”