Over the past few years, work has been taking place on a terraced street in north Liverpool which has quietly been restored to its former glory.
Tucked away on the edge of Kirkdale and Walton, Kearsley Street residents say the quaint and beautifully maintained Victorian terrace is now like “stepping back through time”. The street has formed the basis of a tight knit community, many of whom have pitched in with its upkeep as well as building planters and hanging baskets to line the stretch of houses.
While the street is easy on the eye, those who live there remain acutely aware that it is at the centre of one of the most deprived areas of Liverpool. But this Christmas, residents have come together to go the extra mile and offer a small distraction from the pressures of the cost of living crisis.
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Although humble compared to other Christmas displays, Kearsley residents have paid in what they can to produce a festive light display hung between the trees lining the street. With 7000 lights in total, the display marks the latest aspect of Kearsley restoration, with the Phoenix Pub at the end of the road an increasingly popular local for many - especially on Liverpool FC match days.
Balan Arumugam, who has lived on the street for the last six years and has been one of the driving forces behind its improvement, said the display might be “as posh as in London” but it is perfect for “people around our area”, adding: “We might from poor side of Liverpool but our neighbourhood spirit is always richer and greater than any side of Liverpool.”
Speaking about the community-driven change along Kearsley in recent years, Balan says there is now a greater “connection”. He says the wider area isn’t only deprived in a social and economic sense, but the bond between neighbours had also been lacking - something he wanted to help instil with his work along the street - much of which was first started with former tenant Mark Ullyot.
Balan added: “The area was deprived in terms of connection. There's now more effort in what everybody does down the street.
“People look after one another, neighbours are more concerned which makes it better. People don't have a lot of money, but people are more aware of what’s going on and want to share with one another. This display doesn’t break the bank and it's very nice to provide it for the wider community.
"Especially nowadays where everything is doom and gloom outside. It's nice to have that community spirit”
A few doors down lives Steven Atkins, 72, a retired Merseyrail worker. He’s lived on Kearsley Street for the last five years and has spent much of his time constructing the planters that line the road.
“It’s a great place to live,” he told the ECHO, speaking about the work and recent display which brings much needed light as the local area and wider city goes through the darkest months of the cost of living.
He added: “It’s a falsehood to think that you can’t have a nice place to live just because you don’t live in a wealthy area. You can also make change by coming together and getting people involved and getting them interested. Now there’s lots of great community spirit going on.”
For Lisa Donnelly who lives a few doors down, Kearsley brings with it a sense of pride that she’s able to call it home. The 55 year old grew up on the street in the house where her mum, Margaret, and dad still live, but despite having stints living in America, she dreamed of having her own house on the street once she came back.
“This street is like stepping back in time,” Lisa tells the ECHO, everyone here looks after one another - it’s dead heart warming. She adds that she wouldn’t want to on any other street, “even if I won the lottery”.
She said: “I prayed to god for a house on this street. I’m so proud to live here. I’m Always always happy to say, ‘Kearsley Street, Walton please’, when getting a taxi.”
However Lisa says it’s important for communities to fight to preserve the area’s where they live. Ensuring the street isn’t damaged by crime of litter, she added: “We won't have it. You are not bringing this street down. As working class people, you have to take a stand.”
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