MP concerned at lightship sale

LIVERPOOL MP,  Louise Ellman, is 'deeply concerned' about the possible sale of Liverpool's iconic Mersey Bar lightship.

So much so that she has pledged she would make 'strong representations' to Canal & River Trust, which seized the ship in September (CaRT gets tough with lightship)—stating that it was still possible to stop the sale, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Unpaid mooring fees

Merseyside Civic Society launched a campaign last week calling for the ship, which is currently in Gloucester docks, to come home. It was towed away from its berth in Canning Dock, next to the Strand, after a row over unpaid mooring fees.

The lightship has been advertised for sale for £100,000 and last Friday was the deadline for bids.

Louise Ellman, in a statement released through Merseyside Civic Society stated that she remains deeply concerned about the situation over the sale of the Planet lightship and will continue to make strong representations to all concerned at the Canal & River Trust, explaining:

Still possible to halt sale

"It is still possible to halt the sale at this late hour as Friday is the deadline for bids from potential purchasers, not the actual sale date, so there is time to argue our case further and for the Canal & River Trust to review the situation.

"I was assured by CaRT North West Chairman Bob Pointing that the Planet would not go for scrap and hopefully be returned to Liverpool.

"Let's keep the pressure on, we've got everything to play for."

Over 1,100 people have now signed a petition started by Liverpool planner and historian Jonathan Brown, which calls for the Trust to reverse its 'calamitous decision' to remove the ship from Liverpool, it being a key piece of Britain's maritime heritage.