'Save Our Unique Landmark' campaign, New Brighton.

I attended the latest (of many) meetings held by S.O.U.L last night, 26th October, the first that I had been to since getting involved in the cause through my photography. It goes without saying that it was very interesting to hear the facts behind the closure of the church and of course the opinions of the community. As an independent observer of the campaign, I was pleasantly surprised by the vast amount of support it has from a number of areas and listening to some of the individuals who play major roles within S.O.U.L, I realised just how great a campaign it really is.

St Peter and Paul's is a Grade 2 listed building, meaning under the Town and Country Planning Act of 1971, buildings of special architectural or historic interest are registered as being the best of British buildings. As I have mentioned previously, the church affectionately known as 'The Dome of Home' really does have a huge impact upon the landscape of New Brighton. Therefore the ongoing activity and support for S.O.U.L is fundamental to the future of St Peter and Paul's.

Following a proposed closure and possible demolition of St Peter and Paul's Church in New Brighton, a member of the committee; 'Save Our Unique Landmark' invited me to create a visual documentation of this glorious structure from various locations. Known as 'one of the seven wonders of Wirral', it was built in 1932 and is based on the design of the Basillica in Lisbon, Portugal.

I wanted to capture the church from different perspectives and to somehow portray the beautifully overwhelming characteristics the building has over the area of New Brighton, so I felt it important to highlight not only the aesthetic qualities but also the sense of community surrounding it.

The very name of the campaign, serves as a reminder of just how integral St Peter and Paul's is to the community and of course the landscape. Recognised as 'The Dome of Home' by sailors in the past, the church is a hugely identifiable icon when looking across the River Mersey and it's through this that the possible demolition of such a unique structure would be seen by many, as an absolute desecration upon their parish.

For more information on the 'Save Our Unique Landmark' campaign, please visit http://soul-nb.org.uk/

Welsh Streets & Four Streets of Granby, Toxteth.

I took these photographs on behalf of the Northern Alliance Housing Co-operative after gaining an understanding of what they stand for. In a nutshell, their fundamental aim is to acquire abandoned properties within the 'Regeneration Zones' of the Welsh Streets and 'Four streets' of Granby, Toxteth, Liverpool. Sadly there's an awful lot of disused and run-down terraced houses in and around the industrial cities of the North that are being demolished for the sole purposes for schemes such as 'urban renewal' and 'regeneration'. However, such is the case that a lot of these properties are, in fact, structurally sound and situated in areas where the importance of community is next to none. So much so, that these residents are desperately trying to keep their communities together despite the increasing pressure from developers and the council and so they refuse to accept any plans that will contain widespread demolition, consequently resulting in a stalemate.

The upshot of the situation now, is that hundreds of houses are standing empty and being left to decay while thousands of people are still waiting on housing lists. And this is where the Co-op have become involved. The main intention of acquiring these properties is to house individuals and families and help the residents/members gain control over and manage their housing needs. And one of the most important factors is that all the houses are to be renovated in a manner that they will be as carbon neutral and ecologically sustainable as is achievable.

"We hope that the Coop acts as a model for others within the city of Liverpool and beyond, as an example of community regeneration and ecological renovation of the highest standard. We

aim to acquire the properties and start the renovation by June 2010."

( Objectives of the Northern Alliance Housing Co-operative)

Through my photographs I wanted to document the houses in their current state in order to illustrate the council's blight upon a community. But, although the properties I've documented

show decay, I also see charm and fascination with who and what these houses once beheld.

A continuation of 'beauty in ruin...'.

I find beauty where others find ruin...