Campaigners fail to save Ringo Starr's birthplace

Campaigners in Ringo Starr's hometown have failed in their bid to preserve the Beatles drummer's birthplace, with local authorities pressing ahead with plans to demolish the house where he was born.

The musician's former family home in Liverpool, England has been under threat of demolition since 2005 as local councilors made plans to rejuvenate the area.

Fans have been fighting to save the property at 9 Madryn Street and have it turned into a local landmark, but after years of campaigning they have lost the battle with the council.

The leader of Liverpool City Council, Joe Anderson, has confirmed a final demolition order has been submitted and he's defended the council's decision to destroy the property.

He tells Clickliverpool.com, "We're not demolishing things just because we need to demolish them - we are doing it because it's the right thing to do. To date no-one has come forward with any concrete plans to save (the houses on Madryn Street), and to be quite frank I don't think anybody will, because quite simply they cost too much to bring back into use.. It's just absolute madness to try and save them.

"I asked them to come up with alternatives and they have not, and that's their fault and not mine. The community in that area have been waiting for 11 years to have these houses demolished, and I believe they have waited long enough."

But Philip Coppell, chairman of the Save Madryn Street (SMS) campaign, is determined not to give up, saying, "Number 9 is a priceless tourist resource that the city would be mad to destroy... We are calling on Beatles fans everywhere and residents in Liverpool to show their opposition to this new crazy new plan to demolish the (street). It must be stopped, otherwise we will all live to regret it."

-AAP