Robert Hampton

The house where Ringo Starr was born is scheduled to be demolished as part of a regeneration scheme for the “Welsh Streets” area of Toxteth, against the wishes of campaigners who are battling to save it.

There has been a new development about the redevelopment:-

THE campaign to save Ringo Starr’s birthplace was today given a glimmer of hope by Housing Minister Grant Shapps who has called on Liverpool City Council to allow the property a reprieve while the public have their say.

The question I have to ask is: WHY?! This is a different situation to Lennon and McCartney’s childhood homes, where the pair actually wrote and rehearsed some of their early songs together. Starr only lived in this house until he was three years old, so there is no Beatles history of any significance here.

All this is doing is delaying a hugely important regeneration scheme. I hope Liverpool City Council stand firm under the pressure and press ahead with the scheme, so the people who actually live in the area don’t have to put up with the the grot any longer.

Former Thomas the Tank Engine narrator Ringo Starr has been upsetting people again.

Ringo Starr has warned fans to stop sending him mail and presents.

The Beatles legend said in a clip on his website that anything he receives after October 20 will be “tossed”.

He can’t stop answering fan mail — who else is going to encourage Marge Simpson’s painting hobby?

I don’t know why the Echo and others are disappointed with Ringo Starr’s comments on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.

I watched a sizeable chunk of the Capital of Culture television coverage; in his various monosyllabic interviews, Starr’s attitude seemed to me akin to that of someone anticipating a trip to his accountant to prepare a tax return. This trip was not a task to be enjoyed, but something he felt obliged to do for financial reasons (after all, his new album Liverpool 8 does trade on his roots ever-so-slightly).

He was the most disappointing part of the opening night for me (easily surpassed in talent and enthusiasm by The Wombats), so I’m not terribly surprised or upset by this latest development. What does mystify me is why the powers-that-be in Liverpool hyped him up over the many other Scouse artists who could have performed. Anyone from Gerry Marsden right up to Anthony Hannah (listen to his cover of Relax here) would have been preferable.