In 1984, the 'International Garden Festival' came to Otterspool in Liverpool, as part of the Conservative government's response to the Toxteth riots. The festival was very popular, attracting millions of visitors, but when they all went home, locals started to wonder what would happen next!

A 600 home development was built on the north part of the site in 1986, then the south side was leased to a theme park company, which never really got off the ground.

1998 saw London-based developers Wiggins take over the lease, and the company submitted plans for a 4-star hotel, a shopping complex, and some expensive houses. But by this time the site was being reclaimed by nature as a biodiverse habit, and locals favoured a parkland development.

In 2004, having done worse than nothing, Wiggins (having changed their name to Planestation) sold the site to Langtree McLean, who produced plans for 1300 homes, plus yet more retail and leisure facilities.

Again, many locals opposed these plans, on the grounds that many trees and much of the wildlife would be lost, whilst the new expensive housing would do nothing to address the city's /a>21,000 person housing list.

But on 15th March 2007, it was reported on Liverpool Indymedia that that tree-felling had begun. This is despite the fact that even Langtree McLean's own website confirmed they did not have planning permission!