Liverpool City Council is planning to demolish Ringo Starr's birthplace, deeming that it has "no historical significance". The terraced house in Madryn Street in Dingle is one of over four hundred properties scheduled to be torn down as part of a regeneration project in the area. By contrast, the childhood homes of both Lennon and McCartney are owned by The National Trust and are open to tourists.
A public consultation was carried out prior to the decision, which was made by the council's housing select committee, and is expected to be ratified by the council executive on 16 Sep. Executive member for housing Flo Clucas said: "Ringo Starr lived in the Madryn Street house for about three months before he moved to Admiral Grove, where he lived for about 20 years. John Lennon and Paul McCartney's childhood homes were preserved because they spent a significant part of their lives in them. The house on Madryn Street has no historical significance."
Many residents of the area approve of the renovation project, whilst others believe the council was determined to have its way in any case. Campaigner Jeremy Hawthorn, who had hoped to preserve the homes, said "They want to clear working-class families out of this area to make way for expensive housing for richer people. I'm not surprised at this decision, but I am disappointed."
Former Beatle Starr said: "Why are they knocking them down? If it is economically viable, they should do them up. Are they going to knock out the centre of Liverpool again? That's what they did before. They moved everybody to high-rise apartments outside the city and forgot to rebuild. I believe it's now very nice. They even have bathrooms, which we never had."