§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discuss with Merseyside development corporation and the local authorities on Merseyside the reopening under public management of the Liverpool garden festival site in 1987.
§ Mr. John PattenMerseyside Development Corporation has already decided that the riverside park and festival hall will open to the public next summer. Almost certainly this will be managed by the corporation. The detailed arrangements have yet to be sorted out. The corporation plans to dispose of the former theme gardens on the other side of the spine road, preferably for a horticultural business in a garden setting.
§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public subsidy was received by the Transworld Festival Gardens Company, now in the hands of the receiver.
§ Mr. John PattenThe decision to release the garden festival site to Transworld Leisure plc was made on commercial grounds by Merseyside Development Corporation and no public subsidy was involved.
§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how Transworld Festival Gardens Company was selected to manage the Liverpool garden festival site.
§ Mr. John PattenMerseyside Development Corporation negotiated with over 80 prospective operators of the garden festival site. Only Transworld offered to take over and operate the site commercially. The financial package was carefully vetted. In the corporation's view, Transworld submitted a well developed business plan and, on this basis Transworld's bid was accepted.