A prominent social media account has sparked a conversation about the state of Liverpool city centre, branding it 'dirty, tatty, unsightly' and prompting the ECHO to investigate. The Liverpool1207 X account, which documents city centre life, expressed frustration over what it sees as neglect, citing damaged trees, missing benches, seagull droppings, and rubbish-strewn streets. The anonymous account holder, who lives in the city centre, told the ECHO: 'It would be a long and growing list sadly, everything from not replacing the damaged or missing trees and benches on the expensively restored Strand, to ignoring the everyday build-up of seagull droppings in specific places around town.' He also criticised the lack of 'concerted and long-term anti-littering campaigns' and said council litter wardens are not addressing businesses that leave clear bags of rubbish on the street, attracting seagulls.
Prestigious Areas in Poor Condition
Liverpool1207 highlighted St. George's Plateau as a key area of concern, calling it 'the jewel in our crown' but 'often simply embarrassing.' He shared images of litter, smashed glass, and discarded pallets near the town hall, adding: 'The town hall sums it up perfectly. Pride of the city, used by councillors every day.' He believes council officials do not view the city from a tourist's perspective and said: 'I honestly don’t think anyone involved with the council walks round and views the city from a visiting tourist point of view.' He added that he fears his own posts showcasing Liverpool's architecture may be 'creating a false impression' for tourists.
ECHO Investigation Confirms Concerns
An ECHO walk around the city centre confirmed many of these issues. At Lime Street Station and St. George's Plateau, a key gateway for train arrivals, chewing gum and bird droppings stained the floors, with rubbish strewn across the plateau. Williamson Square was covered in bird faeces and cigarette butts, while Lord Street and Church Street were splattered with chewing gum stains. The ECHO noted that the city centre appeared 'dirty, grimy, and unsightly' in many areas.
Council Actions and Investments
Liverpool City Council has taken steps to address these issues. In 2025, it hired environmental enforcement officers from Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE) to issue fines; litterers now face a £150 penalty, and dog fouling carries a £100 fine. The council also committed an additional £7.5 million over two years for parks, green spaces, and street scene services, including rubbish removal, street cleansing, and grass verge maintenance. A council spokesperson said: 'This year we are heavily investing in our street scene services... We are currently bringing in 12 more street washers to focus on areas that need additional street washing, increasing the team’s numbers by 300%.' The spokesperson added that enforcement teams speak to businesses daily about waste management and have a 'zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping.'
Public and Former Official Reactions
Social media users echoed Liverpool1207's frustrations. Joanne Livens said: 'You go to London, Birmingham, Manchester or any other big city and the main areas in the city centre have been scrubbed clean in the early hours. Liverpool is smelly, dirty and grimy on a daily basis and even worse at the weekend.' Even former council cabinet member Frank Hont agreed, responding: 'Keep on keeping on 1207 - the city centre needs a good (regular) clean.' The council spokesperson urged public responsibility: 'We also urge people to take responsibility for their own rubbish. We are constantly cleaning up litter and waste that irresponsible people have dropped. If people just placed their rubbish into a bin, took it to a recycling centre, or disposed of it at home, we would be able to focus our efforts elsewhere and invest in other vital Council services.'
