The Nifty 250: News of the day in so many words

LIVERPOOL’S 08 Place visitors’ centre is running at a loss of up to £1m a year.

The revelation comes amid a council inquiry into what to do with the building now that Capital of Culture year is not only over but a distant memory.

The Whitechapel centre costs council taxpayers £1.3m but is only bringing in around £360,000. The overall loss for 2009/10 is estimated at around £938,000, which is expected to increase by £50,000 next year.

The TV screens are reported to cost around £60,000 a year to run.

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY IS CONSIDERING holding a conference in Liverpool after sending Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling on a fact-finding visit.

Grayling went to the BT Convention Centre and now plans to lobby party chairman Eric Pickles. If successful, Liverpool will be home to the party conferences of the Liberal Democrats in 2010, Labour in 2011, and the Conservatives in 2012.

HOPE STREET HOTEL’S £4.5M EXPANSION is complete and has seen the hotel take over and convert the neighbouring former police station. The hotel now has two rooftop function rooms with panoramic views across the city and the Mersey, with two duplex penthouses available at around £600 a night. Owner Dave Brewitt, said, ““I hope this new building will become part of the architectural fabric of the street for years to come and join the ranks of the other classic designs of their day.”

A MAN CHARGED WITH BREAKING INTO GERRARD’S HOME is to go before the Liverpool Crown Court for trial next March. Martin Wilson, 22, is charged with breaking into the England and Liverpool star’s mansion on December 11, 2007. Wilson, of Hollowcroft, Stockbridge Village appeared before Southport magistrates’ accused of burglary and robbery.