The iconic Liver Birds sit atop the Royal Liver Building, proudly watching over Liverpool and its people. Legend has it that, if these birds ever fly away, the city will cease to exist.

I am so proud of our beautiful maritime city and the stories it tells. It was a bitter disappointment when I found out that we had lost our Unesco world heritage status, denying us the opportunity to demonstrate how development and heritage are not mutually exclusive but can exist together in harmony.

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