Everton and Tesco insist on financial secrecy over new stadium

Nov 6 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

Artist's impression of Everton's new stadium & shops in Kirkby _320

EVERTON FC and Tesco will refuse to reveal the financial details of their £400m bid to build a superstore and stadium in Kirkby at the forthcoming public inquiry into the project.

Opponents at the second pre-inquiry meeting in Kirkby yesterday said that the deci-sion could result in significant delays once proceedings get under way on November 18.

But Everton FC and Tesco’s lawyer Patrick Clarkson told planning inspector Wendy Burden that the financial rationale behind the move was a matter of ‘commercial sensitivity’ and therefore would not be released.

Roger Lancaster, a barrister speaking on behalf of key opponents Sefton Council, said: “If we don’t get that information, then our position is that, if during the inquiry this information is relied on, then I give forewarning we will seek a six-week adjournment. The financial details are referred to in consider-able detail in the applicants’ supporting information.”

Sefton and Liverpool councils are objecting to Destination Kirkby, which includes a 50,000-seater stadium, a huge shopping complex and Tesco store, as they say it will hit town centres across Merseyside.

Everton’s acting chief executive, Robert Elstone, has previously suggested the club will contribute £78m to the stadium plan, which will generate £11m extra in revenue a year.

Along with other opponents, the councils believe the plans are not cost-effective, and other reasonable alter-natives for Everton, and the regeneration of Kirkby, are available in Liverpool’s urban heartland.

Dave Kelly, of campaign group Keep Everton In Our City, said: “I’m astounded at what I’m hearing. We’ve received correspondence asking us to produce our business plans for alternative sites but now we’re told they (Everton/Tesco) have turned up at this inquiry to say they will not release details of their own plans.

“We’re just asking for a level playing field.”

It was the widespread claims that Everton, Tesco and Knowsley Council were failing to supply documents to their opponents that prompted inspector Burden to call for a second pre-inquiry.

But Mr Clarkson maintained the financial details would not be released to opponents ahead of the inquiry. His argument yesterday was that “Goodison Park needs to be replaced and Kirkby needs massive regeneration work”. These requirements meant that it was reasonable for Knowsley planners to approve the planning application, despite the fact it goes against the Unitary Development Plan.