EFC STADIUM INQUIRY: ‘Kirkby needs new store’

Nov 22 2008 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

EFC stadium _198

BUILDING Everton’s stadium in Kirkby will bring residents back into the town centre and aid regeneration, an inquiry into the scheme heard yesterday.

Planning expert Jeremy Williams spoke yesterday at the inquiry into proposals brought forward by the football club and Tesco.

He said the town was in great need of a superstore and that the creation of such a shop would not happen without a wider development plan.

Mr Williams, a partner at planning company DPP, added other towns close by would not suffer from the development.

He said: “In my view the proposed development at Kirkby will not result in adverse impacts on surrounding town centres, but will give rise to significant wider regeneration benefits including enhancing the profile of the town, physical regeneration of the existing town centre, the creation of employment, the delivery of economic regeneration in the town and social inclusion.

“As such it will lead to wider social, economic and environmental benefits.”

Mr Williams referred to the Chesterton Study, which was commissioned by Knowsley council in 2002.

The survey found that shoppers in Kirkby and the surrounding area were largely shopping in destinations outside of the borough and that nearly half of respondents were in the centre for a very limited period of time.

He said the development would go a long way to address this.

Opponents have repeatedly claimed the stadium superstore plans do not comply with Knowsley’s UDP and neighbouring authorities have accused Everton and Tesco of hijacking the normal large-scale development process.

But Mr Williams disputed the argument and claimed the plans would stop residents leaving the town to shop, without having a significant impact on other towns.