Inquiry: How St Helens will stagnate if Everton move, claim

Nov 26 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

Artist's impression of Everton's new stadium & shops in Kirkby _400

PLANS for a new shopping centre in Merseyside will be abandoned if Tesco and Everton’s plans for Kirkby go ahead.

Roger Lancaster, speaking on behalf of the local authorities opposed to Destination Kirkby, told the public inquiry the Chalon Way redevelopment in St Helens was at serious risk.

Developers in St Helens have already been granted permission to build a retail centre at the site currently occupied by Tesco. It was part of a three-way proposal that has helped St Helens Rugby League Club move out of its ancient Knowsley Road stadium.

But yesterday Mr Lancaster, for St Helens council, said: “Chalon Way won’t go ahead in the circumstances, because the Kirkby proposal will directly compete and take away the appropriate tenants from St Helens.”

It is understood the Saints stadium bid will still go ahead, but the council is angry that a section of the town centre could now be left undeveloped after the superstore moves out.

However, Tesco’s retail expert Jeremy Williams said he did not think the Kirkby proposals would have an adverse effect on St Helens’ regeneration plans. He said he thought St Helens was a vibrant centre in its own right.

Mr Lancaster repeated his claims that St Helens was just one of three centres that would be hit by the £400m proposal.

Shoppers from Skelmersdale and Bootle will be attracted to Kirkby and so will any retailers looking to invest in the West Lancs town, Mr Lancaster argued.

He said that plans to upgrade both Bootle and Skelmersdale had also gone through the full range of local planning and development stages. Everton and Tesco, he argued, had cut corners.

But Mr Williams said: “I don’t consider the predicted levels of trade diversion will lead to problems – it will be very limited.”