Knowsley Council gives go ahead for preparation work to go ahead on Everton's Destination Kirkby site

May 7 2009 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

CONTROVERSIAL plans to carry out work on a small but crucial part of the Destination Kirkby site was granted by planners last night.

Knowsley Council planning committee approved Tesco’s £750,000 application to carry out engineering works to divert 350m of Kirkby Brook.

The site is close to the spot Everton FC and Tesco plan to place a massive new coach station if their £400m scheme to build a supermarket and 50,000- seater stadium in Kirkby gets the approval of Secretary of State Hazel Blears.

Tesco spokesman Michael Kissman last night said: “This application will allow us to do work up front. If the secretary of state doesn’t allow the larger scheme, there will still be benefits for Kirkby.”

But, if developers wait until late November for a ruling, it will be too late to move a colony of protected water voles, putting the whole project back by several months.

Last night, objectors said the work brought no benefit to Kirkby and Lib- Dem Cllr Fred Fricker also suggested the council had misled Government Office North West (GoNW) into allowing the council to determine the application.

Council officers strongly denied these claims, but opponents have now said they intend to appeal.