Three sites on list for new Liverpool FC train station

Feb 22 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANSPORT experts are looking at three potential sites for a new railway station to serve Liverpool FC’s proposed new stadium on Stanley Park.

Representatives from the club, Merseytravel and Liverpool City Council specially commissioned a train to travel along the Bootle Branch Line to review the three sites, all in close proximity to the proposed new 71,000-seater stadium.

The three sites are Utting Avenue, near The Clarence pub, Stanley Park Avenue, near Anfield Cemetery, and Pinehurst Avenue, near its junction with Townsend Lane/Avenue (near Clubmoor Playing Fields).

Appraisals and costings will now take place on each site, but the Daily Post understands the Utting Avenue site is the front runner.

The line is currently only used by freight traffic and local ward councillor Steve Radford last night said he used the reconnaissance mission to argue a station should also be opened at Tuebrook market in West Derby Road.

Liverpool FC currently has planning permission for a 60,000 seater stadium, but will need a new planning application with an environmental and transport plan for 71,000 capacity.

A new station could form a key part of the new transport plan.

Chairman of Merseytravel Cllr Mark Dowd said: “It was a very useful visit and we have a number of options to consider.

“Public transport is a necessity with a football stadium of this size. It could also open up a number of other improvements to public transport for the people of north Liverpool.

“It’s obviously very early stages but we are looking at the possibility of building a modern, integrated and accessible station as we have done many times before.”

Rick Parry, Liverpool FC chief executive, said: “Given the Bootle branch line is already in place, we have long felt it could offer an exciting public transport solution to the match day problems.

“But it is vital to explore how it can contribute to the regeneration of north Liverpool. Getting so many people to see it at first hand was a very important first step.”

Neil Scales, chief executive and director general of Merseytravel, added: “We will explore every option in detail.

“This will be key for the club and stadium, but it is also about looking at how we can better support north Liverpool and its regeneration.”

davidbartlett