Everton dismiss cash and carry site as ‘too small’

Aug 17 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

Proposed design for Everton FC's stadium which could be built on the Bestway Group's Loop site off Scotland Road _320

EVERTON FC last night remained clear that a site occupied by a cash and carry chain is not big enough for a new stadium for the club.

It came after the Bestway Group released pictures of a proposed design for the Loop site, off Scotland Road, as revealed first on www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk yesterday.

The Bestway Group has enlisted the help of the architects HOK Sport, who were behind Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, to help with the feasibility study into building a new ground on its site.

Another firm of architects has now completed an initial rendering of some early images of a stadium with a tower structure.

Bestway said the tower would help lend the site a landmark status and increase its visibility.

The tower element would also provide a hotel, leisure facilities and other associated commercial uses.

Bestway said their new images show that a 50,000-seater stadium could fit on the site.

However, the Daily Post understands that club officials privately hold the firm belief that a stadium of only 25,000 capacity could be accommodated in the Loop.

Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley is hoping he can put a package together to convince Everton FC to stay within the Liverpool city boundaries.

The club’s season ticket holders and shareholders are currently voting in a ballot on whether to move to a new 55,000-seat ground in Kirkby. The final date for ballot papers is noon next Thursday.

Opponents have hailed the Bestway site as a viable alternative to that move.

Last night, club spokesman Ian Ross said: “We still do not believe that it is big enough for the ambitions of Everton FC.”

Bestway head of property Malcolm Carter said: “We hope that fans can see that there is a reason for voting to keep Everton in Everton.”

Bestway and Liverpool City Council are undertaking technical and commercial studies to explore the viability of a stadium development at Scotland Road.

HOK are to be joined by WSP Group – a leading global engineering consultancy with a specialist stadium team.

“The size and stature of these two companies shows how serious we are about the project and I know that the city council shares our determination,” said Malcolm Carter.

A spokesman for the Keep Everton in Our City campaign group said: “KEIOC would like to thank Bestway for producing these initial images.

“We urge our custodians to consider this site urgently and give the project a fair timescale for an in-depth feasibility study.”

davidbartlett@dailypost.co.uk