Call for borough to vote on Everton stadium plan

Aug 23 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

OPPOSITION councillors in Knowsley last night demanded the residents of the borough be given a vote over proposals for a new Everton stadium in Kirkby.

It came on the eve of the publication of the results of a public consultation by Knowsley Council on proposals to build a new Everton stadium and Tesco supermarket in the town centre.

The results will be made public before the noon close of the ballot of 33,000 Everton season ticket holders and shareholders on the proposed move from Goodison Park.

The result of the ballot, in which about 33,000 people were eligible to vote, will be announced by Everton FC tomorrow morning.

The club has agreed to call off negotiations about the move if more than 50% of fans vote against the move.

Last night it also emerged Everton’s solicitors and the Electoral Reform Society have written to Keep Everton in Our City (KEIOC) asking the group to remove a statement from its website.

The letter states the comments are “at best, inaccurate and/or untrue and, at worst, in some respects may be defamatory of Everton and, we should add, the Electoral Reform Services.”

It relates to a row between the club and KEIOC over whether KEIOC members should be allowed to watch the counting of ballots at the Electoral Reform Service’s London office.

Neither Everton FC nor KEIOC will be represented at the count.

Last night the statement was still on KEIOC’s website, and Jim Reardon, chairman of the protest group said he had no comment to make on the matter.

Liberal Democrats on the council have put forward a motion for next month’s full council meeting calling for a referendum on the Everton proposal.

Party leaders last night said such a major scheme deserved to be the subject of a referendum of all local residents.

Lib-Dems leader Cllr Ian Smith said: “This scheme has the potential to significantly regenerate and revitalise Kirkby town centre, potentially providing a wealth of jobs and delivering a major improvement to the quality of life to the local community if delivered for the Kirkby community.

“There have been many views and opinions expressed in recent weeks, not all of them in total support of the scheme.

“Therefore, in our view, if it is important enough for Everton to have a ballot of their fans then it is only right that all the residents of Kirkby should be allowed the same opportunity, then we will be in a better informed position to make a reliable judgement.”

No one from the ruling Labour group could be contacted for comment.

Visit www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk for results of the public consultation from 10am today, and 11am tomorrow for the ballot results.

davidbartlett