Everton FC move: Club and Tesco hope to get MPs on board

Feb 2 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON and Tesco bosses last night met two MPs to persuade them to back their plans to move to Kirkby.

It was the first time Knowsley North MP George Howarth has held a face-to-face meeting with Everton chief executive Keith Wyness about the club’s multi-million pound proposal to relocate.

The meeting came as more than 350 opponents of the scheme gathered in Holy Angels Church, in Westvale, Kirkby, to form political opposition at the May elections in Knowsley.

Everton FC spokesman Ian Ross, who attended the meeting along with Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle and a Tesco representative, said: “I think we’re pleased with the way the meeting went. There was a frank exchange of views and we were able to outline what we could offer Kirkby as well as discuss our ongoing commitment to Walton.”

The club endeavoured to overcome many of the objections to the scheme that have been raised and a 16-page presentation put together for the meeting centred on Everton’s identity as “The People’s Club”.

Mr Ross said: “We made it clear that no football club does more at a community level. We are very intent that we get across precisely what Everton will be bringing to the town.

“There’s a mis-apprehension that we’re an arrogant football club who will just plant themselves in Kirkby and have nothing to do with the surrounding community.

“If the people of Kirkby were to talk to the people of Walton, they would soon find out what we have to offer.

“They would benefit massively from the programme that Everton brings. We’re more than just a football club.”

Mr Wyness outlined a 10-point community programme in the meeting, in which they expressed their belief that only a new stadium could truly transform Kirkby.

As “good neighbours” Mr Wyness said the stadium would act as a catalyst – or incubator – for innovative community schemes.

Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle has met the club several times to make sure that should Everton leave Walton, his constituents would not be forgotten.

He said: “We (Mr Howarth and himself) have both interests and concerns about the proposal but from different ends of the perspective.”

“I was keen that their wider community involvement would not cease with them moving to Kirkby, Mr Wyness was able to give that assurance.

“It’s not just about women’s football or working with disabled groups – they are trying to establish their brand as the People’s Club in a unique way.

“There are difficulties for residents to deal with and we were there to represent our constituents’ concerns.”

Talks lasted an hour and a half .

Mr Howarth was last night unavailable for comment.

But on his website he says: “This is one of the most complicated local issues I have ever had to deal with.”

richarddown