Stadium at the heart of Knowsley campaigning

Apr 24 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

ONE issue has dominated the headlines continuously since the last round of elections in Knowsley – Everton and Tesco’s joint bid to regenerate Kirkby.

Feeling has run so high that traditional Labour voters have formed the single issue 1st4Kirkby party to challenge the sitting candidates.

This year, two cabinet members are up for re-election in the town and all wards are being contested.

Cllr Jackie Harris, executive member for community safety and social inclusion, is standing against the leader of the new party Tony Barton and a former Labour executive, Peter Fisher.

Cllr Harris believes her record of 30 years’ work within Kirkby, and her success last year in winning £500,000 to refurbish Southdene Community Centre, stand her in good stead.

“At my surgeries every week, I’m not just hearing about Everton and Tesco. It’s safety and education that people talk about, and refuse and the day-to-day things.”

Her view is echoed by Cllr Eddie Connor, cabinet member for leisure, community and culture, standing in Northwood.

He said: “We’re about to close down three schools and open two centres of learning in Kirkby. This is a massive issue and people are concerned and interested in it.”

But 1st4Kirkby’s Mr Barton believes they have under-estimated the strength of feeling around Everton and Tesco’s planning application.

Standing alongside Ann Murphy and Jennifer Wharton, all Kirkby residents, he believes people are furious and prepared to vote out the sitting councillors.

He said: “The question I keep hearing is ‘why do we need a stadium’? That hasn’t been answered. We’re all in favour of regeneration but what benefits will it really bring?”

Days after it emerged that Development Securities had sold up its share of the town centre, Lib-Dem candidate for Whitefield John Wickham agrees that the existing town centre could be damaged by the stadium and superstore bid.

But he claims to be suspicious of any single issue party such as 1st4Kirkby.

He said: “There’s a bit of resentment because we feel they may split the anti Labour vote.”

Kirkby will also see one Conservative candidate in the Cherryfield ward, and the British National Party will contest the Whitefield seat for the second consecutive year.

richarddown