The cost of Liverpool Council’s legal bill was disclosed following a Freedom of Information request published on the website whatdotheyknow.com.

The response to the request stated: “The city council did not allocate any funding to the Destination Kirkby Inquiry as when the budget for 2008/09 was agreed it was not known if the matter would proceed to a Public Inquiry.

“However, in order to be of assistance further investigation that excluding Liverpool City Council staff the Inquiry cost the City Council approx £265,000.”

A council spokesman said: “This was a lengthy public inquiry.

“It was originally planned for three weeks but went on for two-and-a -half months.

“The costs which we incurred were a mix of legal costs and fees for expert witnesses.

“Our view was that this is a very major scheme which would have a very big adverse affect on retail in the city.”

Plans to carry out work on a small but crucial part of the Destination Kirkby site was granted by Knowsley planners last week.

The council’s planning committee approved Tesco’s £750,000 application to carry out engineering works to divert 350m of Kirkby Brook. The site is close to the spot where Everton FC and Tesco plan to place a massive new coach station if their scheme to build a supermarket in gets the approval of Secretary of State Hazel Blears.

She is expected to deliver her ruling on Destination Kirkby on, or before, November 27.