Artist's impression of Everton's new stadium & shops in Kirkby _320
Supporters and opponents talk to Richard Down about their hopes and fears for Everton FC and Kirkby, as a public inquiry into £400m plans to build a superstore and stadium in the town gets under way today
COUNCILS across Merseyside have hit out at Destination Kirkby, claiming it will undermine shopping centres from Lancashire to St Helens.
Liverpool and Sefton councils have strongly opposed the bid, and now West Lancs District Council is claiming its own plans to regenerate Skelmersdale are being jeopardised by the sheer scale of plans for Kirkby.
Regeneration specialists St Modwen Properties will pitch in on behalf of the district council and have helped draw up proposals to build a new town centre for Skelmersdale.
Their plans include a new high street, more shops, another supermarket, a new leisure centre, community facilities, improvements to the Tawd Valley, and housing.
The masterplan also shows the clearance and redevelopment of around 200 houses and flats at Findon and Firbeck for new homes.
But now they claim the scheme has been stalled until a decision is made on the Kirkby scheme.
Cllr Martin Forshaw, portfolio holder in West Lancs, said: “This enormous over-development is totally out of proportion for the needs of Kirkby.
“If it goes ahead, it will undermine our carefully developed plans to build a new heart for Skelmersdale.
“The huge new retail centre proposed at Kirkby, which in our view is contrary to national, regional and local planning policies, would attract investment away from other centres and would soak up spending power in the region.”
Michelle Taylor, regional director of St Modwen Properties said: “If the Kirkby development goes ahead, it will have a detrimental effect on many of the surrounding towns in its vicinity, including Skelmersdale.
“This will undermine the deliverability of our scheme and we are working closely with West Lancs District Council to put together a case for the inquiry.”
The tenants and homeowners of Kirkby have been consulted on a package of compensation measures that will be offered if planning permission for development is granted.
Liverpool objected in June after retail experts Cushman and Wakefield analysed the plans and stated the size of the development – about 500,000sq ft – conflicts with planning policies.
The firm also said the application ran contrary to town and retail planning policies, and Tesco had not proved the “need” for 50,000 sq m of retail.
Everton stadium inquiry: Residents have their say >>>>>>>>>
