An artist's impression of Everton stadium
For the project to begin immediately
Lisa Harris, who is deputy project manager at Knowsley Council, yesterday said: "If any have hibernated in the area, then work will have to wait until they have woken up.
"But there will be lots of checks to make sure they’ve all gone."
She said the council was confident the voles would move out.
A lining will be laid on the stream bed and hoardings will be put up to prevent any of the voles from escaping into the neighbouring shrubbery.
Environment Agency officers and the council’s health and safety officers will be charged with checking for any strays which stick their paws in and refuse to move.
Everton has already admitted privately that their hopes to move into a new stadium in 2011 have been dashed by the length of time the Department for Communities indicated it will take to make a final deci- sion on Destination Kirkby.
It is unlikely that putting back work on the brook until November will significantly alter their new move in date of 2012.
But a rogue rodent could delay work until spring next year, possibly delaying the project until after 2012still further.
