"From all of the consultation we have carried out, we believe that the majority of local residents are in favour of transforming Kirkby.  The local elections in May this year gave the Council a clear mandate to continue with the scheme.”

“We have searched long and hard for years to attract the right investor to Kirkby and this scheme cannot be equalled.  At this point in time, there is no plan B for Kirkby and no plan B for Everton Football Club.  We will do all we can to keep the scheme alive and make sure the future of Kirkby is not put at risk.”

The Public Inquiry is expected to be held within the next 12 months.

Tesco originally submitted its planning application in January this year and the application has resulted in the borough’s largest-ever consultation exercise. At each stage, the views of residents and neighbouring authorities were taken into account.  

He added: “It was disappointing that some neighbouring authorities continued to object despite the improvements they requested having been made to the scheme.  Their continued objections, therefore, could only have been for political reasons.

“It is particularly regrettable that some community leaders in Merseyside seemed unable to do the right thing for the Merseyside sub-region, which was to put aside their personal views in relation to Everton Football Club."

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