THE uncertainty surrounding Everton FC and Tesco’s bid to transform Kirkby has driven investors away neighbouring towns at a cost of millions, it was claimed yesterday.

Yesterday, Keith Nutter, a planning consultant for the opposition authorities, revealed that developer ING had withdrawn from Church Square, in St Helens, last December, and suggested that was because of concerns about Destination Kirkby.

ING bought into St Helens shopping centre in August, 2006, at a cost of £75m, Mr Nutter said, but had sold up at a loss of £30m.

He said: “This demonstrates their uncertainty.

"Clearly in a short period of time they have made a decision to back out of St Helens at quite a significant loss.”

He went on to say that if the planning inquiry favoured the £400m plans for Kirkby, the plans for Chalon Way in St Helens would founder and Kirkby would leapfrog St Helens becoming the biggest town centre in the area.

Patrick Clarkson, QC for Everton and Tesco, said: “That would be a wonderful thing for Kirkby, wouldn’t it?”