Mr Clarkson suggested it was “a hopeless idea”.

Mr Skempton admitted building there would cost in excess of £200m, but he said it was “a very serious runner”. He said a modern stadium should be a mixed-use building and “a hive of activity” seven days a week.

The Kingsway Loop site was closer to Liverpool city centre and therefore would allow the club to engage with long-term partners, not simply financial enablers such as Tesco as in the proposed Kirkby development.

However, the planning inspector Wendy Burden yesterday put a limit on KEIOC’s evidence, banning anything that touched on the running of Everton FC or its finances.

Residents also get a grilling by the lawyers

A DECISION by developers and Knowsley Council barristers not to cross-examine any witnesses without professional legal representation has been patchily adhered to.

Patrick Clarkson and John Barratt have both asked probing questions of several witnesses in the course of the most recent sessions.

A series of questions about the make-up of KEIOC ended yesterday when the campaign group chair, Dave Kelly, objected that the matter was not a planning issue.

Previously, the barristers had chosen not to put Kirkby Residents Action Group witnesses through any close questioning.