Comment: Sensible move to calm Everton FC stadium objectors

May 7 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

THE saying: “What a difference a day makes” has never seemed more appropriate. Just 24 hours ago, we reported how the collective voices of Liverpool and Sefton councils were raised, along with the city’s Grosvenor development officials, in protest against Everton Football Club and Tesco’s interest in Kirkby.

It appears this may not continue to be the case for much longer. For last night it emerged that the scale of the whole retail development planned for the Kirkby site has been “significantly” altered to such an extent that it may not attract the same level of opposition.

The retail offering – which would have seen the creation of the UK’s largest Tesco store – has been cut back from 72,000 square metres to 55,000 square metres.

Knowsley council asked colleagues at Liverpool to defer making a decision on whether to oppose the scheme. And if Tesco has indeed listened to local murmuring and decided there is no merit in a battle, those local authorities may ultimately decide they no longer need to register protests against the proposal at all. If that is the case, it could have implications on the Government’s expected decision to “call in” the proposal.

For Tesco and Everton FC appear to be reacting to the concerns already raised over the controversial stadium/ superstore plan. If the authorities, in response to those changes, no longer have the same concerns, the Govern- ment may well feel there is no longer the same need for an open investigation.

No doubt Tesco and Everton FC would welcome such a decision – the longer the delays to the scheme, the greater the costs and the less likely it is to eventually go ahead.

But those protesters who stand to lose their homes, or see their beloved Everton forfeit their city home, will feel aggrieved that such an opportunity has been denied. Many opponents will have pinned their hopes on a public inquiry to ensure their voice is heard.

But the planning process is clear, and if Tesco and Everton FC meet the criteria then it is hard to see how the scheme can be refused.