Everton Football Club's new stadium plans are 'wrong', inquiry told » Local government » 24dash.com

Everton Football Club's plans to build a new 50,000-seat stadium are "wrong", an inquiry was told today.

The £400 million plans, which also include housing and a supermarket, were agreed by a Knowsley Council planning committee in June.

But they were rejected by Communities minister Hazel Blears and the Government Office North West which led to a public inquiry that began today.

Dave Kelly, chairman of Keep Everton in Our City (KEIOC), told the inquiry his group was formed in March 2007 to object to the plans.

Mr Kelly, 50, who has lived in Kirkby for 49 years, said he had been an Everton season ticket holder for 35 years. He added: "I love my town Kirkby as much as I love Everton Football Club.

"But I don't think they sit together.

"The great land give-away is wrong for the people of Kirkby. I believe it (Everton) should stay in the Liverpool Capital of Culture 2008."

Looking at government planning Inspector Wendy Burden, Mr Kelly said: "You need to make one recommendation only and that is to refuse it (planning permission)."

Mr Kelly also told the inquiry a school near to the proposed site for the development would be demolished along with the building that the inquiry was held in today.

It also heard that Kirkby was one of the most socially and economically deprived areas in the North West.

More than 25 people, including local residents sat and listened during the first day of the public inquiry.

The first witness called was planning consultant John Francis who read from a report of his summary of his evidence and support for the planning application which was sent to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Reading from the document, Mr Francis said: "It is an understatement to suggest it (the proposed site in Kirkby and the town centre) is badly in need of regeneration."

Later Mr Francis said: "The application will deliver a considerable number and range of benefits."

Mr Francis said there was a "strong" view to support the planning application and his document told the Secretary of State there would be little "prospect" of another development of this scale if planning permission was denied.

Patrick Clarkson QC, who represents the applicants Tesco and Everton, asked Mr Francis if it was right that the school Mr Kelly mentioned in his statement to the inquiry was to close as a result of the development.

Mr Francis said: "No. It (the school) is programmed for closure anyway."

The planning consultant said it had already been earmarked for closure by the local council.

The plans for Kirkby town centre, which include new shops, restaurants, a hotel and offices, will create more than 2,300 jobs, including 350 which Tesco has earmarked for long-term unemployed people and Knowsley residents and 700 at the new Tesco store.

The development will also attract an extra 1.2 million visitors to Knowsley every year, spending an additional £13.6 million in the local economy, a spokeswoman for Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council said in June this year.

The inquiry will be held on Tuesdays to Thursdays, 10am to 5pm and 10am to 4pm on Fridays.

The inquiry which resumes tomorrow in the Kirkby Civic Suite, Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby, is expected to last at least four weeks.