Everton FC 'to get go ahead on Kirkby stadium plan in September'
Daily Post columnist Jim Hancock today claims a scoop on the latest in the Everton FC stadium saga.
Hancock who is well connected in the region has been told that the club are likely to be told they can build a ground in Kirkby.
As always there will be politics at play when the decision is announced.
He's what he wrote:
Everton could get the go-ahead for its new stadium in Kirkby at the end of September.
I understand the announcement is likely around the time of the Labour Party conference. Although the decision and the party's gathering in Brighton are unrelated, well- placed sources are confident the plan will get the go-ahead.
This would allow local Labour politicians to claim that, despite the recession, regeneration projects are going forward. In contrast, they will claim the Shadow Minister for Merseyside, Chris Grayling, has set his face against the planned tram and the Liverpool City Region agreement designed to improve skills and job prospects.
Approval for the stadium and the Tesco store would re-ignite the controversy that has continued to smoulder in the letters column of this newspaper in recent weeks.
Residents opposed to a football stadium in their midst, and neighbouring councils which fear for their shopping interests, would be dismayed that their opposition has fallen on deaf ears. They would be unlikely to be appeased by the approval being conditional on a stadium somewhat smaller than the projected 50,000. There are suggestions that this may be the inspector's recommendation.
Even if approval is given, it must be remembered that Everton is up for sale and not flush with cash. Is it certain it would be able to go ahead, even if the Government approves an inspector's positive report?
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David Bartlett - City editor of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs. He was previously chief reporter of the Daily Post and here he gives his insight into the workings of regional politics.
That article is laughable! It 'may' go ahead and might be conditional on it being a smaller stadium. Oh really? What exactly would be the point in moving the club to a smaller stadium than we currently have if the idea is to INCREASE revenue? Oh, and the club is 'up for sale' is it? I seem to remember quite clearly during the inquiry Mr Elstone saying it WASNT and indeed, the project at present can only be approved if the club ISNT up for sale! Full of conjecture and supposition ... the only 'accurate' comment is whether, even if approved, Everton Football Club would have the funds with which to proceed!
Makes sense... Labour can take the plaudits for focusing on regeneration, they don't annoy Tesco and Everton have to cancel plans of the stadium because there's no call to move there unless we have the opportunity to expand. This also resolves the transportation link issues.