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Reds stadium vote blocked
A BID for a referendum over Liverpool Football Club's proposed move to Stanley Park
has been blocked.
Green space campaigners wanting to stop the club building on Stanley Park have
called for a ballot of the whole city.
They are backed by Melrose Cllr Joe Hanson, who today put a motion to the executive
board calling for the vote.
But the scheme was blocked and Liberal Democrat council leader Mike Storey said:
"There has been extensive consultation with the people of Anfield.
"Calling for a referendum is expensive nonsense and shows how Labour are
willing to play politics with people's lives."
But Cllr Hanson insisted the matter was not over.
"He said: "We are determined to ensure everyone has their say."
© Copyright of site Liverpol Echo (09.01.2004)
Delay threat to new stadium
An artist's impression of how the inside Liverpool FC's new stadium will look
LIVERPOOL Football Club last night admitted for the first time that their plans for
a new 60,000-seat stadium in Stanley Park could be delayed.
Chief executive Rick Parry was the man who dropped the biggest hint yet that the
club's hopes of starting the 2006 season in Stanley Park may now be unrealistic.
Mr Parry's comments come at a time when the proposed new J80m stadium has still not
been scheduled to come before the city's planning committee.
It had been hoped that planning permission for the stadium would be granted in
March - with work possibly starting on site in May.
But a council spokesman last night confirmed the LFC stadium was still not listed
for the next planning meeting on May 4.
Sources confirmed to the Daily Post that it was "highly unlikely" that
the stadium plan would be considered by councillors before the "all-out"
elections on June 10.
Already then the timescale has slipped by at least three months and that is before
the possibility of a legal challenge by opponents and further public consultation.
Mr Parry said: "There's always a host of issues which arise, as has been the
case this time. It's too early at this stage to say what it means for the opening date but
none of the delays help, let's put it that way.
"I don't think it (the stadium) will fail. I think there may be delays, there
may be areas that have to be modified but we would be very disappointed if we ended up
with a 'No' because that would essentially mean we hadn't done our homework somewhere
along the line."
The city council stuck to a well-worn party line highlighting the possibility of
the people of Anfield being asked again about the stadium - despite a widespread public
consultation in 2002.
Opponents of the LFC plans hope they will be "called in" by the
Government because it involves building on part of a Victorian public park.
After the stadium plans were originally submitted last November, council planning
officers sent the club a 46-page dossier of issues that needed to be addressed.
It is the club's response to that which is currently being studied.
The chief executive also played down fears the club might struggle to fill a
60,000-seat stadium, given the team's recent indifferent form.
Joe Kenny, of the Anfield Regeneration Action Committee, said: "I'm not
surprised it could be delayed.
"We are talking to lawyers and, even if this gets approved by the planning
committee, we think we will be able to mount legal action delaying it yet further, if not
indefinitely."
By Andy Kelly
© Copyright of site Daily Post Staff (15.04.2004) |
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New talks on Red stadium
An artist's impression of how the inside Liverpool FC's new stadium will look
PEOPLE are being given another chance to have their say on Liverpool Football
Club's plans for a new Anfield.
The city council will reopen debate about the ?80m stadium on Monday, when updated
plans will be made public for the first time.
Among the new information is a report on the alternative sites for the stadium, a
conservation plan for Stanley Park and a strategy for the proposed Anfield Plaza, on the
site of the current stadium.
It means the planning application for the stadium at Stanley Park will not be
considered by councillors until after local elections next month.
The club had hoped to get the green light some time this month so work could begin
this summer.
But it is not thought the four-week delay will cause serious disruption to the
construction timetable and club chiefs are confident the stadium will open in time for the
2006/07 season.
A council spokesman said: "Further information has been received from the
club. This is in response to some questions we had about the stadium design and the
proposed Anfield Plaza.
"Some minor changes have been made and we are allowing the public to view the
plans for a second time until June 1."
The club submitted its original planning application last autumn but city council
planners needed clarification on several issues.
They responded with a 46-page document covering various points of concern and the
club has now sent its answers to the queries.
A spokesman for Liverpool FC said: "The planning application is with the
council, I can't say when it will be be heard.
"When they consider the application I am sure they will let us know."
Joe Kenny, chairman of Anfield Regeneration Action Committee, which is leading the
fight against the new Stadium, said: "The council is only re-opening part of the
planning application, there is still very much more that the people of Anfield need to
know.
"A lot of people are going to object because the quality of this stadium is
poor and building on Stanley Park is wrong."
A major consultation exercise two years ago found majority support for the scheme
but the method used in that consultation has been widely criticised by opponents.
* The new plans will be made available to the public at Millennium House, Victoria
Street, from Monday morning.
By Mike Hornby
© Copyright of site Liverpol Echo (07.05.2004)
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