Final Statement by EFC regarding ground move

[Dylan]

Can be found here: *Links fixed*


EFC Final Statement

Sourced from:

Everton/Kirkby Development

I read through the whole 35 pages and found it highly informative. One particularly interesting part was concerning LCC finding a site for the others and then trying to find a site in their administrative reach (noting that Knowsley still is part of the Greater Liverpool conurbation) after we announced the potential of moving to Knowsley.

The combined exercises carried out in 2000 and 2004 in connection with this
application reviewed a considerable number of sites, of which only Stanley Park was
considered suitable for a new modern football stadium, a view which the City Council
accepted, as did GONW as it didn’t recover the application. More recently LFC has
made a further planning application for a revised design for the proposed stadium,
which was also supported by a further review of the alternative sites previously
considered. The key conclusion remained the same, namely, the only suitable site is
Stanley Park. This received a resolution to grant as recently as November 2007.

As part of its review of possible suitable alternative sites, EFC has reviewed this list,
but like LFC and its advisers and the City Council, it came to the view that none of
the sites reviewed offered any serious potential for a new stadium development.

More recently, initially as a consequence of the press coverage suggesting that EFC
were considering a possible move out of the City of Liverpool, and following EFC’s
publicly declared support for the proposals which are the subject of the application
the statement supports, Liverpool City Council has looked to identify other sites for
EFC to consider. Despite the fact that it endorsed and contributed to the approach
LFC followed when carrying out its alternative site review exercise and its key
conclusion that there is only one suitable site for a new stadium in the City, namely
Stanley Park, the City Council has continued to present ‘options’ to the Club. The
most recent ones being the Bestway Site, Edge lane Retail Park and Aintree Retail
Park / Long Lane Industrial Estate. All can be discounted for a number of reasons
and have been by EFC, indeed in recent weeks the City Council has itself discounted
the Bestway site. Interestingly, none of the sites featured in the list that LFC
identified in its alternative sites exercise even though the City Council contributed to
the list of suitable options.

Then here is the result of another assessment:

For the sake of completeness, DPP has carried out its own comprehensive
assessment of possible alternative sites in and around the City of Liverpool, taking
into account the work carried out by LFC’s advisors and the more recent sites
promoted to EFC by the City Council. The assessment forms part of the PPS6
sequential assessment that forms part of the retail assessment (Document 8).
Despite a considerable number of sites being assessed our conclusions are that, for a
number of planning policy and land use related reasons, the site which is the subject
of this planning application offers the best potential for a new stadium for EFC for
the following reasons:
· The site is not that far from Goodison Park;
· Many EFC fans live in the town;
· The site is large enough to accommodate a major new stadium;
· The site is highly accessible by different forms of travel;
· The planning policy designation does not preclude this form of development;
· The site is closely related to a range of town centre, retail and leisure
facilities;
· The site is close to a new sports and leisure facility which would benefit both;
· The site has a profile that would benefit a new stadium;
· The site is directly adjacent to a town centre that is in significant need of
investment and regeneration and which serves one of the most socially and
economically deprived towns in Merseyside;
· The site is large enough to accommodate additional development that is
needed to assist in the regeneration of the adjoining town centre and would
fund a proportion of the overall cost of the stadium ;
· Overall the site is suitable, available and would be viable for the type and
size of new stadium that EFC need; and finally;
· The site is considered acceptable by the majority of EFC’s core fan base.
This matter is covered in greater detail later on in the report.

And then, finally a hint as to when we will be watching the team play there:

This funding package guarantees that through a combination of the Club and
enabling development the proposed new stadium could be funded which would
enable the Club to move to and operate the new stadium upon completion – which is
estimated at being for the start of the 2010 season.

To sum up, LCC really did only make a token attempt to keep us in the 'city' by offering second hand sites that were not even considered for the other lot's stadium. Then the desperate rantings of LCC and KEIOC with the loop site has been shot down by the council. Beautiful.

This further reinforces the fact that LCC are in bed with the kopites and are going to sorely miss us when all the revenue we generate will be going into the Knowsley coffers and not theirs.

A couple of other points of note that I haven't quoted is that the board aren't willing to saddle us with huge debt for this project and they are not going to act like kids in a sweet shop. They are aiming for a mid-level modern stadium that will benefit everybody who steps foot into it. Nothing too flashy, just get the job done nicely. If it comes out looking half as impressive as the concept images, then I will be happy with the aesthetics.

I know this was a long read, but I just highlighted the points I thought were important if you didn't fancy wading through the 30-odd pages.

 

[Dylan]

Just finished this one too:

Stadium Location Assessment

SDG are the company responsible for transport, crowd flow and evacuation capacity analysis
for the Emirates Stadium, Croke Park, New Wembley, Lansdowne Road and Stamford
Bridge.
Their considered view is that the Bestway site could only safely house a stadium of around
30,000-35,000 seats.
Promoters of the Bestway site had contended that the recently constructed, 60,000 seater,
Emirates Stadium for Arsenal FC at Ashburton Grove occupies an 8-acre site. As such their
site should be able to accommodate the Everton proposals.
SDG have confirmed that Ashburton Grove is in fact a 25-acre site with the stadium building
itself taking up some 9-acres with a further 8 acres allocated to crowd circulation and access
routes - with the remainder being given over to mostly residential development. The full and
safe stadium operation therefore occupies 17 acres.

 

[atrottel]

Thanks for those links, Dylan.

Despite you mentioning wading through 30+ pages, I would recommend doing so to any member here if they have time over the next few days.

Here are the corrected links for the first document and website:

EFC Final Statement

Sourced from:

Everton/Kirkby Development

 

[GhostOfDixie]

All this makes me feel better about the move now. I needed to be convinced of the validity of the whole project.

What I don't understand is, what is going to happen to Goodison?

 

[atrottel]

All this makes me feel better about the move now. I needed to be convinced of the validity of the whole project.

What I don't understand is, what is going to happen to Goodison?

I think it's residential zoned, so it will probably be sold for housing.

When the Club was considering relocating to King’s Dock, its agents and planning
advisors indicated to the Club that Goodison Park could probably be successfully
promoted (in a planning sense) and marketed for new residential.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Well hopefully it will get the respect it deserves, but somehow I doubt it. I can see it ending up a haven for skanks and hobos.

 

[micknick]

Well hopefully it will get the respect it deserves, but somehow I doubt it. I can see it ending up a haven for skanks and hobos.

You fancy buying a gaff at Goodison then?

 

[GhostOfDixie]

You fancy buying a gaff at Goodison then?

? what you trying to say?

 

[micknick]

? what you trying to say?

That you smell of horse wee.

I'd like to live on the hallowed turf. I am a bed wetting drug addict.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

That you smell of horse wee.

I'd like to live on the hallowed turf. I am a bed wetting drug addict.

Your in an odd mood.

I would just like to see it turned into what Highbury is now. But that part of Liverpool, well Scotty Road onwards is just left to rot. Its a disgrace that so much history is just being boarded up.

 

[Cal]

Dont read these stadium threads now, what with this site being predominately yes voters.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Dont read these stadium threads now, what with this site being predominately yes voters.

So are you saying there is no more discussions?

 

[Cal]

So are you saying there is no more discussions?

Any discussions just turn into how its a good thing we're moving.

 

[Dylan]

Cal, why not read the document to see why the club came to choose Kirkby and why the other sites are not viable.

 

[Dylan]

Thanks for those links, Dylan.

Despite you mentioning wading through 30+ pages, I would recommend doing so to any member here if they have time over the next few days.

Here are the corrected links for the first document and website:

EFC Final Statement

Sourced from:

Everton/Kirkby Development

Doh! It was late and I was tired. Fixed now though!