Posted by Admin on February 7, 2009, 11:20 am
Board Administrator
Posted initially on the Bluekipper Relocate / New Stadium Forum by KEIOC's Colin Fitzpatrick:
Just back from the inquiry at which I heard the closing submissions from the Tesco QC. I was looking forward to hearing a top QC deliver a cutting case for the applicants instead I witnessed what can only be described as a desperate straw clutching delivery of misinformation and half truths. It was so bad we actually put in a complaint to the inquiry and have been invited to contact the secretary of state, after reading this I’d advise all Evertonians to do the same. A journalist stopped me outside and said that was “surprising” and pointed out that the KEIOC submission was hard hitting, BANG – conflict with planning policy BANG – conflict with planning policy BANG – conflict with planning policy, one after the other, time and time again. What summed it up for me was the applicants case was riddled with interpretations of planning policies while the opponents case was base on conflict after conflict with many planning policies.
Here’s just a small selection of amazing statements: no laughing at the back
“Nobody has been appointed to sell the club and to the knowledge of the CEO there is no buyer for the club.”
“The new stadium will serve the existing season ticket holders given that 75% of the current holders live within 12 miles which is 1% more than for Goodison Park.”
“Mr. Skempton for KEIOC told Mr. Keirle that Goodison Park is a “horrible experience for non-football fans.”
Referring to Goodison Park,
“Lack of capacity and opportunity for expansion; Spectator viewing experience with 53% of the stadium having obstructed views; corporate facilities well below those of competitor clubs and concourse facilities constrained and underprovided. This is confirmed in the Premier League Fans Survey.”
“There were three ballots and an EGM to address the issue. All concluded in favour of a move.”
“There is no site in Liverpool City as has been shown by the council being satisfied by Liverpool Football Club on three occasions.”
“Mr. Elstone revealed how they think they can proceed and what they can afford”
“The decision (that Mr. Ellis has got it right on Transport) is advised also by the somewhat revolutionary approach to travel to the stadium perhaps uniquely for a football stadium emphasis is made on public transport and reduction of travel by car over what currently occurs at Goodison Park.”
“The stadium transport plan is comprehensive and has been approved in principle by the various transport authorities.”
“The public transport and pedestrian connections for the development will therefore be good, in line with PPG13, PPS6, the RSS for the North West and the UDP. The line of Merseytram is reserved through the site and although this is not required in order to ensure good public transport connections, it is a potential future addition to the comprehensive public transport coverage for the application site.”
“Rail is an important mode for the stadium use. Mr. Ellis accepted that the railway station imposes a constraint on the number of supporters who might travel by train, because of its terminus. He noted however that there may well have to be an adjustment of the timetable on matchdays.”
“4,000 are estimated to be able to use the train on the basis of six carriage trains at 15 min intervals to and from Kirkby The operator Merseytravel and Network Rail both agree that this is a realistic and achievable target, subject to the work being carried out at Kirkby station.”
“In relation to bus travel “The evidence proffered by KEIOC is unreliable because it does not come from those at the bus companies with responsibility for assessing the feasibility of the proposed stadium bus arrangements.”
“Similarly, KEIOC and Mr. McDonald are representative of very few, perhaps just 4, and their approach is ill founded.”
“It remains a matter of surprise that a member of KEIOC, Mr. Kelly, was afforded the privilege of addressing the LCC planning committee on the Tesco application….doubly surprising when on three occasions Liverpool FC sought planning approval from LCC they had to do so on the basis of no alternative sites justifying the invasion of historic Victorian Stanley Park. LCC accepted there was none”
“Mr Skempton promotion of “The Loop” with the apparent support of some Council Members was completely unjustified. His own HOK report gave him no basis of it coming forward.”
In short a desperate attempt by a desperate group of people.