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Andy Dunn, reporter for the News of the World and confidant of Everton chairman Bill Kenwright is reporting that the club are ready to concede that due to limited opportunities within the city and the cost of a new site being prohibitive, without a major investor, they are preparing to stay at Goodison Park. It is understood, following what has been described as “positive talks” with Liverpool City Council, a new feasibility study will be undertaken to examine the possibility of redeveloping the current home of the mighty blues.
The shareholders annual general meeting will be held on the evening of 22nd February 2010 in the Park End Stand at Goodison Park. Following the main business of the AGM, there will be a forum at which issues and options surrounding stadium redevelopment/relocation will be examined.
KEIOC are one of the guests that have been invited and they shall give a thirty minute presentation on their concept for the future followed by a question and answer session hosted by leading associates of the group.
Having realised the days of putting a red and yellow rosette on a dead dog in Kirkby and having it elected are at an end, the local Labour party have decided to mount the earliest start to an election campaign in living memory.
Old habits die hard for Kirkby’s Labour dominated Councillors and their Labour MP; having decided against acts of contrition and attempting to rectify the wrongs of their campaign, to deliver the undeliverable Destination Kirkby, they rather predictably prefer the same old, tired, misinformation campaigns; carrying on regardless in the forlorn hope that the electorate won’t notice their MP’s impotence and their councillors ineptness.
KEIOC, having been contacted by many Evertonians concerned with unopposed rumours surrounding the safety certificate awarded to the Goodison Park stadium, particularly the Bullens Road stand, can report that, having liaised with Liverpool City Council’s licensing officer, Mr. Stephen Clare, we can today announce that these rumours suggesting sections of the ground will fail to obtain safety certification in the future are completely untrue.
Mr. Clare explained, “The General Safety Certificate is in force for the sports ground. There is a series of requirements under the General Safety Certificate for the sports ground that the club provide annual certification from qualified parties for a number of building/safety related elements and installations etc. This process is a continuing one and we are not aware of any reason why the club would not wish/be able to continue that process.”
We’re always happy to put Evertonians minds at rest over any unfounded allegation.
Just after the rejection announcement by the secretary of state, John Denham, Liam White from Everton fansite Followeverton interviewed Colin Fitzpatrick of KEIOC in an attempt to understand the groups motivation and future perspective on the stadium debate.
You can read it here.
Merseyside MPs Peter Kilfoyle and George Howarth were recently asking questions in Parliament about the regeneration of North Liverpool and future plans for Kirkby. The questions were being answered by John Denham whom recently rejected the planning application for Destination Kirkby.
A video is available below:
A transcript from Tuesday can be found on the excellent TheyWorkForYou.com website.
Phil Woolas, Minister of State (the North West) met with Knowsley Council officials on Monday to discuss the future of Kirkby town centre following the rejection of the Destination Kirkby proposals.
Despite reports from various media outlets, he confirmed that the stadium is not on the agenda of Kirkby's regeneration: "The scheme that we are looking at for the town centre does not include a football stadium.
"What I'm saying on behalf of the government is that we're not going to abandon the need for regeneration in Kirkby just because we've been knocked back at this stage."
Everton are thought to be no longer interested in pursuing a stadium in Kirkby. The club's chief executive officer described the previous pursuit as 'divisive'.
George Howarth, Kirkby's MP suggested that the Everton stadium isn't a priority."My primary concern isn't about Blues fans, Everton, or the stadium. My primary concern is for the regeneration of Kirkby."
Knowsley Council leader Ronnie Round said: "We discussed options for how we are going to regenerate Kirkby and I felt as if we made significant progress.
"We all agreed that we need to maintain the momentum to ensure that the people of Kirkby have a town centre that they can be proud of."
Round confirmed that Knowsley are uncertain whether any future plans are likely to include a stadium: "At this stage we are not ruling a stadium in or out of the plans but our main emphasis is on regeneration."
Additionally, a statement prepared by Phil Woolas refuting the rumours that the Kirkby stadium proposals were to be revived by Prime Minister Gordon Brown was read out by Alan Jackson on BBC Radio Merseyside (1h:53m) yesterday.
In response to the decision by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the Everton / Kirkby planning application West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper said:
"I am absolutely delighted that the Secretary of State has taken a brave and ultimately the right decision; one that is consistent with Government planning policy."
"It is a clear message that big business with big money doesn't always get their own way and they have to adhere to planning regulations."
In response to recent frenzied media speculation concerning the possible resurrection of Destination Kirkby by Peter Mandelson, comments that have resulted in KEIOC receiving many phone calls and emails from agitated supporters, we’d like to confirm that having spoken to a senior club official the words of Everton’s chairman, Bill Kenwright, were reiterated – Everton’s involvement in Kirkby is over.
Our chairman, Bill Kenwright has now closed the book on Kirkby; our CEO, Robert Elstone, has acknowledged the harmful divisions that Kirkby has created; Dave Kelly, chair of KEIOC, responds:
"Kirkby now represents the past; it represents another page in the rich and colourful history of Everton Football Club; we need to learn from the past, hope for the future and live in the present. We're calling for a period of calm reflection; to take stock, to unite and to move forward, stronger, and committed to meet the challenge of making our great club even greater; it is not for KEIOC to fix the blame for the past, but to attempt to fix the course for the future."