LIVERPOOL Football Club today (Monday, September 15) reassured residents they would not be abandoned as the club presses ahead with plans for a £250m stadium on Stanley Park.
The application going to Liverpool council next month does not include detailed plans to regenerate the old ground.
But the club today promised the regeneration of the whole of Anfield would be addressed.
A spokesman said: "The club will be taking into account the regeneration of the whole area in its plans to develop a new stadium."
Council officials also said regeneration in Anfield remained on target.
Residents had expressed fears that they would lose out on the promise of a major facelift after Liverpool leave their famous stadium.
When the plans were first revealed, the club announced proposals for new education, health and sports facilities for the area.
The Anfield Regeneration Action Committee, set up three years ago to fight the stadium move, says it has not been presented with any concrete proposals for improving the area.
Secretary Mike Butler said: "We are left wondering what is happening with the regeneration of our area.
"It is as if the people of Anfield do not matter. Everything is being concentrated on LFC."
Around 1,400 homes face demolition to make way for the new ground but residents say they have no idea which ones.
An LFC spokesman said: "The planning application is just for the stadium. But as part of the planning application process, information about what is planned in terms of regeneration for the whole community is included.
"This is something which has followed extensive dialogue with the community in the last three years.
"The club sees the new stadium as a catalyst for the regeneration of the entire area, which will be to the benefit of the whole community."
Liverpool council say residents have been extensively consulted.
A spokesman said: "We have used every means possible to engage the local community. Roadshows have been held and consultants carried out a survey, visiting 4,000 properties.
"There have been exhibitions of the proposals and newsletters have been sent out."
Some locals still have some reservations over the development:
* CATHERINE Farrelly, 63, from Arkles Lane, who has lived in Anfield all of her life: "We are being told the new building will be a 365-day arena. Things are bad enough just living on top of a football ground without having a venue which will have people coming in and out every day of the year. I have spent a lot of money on my home and all I can envisage now is the value of my home falling."
* ARTHUR Brown, 70, who has lived in the shadow of the ground in Watford Road for 40 years: "There is concern about the impact the stadium will have but what is more worrying is that we are being kept in the dark. We want to ensure that we are all part of the regeneration process which is what has always been promised."
* RAY Barrigan, 68, a widower, who has lived in the area for 40 years: "I welcome inward investment to the city but we do not want the stadium transferred to the park which belongs to the people of this city. We need to be told about what the plans are for regeneration in the area."
Upgrade for 60s estate
SOME regeneration projects have gone ahead in Anfield.
Work already done includes the refurbishment of the 1960s Radburn estate through stock transfer and an £8m investment in the refurbishment of houses on Skerries Road next to the football ground.
The council has promised that the community steering group, which has been working on plans for the regeneration of the area, can expect to see its proposals coming into effect at the beginning of next year.
These include the demolition of around 1,405 houses, the building of 400 new homes and the refurbishment of 1,800 others.
A local regeneration office is also due to open next month.
Plans to be submitted
THE club is due to submit its plans for a new 61,000-seater stadium to council chiefs on October 3.
If the go-ahead is given, the stadium could be ready for the 2006/07 season.
The club's original plans announced three years ago included proposals to regenerate the site of the current stadium:
* An adult and further education centre to be run by Liverpool Hope university
* Sports centre for the local community and schools
* Local health centre with GP and specialist services
* Internet youth cafe
* The restoration of Stanley park and Anfield cemetery and the creation of an Anfield Plaza on the site of the existing stadium.
The plaza is likely to include a market place, hotel, community centre, restaurant and café. An area of open space will also be created for concerts.
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