Topic: The Fight Goes On

[Steve C]

"ANFIELD'S local Liberal Democrat councillors today threw down the gauntlet to their colleagues to fight to block Liverpool FC's Stanley Park dream.

Kiron Reid and Jeremy Chowings condemned the Stanley Park plan - and called on all their 63 colleagues in Liverpool's ruling council group to help block the scheme.

They say they were both elected, and Cllr Reid re-elected, on the Liberal Democrat policy of saving parks and green spaces.

In a joint statement they declared: "We will use every method possible to put forward opposition to any proposal to develop Stanley Park."

They point out that 13 of the 66 Liberal Democrat councillors represent or live in an area within half a mile of Liverpool Football Club.

"The 30,000 people who live within a mile of the football club nearly all have Liberal Democrat representatives.

"The Liberal Democrats in Anfield will support Liverpool FC expanding their current stadium if this is part of a community led regeneration strategy, and involves Liverpool FC as well as Liverpool city council investing in regeneration in the Anfield and Breckfield areas.

"We support the proposals of the Anfield Breckfield Community Steering Group.

But every resident must be consulted.

"The Anfield Liberal Democrat councillors will oppose ANY Liverpool FC plan if it leaves any resident financially worse off than before house prices were first blighted by stadium rumours three years ago."

Walton Labour MP Peter Kilfoyle was on a trip to China and not available for comment today."

[John Barnes, Anchorman]

These are the same local Liberal councillors who talked a few years ago saying "We have to look to moving Liverpool FC to a green-field site on the outskirts of the city".

If that happens we'll be longing for Stanley Park...

[Jonathan Hall ☆☆☆☆☆]

Is that Joe Kenny still a local councillor as he deffo does'nt want LFC in the Anfield area.

[ttnbd]

Come on you lib dems reject the bid.  You know it makes sense.

Why spen 70million on basically adding an extra 10,000 seats when they can do the same at Anfield for at most £20million.  AND it will mean more money for the club in the long run.

[Jonathan Hall ☆☆☆☆☆]

Have'nt the club said that the ground will not affect the money for the team or am i guessing as per normal.

[ttnbd]

It won't effect teh team building but if they redeveloped the Anny Road and Main Stands they could have approx an extra £50million available to spend so to speak.

[Jonathan Hall ☆☆☆☆☆]

Yes but where would all the stadium money be from anyway as if it will not affect the team i doubt the money lenders will not let us have it.

[ttnbd]

What I mean is we will have to borrow that £50million.  So if we only redeveloped we wouldn't have to borrow that 50million hence some of our future income would not be used to repay a loan an interest accrued on the loan.  So in effect we are up 50million or so.

[Paul]

You get loads of grants from here there and everywhere when developing a new stadium as far as Im aware - thats how clubs like Derby have been able to acheieve it. Everton are gonna get loads of £££ pumped in because they are building a multi-purpose arena.

Our new stadium would be used only for ourselves which would mean less money for us from outside sources to build the thing.

[john_mac]

Think the key to Liberal councillors objections has been misse out of original statement. What councillor Reid went on to say was that they would fight unless compensation was offered to the residents whose house valuation was affected by the stadium relocation.

He was basically making a political speech. Re-generation of the Anfield and Breckfield areas should, realistically, increase property valuations, regardless of the geographical position of the ground. The only properties which would be affected would be those in the very close vacinity.

Tim I really do think that you should stop making figures up off the top of your head. You are talking bollox.

[ttnbd]

I was only about 20million out if you don't include lost revenue so it wasn't a bad guess  

[Steve_M]

If you read Rick Parry's reply to some questions put to him on Offal site, it would cost the same to redevelop as it would be to build a new 55,000 seater (which has the option of further increases in capacity).

On the current site, 52,000 or so is the maximum that it could be extended to ever. For the same price you are going to get a brand new stadium, etc with additional benefits. Anyway, read it, it's on the official site site and answers a few of the queries why the club has made this decision.

[buckshee]

The longer we fight amongst ourselves the further the Mancs and the Arsenal will move ahead in the money game...........if we want to put them pups back in their place on a regular season after season basis we have got to progress......We have made brilliant progress on the pitch but unfortunately that pitch can no longer meet our needs so we have to look forward.  

We may save a few bob in the short term by staying put,  but in the long term its a false economy and we will suffer in the years to come.....