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| Everton stadium inquiry commences | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A public inquiry into plans to build a new 50,000-seat stadium for Everton Football Club along with housing and a Tesco superstore is under way. | |
| The £400m development would see the club move to Kirkby and be part of a complex of shops, offices and hotels. | The £400m development would see the club move to Kirkby and be part of a complex of shops, offices and hotels. |
| The plans have been backed by Knowsley Council's planning committee, which believes local people would benefit. | The plans have been backed by Knowsley Council's planning committee, which believes local people would benefit. |
| But Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears did not give the go-ahead for the scheme. | But Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears did not give the go-ahead for the scheme. |
| The hearing, held in the Kirkby Civic Suite, Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby, is expected to last at least four weeks with a decision made by the spring. | The hearing, held in the Kirkby Civic Suite, Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby, is expected to last at least four weeks with a decision made by the spring. |
| A stadium will not contribute to stability, it will ruin stability in Kirkby The Reverend Tim Stratford | |
| If the plans get the green light, more than 2,300 jobs could be created, including 350 which Tesco has earmarked for long-term unemployed people and Knowsley residents. | If the plans get the green light, more than 2,300 jobs could be created, including 350 which Tesco has earmarked for long-term unemployed people and Knowsley residents. |
| Knowsley Council has said the development would also attract an extra 1.2 million visitors to the borough every year, spending an additional £13.6m in the local economy. | Knowsley Council has said the development would also attract an extra 1.2 million visitors to the borough every year, spending an additional £13.6m in the local economy. |
| The plans are being opposed by Liverpool City Council and group of other authorities - Sefton Council, St Helens Council, West Lancashire Council and Lancashire County Council. | |
| A Kirkby action group of local residents and the Keep Everton In Our City group of Goodison Park fans are also against the proposals. | |
| Local residents are concerned about possible pollution and congestion. | Local residents are concerned about possible pollution and congestion. |
| In June the Reverend Tim Stratford, chairman of the Kirkby Residents' Action Group, said: "Kirkby has had a bad history but we have come a long way since then and this is a town that people living here like living in on the whole. | |
| "A stadium will not contribute to stability, it will ruin stability in Kirkby." | "A stadium will not contribute to stability, it will ruin stability in Kirkby." |
| In August Councillor Ron Round, leader of Knowsley Council, said: "The people of Kirkby deserve a final decision on the regeneration of their town and holding the inquiry before the end of the year will bring clarity on the future of this development." |