West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has slammed the latest move by Knowsley Council to evict endangered water voles from their habitat in Kirkby Brook to make way for Everton’s new stadium.
The scheme is part of the £400m Destination Kirkby project, which has not yet received planning permission.
And Rosie is calling on the Government to step-in to impose a "more sensible" development
The plans for a huge shopping development and new 50,000-seater ground for Everton football club are being led by supermarket giant Tesco, backed by Knowsley Council.
Large areas of land in Kirkby Town Centre have been purchased in preparation for the scheme.
However, a decision on the planning application is subject to the outcome of a public inquiry, the outcome of which is thought to be about three months away.
Rosie said: “Knowsley Council and Tesco are bulldozing ahead with their plans without any consideration of the planning process and in the face of massive objections from many people.
"The Kirkby proposal as it stands would effectively kill off any plans for regeneration in Skelmersdale in my constituency and affect neighbouring towns and cities such as St. Helens, Southport, Wigan and Liverpool.
“This is a real 'own vole' for Tesco and Knowsley Council, who are not doing themselves any favours by wilfully ignoring the views of the countless people who object to these plans and carrying on regardless of the fact that the Secretary of State is yet to make a decision.
“This latest move is astonishing. Not happy with issuing Compulsory Purchase Orders for a mass buyout of Kirkby Town Centre, they’re now being issued to endangered species. I don’t know what they have against water voles, perhaps they think they are Liverpool supporters?
“I strongly urge the Secretary of State to send the plans back to the drawing board so that a more sensible development can be proposed, one that is complimentary to the regeneration scheme in Skelmersdale and other nearby towns.
“We have the potential to vastly improve the quality of life of communities in both Skelmersdale and Kirkby. I will be working hard to ensure that a fair deal is reached for all sides.”
Tesco pointed-out that no compulsory purchase orders have been issued in relation to the Destination Kirkby scheme.
A Tesco spokesman said: "Our plans for Kirkby are a once in a generation opportunity to transform the town centre and create up to 3,000 new jobs.
"The case for this significant investment in Merseyside has been well made to the Planning Inspector and we await the final decision from government.
"The relocation of the water voles is being undertaken with full permission of the local council and under the advice of the Environment Agency. This is a stand alone permission and has no bearing on the wider decision we are waiting for.
"We are fairly and carefully following the democratic planning process and no work on the main scheme can start until the final decision is made.
"No Compulsory Purchase Orders have been issued."
Miss Cooper said that while it is the case that CPOs have not yet been applied for, it is highly likley they would be required if they scheme were to win approval.
Said Miss Cooper: "Tesco are splitting hairs over this business of CPOs.
"You can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of them time."
kirkby resident, kirkby around 2 years, 3 months ago