Everton rocked after stadium plans are blocked

Everton have been dealt a devastating blow after a public enquiry last night ruled against their plans to build a new stadium.

The Merseyside club had hoped to move out of Liverpool city centre to a state of the art new ground in the district of Kirby, but the government has decided, after a lengthy deliberation, that the plans breached shopping policy.

The development was to include a partnership with the supermarket Tesco, but neighbouring councils protested it would affect their own shopping developments.

Now the club must go back to the drawing board and decide whether to appeal the decision, look for an alternative site, or redevelop Goodison.

Supporters of the scheme are devastated because it would not only have secured the future of Everton, but also provided much needed development in run down Kirby.

And local MP George Howarth said: "I deeply regret this decision in a time of significant economic challenge to the whole of Merseyside during a recession."