As the row over the upgrade of Merseyrail’s Sandhills station rumbles on, an influential Everton FC fans group calls for an ‘urgent’ solution and urges local politicians to ‘lower the political temperature’. Tony McDonough reports
Everton FC fans group the Everton Fan Advisory Board (EFC FAB) is calling for proposals over the upgrade of Merseyrail’s Sandhills station to be “revisited urgently”.
EFC FAB, an independent organisation elected by fans’ votes, also called on politicians to “lower the political temperature” amid a row following Lib Dem councillors comparing the station experience to Auschwitz.
Earlier this week Liverpool City Council’s planning committee deferred a decision on plans submitted by Merseyrail to increase passenger capacity at Sandhill station on matchdays at Everton FC’s nearby Hill Dickinson Stadium.
These include an extension of the existing corralling area for destination specific queue routes. Merseyrail also wants to provide additional passenger welfare facilities, permanent toilet provision and an area for future potential catering services.
There will also be additional stair access to the existing ramp connection to the platform footbridge and a new bus stop / interchange astride the boundary at Dunes Way.
However, councillors said they were unconvinced about the plans in their current form and deferred a decision until after a site visit had been carried out.
During the meeting Lib Dem councillors Richard Kemp and Pat Moloney compared fans’ experiences on matchdays to Auschwitz and Nazi Germany. Following outrage from Labour politicians both have since apologised.
Councillors have deferred a decision on the plans until they have made a site visit. In an open letter on Thursday EFC FAB said it was time for all parties to come together and find acceptable solutions to matchday congestion at Sandhills.
It said: “Everton supporters and our local community are the people and businesses living with the consequences of a transport solution that still requires significant improvement.
“The development of Hill Dickinson Stadium was no secret. It was planned and constructed over several years and the challenges of moving tens of thousands of supporters to and from Liverpool‘s waterfront was entirely foreseeable.
“Supporters therefore have every right to expect local authorities and transport providers to work together with urgency to deliver the best possible solution
“We recognise that a completely new station may not be realistic. But that cannot mean accepting the status quo.
“There remains a clear opportunity to make Sandhills more efficient, resilient and crucially, more comfortable for the thousands of supporters who use it before and after every home game.
“The concern repeatedly raised with us is not simply the length of the wait, but the conditions in which supporters are asked to wait, particularly during the winter months. Exposure to wind, rain and cold in December or January is very different to the experience in August.
“We therefore believe the current proposal should be revisited urgently with greater consideration given to shelter, facilities, accessibility, queue management and the overall supporter experience.”
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In the letter the group praised Merseyrail staff at Sandhill saying they “work hard in challenging circumstances and engage positively with supporters”.
It added: “Average waiting times are generally under 20 minutes comparing reasonably if not favourably with many major football grounds around the country. That does not mean the existing facilities are good enough.”
Addressing the political row the letter also said: “We therefore urge everyone involved to lower the political temperature and get back around the table, a table that should involve the fan groups and Everton Football Club.”