Hundreds of campaigners outraged at a new development plan have voiced their concerns over the future of Walton Hall Park.
In a scheme supported by Mayor Joe Anderson, the members of two committees: Save Walton Hall Park and Friends of Walton Hall Park have come together to oppose plans to build a new stadium for Everton Football Club on the site.
The two protest groups have accumulated 2,000 signatures in their goal of saving a much treasured space of picturesque greenery for future generations and have also scheduled demonstrations to further their cause.
Mayor Joe Anderson defended the plans to build on Walton Hall Park, suggesting it could bring terrific regeneration to the area and create 1,000 jobs.
Chrisie Byrne of the Friends of Walton Hall Park voiced her own concerns saying:
“Walton Hall Park is a 130 acre site filled with green space which is enjoyed by families, joggers, dog walkers, fishermen, school groups and community sports and disabled groups.
”We also have plenty of wildlife that live in the park including swans, bats, owls, geese, ducks and many more wildlife and insects.
“When asked at a local meeting held for the community, Everton FC wouldn’t put an exact number on how much space will be left for the community, with figures ranging from 20 to 50%, all they guaranteed to leave was the lake.
”We are going to fight this all the way, this will be detrimental to not only our area but to Liverpool as a whole and its environment.
“We need more green spaces not more concrete villages. Friends of Walton hall park demand both our local councillors, Mayor Joe Anderson, Liverpool Mutual Homes and Everton Football Club to rethink their plans and move on to one of the many brown filled sites in and across our city and leave the park alone.
”The residents do not want to deal with the rubbish, noise and traffic this will inevitably generate to our area, the Goodison ground is a mile away from the park and already has an impact on our area through parking and noise pollution so we do not want it on our door step.“
Ms Byrne said future plans included a leaflet drop and regular meetings for different communities affected by the proposals.
A Liverpool City Council spokesman said:
“This is an exciting opportunity for North Liverpool and investment in this area will bring job opportunities and address important social needs such as health and education.
“The scheme is still in its early stages, yet we are committed to working with the local community throughout the project, listening to their views and developing ideas together which will benefit the area as a whole.”