Controversial football fan station queue plan approved

Controversial plans to expand the queuing area at a Merseyrail station used by Everton fans on matchdays will go ahead.

Liverpool Council's planning committee approved the application, which could see an additional 2,000 supporters use an extended waiting zone at Sandhills.

Two councillors at previous meeting were criticised for comments about the plans with former Lord Mayor Richard Kemp comparing it to "the greeting area for Auschwitz".

He and fellow Liberal Democrat Pat Moloney, who described the queuing system as "something out of a horrific death camp in Nazi Germany" apologised after criticism from Jewish leaders and Labour politicians.

The committee deferred its decision on the plans last month, in order to visit the site. It appeared the visit addressed councillor's previous concerns, as the plans were approved by a majority.

Liverpool council planning officer Simon Crawshaw said without the extension to the site, Sandhills would remain overcrowded.

He added the extension plans put forward by Merseyrail represented a 150% increase in queuing area for supporters.

Crawshaw said: "It was always envisaged the relocation of Everton Football Club from Goodison Park to Hill Dickinson Stadium would have a significant impact on Sandhills station. This was well understood when the planning application for the stadium was considered."

One committee member, Billy Lake did not support the plans.

He objected to a lack of cover over the queuing area, which he said would leave fans waiting for their trains at the mercy of the elements.

Crawshaw said there would be no cover or canopy because the area needed to be visible to officials on site monitoring the queues during peak times.

Lake said this "smacked of 'we've got to keep an eye on these nasty football supporters' ".

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