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• Your Kirkby, your future, your say

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The biggest ever public consultation on the future of Kirkby town centre takes place for two weeks from June 26 to give the community an opportunity to have their say.

Knowsley Council wants to be sure that any future plans for Kirkby meet the needs and desires of the people who live and work there. ‘Your Kirkby, Your Future’ includes a two-day consultation drop-in event organised by the council to present possible development approaches.

The event is been held at the Kirkby Suite, Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby, on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 26 and 27, from 12-7.30pm. A series of artists’ impressions, drawings and computer generated graphics of how Kirkby town centre could look will be on display. Representatives from Knowsley Council and Tesco will also be available to take views on the development approaches and answer questions.

The council will present its existing approach to develop Kirkby town centre. This is to continue with the current policy, which was approved in 2006 and based on an earlier policy from 1997. This could see a gradual improvement of the town centre, including a new bus station on Cherryfield Drive. Several sites could be identified for development, such as the former swimming pool site.

An alternative proposal is to build on the current approach to develop a more comprehensive re-development of the town centre as well as additional shop space, a Tesco superstore, other high street shops, a new Everton football stadium and new housing to the south of Cherryfield Drive.

This would be more likely to attract funding to secure other town centre improvements such as, new public buildings, better market facilities, leisure facilities and hotel operators, potentially even a cinema or theatre.

Following the event the consultation will take to the road for two weeks to make sure that as many people as possible have their say. The travelling exhibition will visit Kirkby town centre and tour around local shopping areas, community centres, college and business parks.

Council officers will also attend neighbourhood meetings at various locations across Kirkby to record people’s views.

The feedback from the consultation will be used to help the council decide which approach is best for the long term future of the town centre. If it decides to explore the potential development which includes a Tesco superstore and new stadium for Everton Football Club, the council will create a vision for the town centre, which must be met by any future planning application if it is to be considered for approval. Before this is finalised the people of Kirkby would be consulted to ensure that the document, called an Interim Policy Statement, reflects the changes that they would most like to see made to the town centre.

Cllr Eddie Connor said: “As with any potential redevelopment, whatever is proposed must represent the best possible deal for the residents of Kirkby and the long term future of the town centre.

“We urge all residents with an interest in Kirkby to come along and discuss the two possible approaches to the redevelopment of their town centre.”

Knowsley Council is committed to listening to the views of residents and local businesses to ensure that whichever approach is chosen for the town offers the maximum benefits for those who live and work there.

- Notes to Editors -

The full list of public consultation events are as follows:

Consultation event:

Your Kirkby, Your Future two day drop in consultation event

June 26&27; 12-7.30pm, Kirkby Suite, Cherryfield Drive

Neighbourhood meetings:

Northwood Community Centre, Monday, July 2, 6-8pm

Tower Hill Community Centre, Monday, July 2, 6-8pm

Southdene, St Laurence’s School, Thursday, July 5, 6-8pm

Westvale Community Centre, Friday, July 6, 6-8pm

Field Lane LHT Hostel, Wednesday, July 11, 7-9pm

Road show bus tour:

Saturday, June 30, 10am-3pm, Kirkby Town Centre car park

Thursday, June 28, 8.30-10.30am, Moorefield Shops, Tower Hill

Friday, June 29, 8.30 – 10.30am, Centre 70, Richard Hesketh Drive, Westvale

Monday, July 2, 8.30 – 10.30am, Quarry Green Shops, Northwood

Tuesday, July 3, 11.30am – 1.30pm, North Mersey Business Centre, Knowsley Industrial Park North

Tuesday July 3, 2-4pm, Knowsley Industrial Park

Wednesday, July 4, 8.30 – 10.30am, Knowsley Business Park

Monday, July 9, 8.30 – 10.30am, Broad Lane Shops, Southdene

Monday, July 9, 11.30am – 12.30pm, Knowsley Community College, Kirkby Campus

An exhibition is at Kirkby One Stop Shop, Municipal Buildings, Cherryfield Drive (comment cards and surgeries to explain approaches) from Tuesday, June 28 to Friday July 13.

- Ends -

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