City of Liverpool's ground search goes on after Edge Lane bid blocked

How the proposed stadium at Edge Lane could look
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


City of Liverpool FC’s search for a permanent home looks to continue after a bid to take over green space in Edge Lane has been blocked by Liverpool Council.

Since forming in 2015, the Purps have been on the lookout for a pitch to call home. The Northern Premier League club has so far been unable to put down roots, playing outside the city limits in a groundshare with Bootle FC at the Berry Street Garage Stadium and at Widnes Vikings’ rugby ground.

New plans designed by the non-league club had proposed a future settlement at land off Edge Lane which left the community divided. A pre-planning application submission was submitted last year which outlined the club’s plans for land at Edge Lane recreation ground, also known as Rathbone Park.

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The document said how City of Liverpool Football Club (COLFC) intended to revitalise the derelict all-weather football pitch and adjoining community park to provide a “first-class community sporting amenity.” The proposals include an enclosed community football ground for almost 2,000 spectators, with a 3G artificial grass pitch, plus associated storage, parking and access arrangements.

However, city leaders have now confirmed a community asset transfer will not go ahead after concerns were raised about the scheme.

Posting on social media, Cllr Nick Small, cabinet member for growth and economy, said: “The council has decided not to take this forward based on officer recommendations under the Community Asset Transfer policy because of questions around deliverability, planning policy challenges, the designation of the location as a green space and highways impact. I hope that COLFC and the council can work together to look at alternatives in other parts of Liverpool.”

Cllr William Shortall, who represents Old Swan West ward in which the park falls into, said he had opposed the club’s bid to take over the land. In a post on Facebook, he said: “The City of Liverpool Football Club submitted a bid to the council seeking ownership of Rathbone Park to use as a community football ground.

“Along with many residents, I had serious issues with this bid and the proposals for a community football ground here. Along with many residents, I was concerned that the proposals would take away recreational space from the community, as well as causing transport problems locally.

“I therefore opposed the City of Liverpool Football Club’s bid. I am pleased that the Council has taken the concerns that I raised along with many residents on board and have written to the football club to advise them that their bid will not be going forward and will now work with the club to identify alternative suitable sites elsewhere in the city.”

700 City of Liverpool FC fans at the 2024 play off v Prescot Cables at Prescot's Joseph Russell Stadium
700 City of Liverpool FC fans at the 2024 play off v Prescot Cables at Prescot's Joseph Russell Stadium -Credit:Supplied

In a bid to win over residents, the club’s community arm sent an open letter to 1,000 residents across Old Swan, in which it said it wanted to upgrade the site, not takeaway from the community. A spokesperson for City of Liverpool FC said: “We met with officers before the entire CAT process was suspended for review.

“We have used this down time to do what was requested. We have never been contacted to say the process has resumed, and that the work we have done would be considered.”

The spokesperson added how the club felt it had addressed “every query raised” and set out its position in an open letter to residents. The decision to block the bid was welcomed by the Friends of Rathbone Park group.

On Facebook, a spokesperson said the group looked forward to a series of public consultations to establish what communities wanted from the site. The statement added: “We want Rathbone Park to be an example of a green space that people want to travel to and most importantly we want a diverse play area that both ablebodied and non-able bodied children can play together, as an example.”

The statement added how it was important for Liverpool Council to work with the football club to support them to find “a more appropriate and suitable location” and the group was sure it would be “an exciting project to procure moving forward, but in a more suitable location.” The spokesperson added: “Rathbone Park can now have money spent on it and can be brought into a communal park and a leisure facility expected for the 21st century.”