Liverpool FC accused of 'betrayal' over controversial Anfield plan

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Last week, the ECHO revealed how the Reds' have submitted a planning application to Liverpool City Council which, if approved, would see a section of Anfield Road - running between Skerries Road and Alroy Road - permanently shut to motorists.The chunk of road has been closed to drivers since the summer of 2021 when work on the expansion of the Anfield Road stand at the stadium started. We got told when they started building that (the stand), that we would have a road through it.

I will argue with them all day long not to close that road."We want that bit of road reopened. We're not surprised to see these plans go in."Liverpool FC bosses say that while the road is suitable for use by vehicles, they have identified security concerns about the increased risk of vehicles being in close proximity to the stadium.They say analysis shows there has been no adverse capacity or safety issues stemming from traffic being diverted onto other routes since Anfield Road was first closed.The club also sees the 'placemaking benefit' to the local community of keeping the road closed to vehicles - providing greater accessibility to Stanley Park, particularly with the added global interest in the stadium arriving with concerts from international stars like Taylor Swift.The Reds have agreed to fund and carry out works at the Anfield Road/Arkles Lane junction in a bid to mitigate the effect of the closure and improve the mobility of additional pedestrian and cycle movements in the location.But this seems unlikely to assuage the feeling locally.

A woman who lives in Skerries Road, who asked not to be named, told the ECHO: "When they were doing the stand, they said they would reopen the road again. We only saw about the planning application in the ECHO, we will object to that."If Liverpool are successful in getting the section of road closed permanently - it will also be in spite of local political opposition.In a joint statement, Anfield councillors Billy Marat and Lena Simic said: "As local councillors, we have already made it clear to Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Football Club that residents do not want Anfield Road to be closed to vehicles."Residents feel betrayed by LFC.