'Long way to go before decision' YOUR DISTRICT, YOUR NEWS.

THE ECHO revealed the stadium plan last summer.

The scheme would also include a hotel, a range of high street shops and extensive car parking and supporters say it would provide excellent transport links to the M57 and Merseyrail network, while being just four miles from Goodison.

Opponents to the scheme say it would be unthinkable for Everton FC - the first club to be established in Liverpool - to leave the city. There are also fears of the impact on Walton businesses if the club left.

MP George Howarth confirmed he will meet with the anti-stadium residents and help highlight their cause.

But he also sounded a note of caution over the ground proposals and said any complete go-ahead for the project could be 18 months away.

He said: "Clearly, there are misgivings in Kirkby, particularly on the part of those who are going to be directly affected if the development goes ahead.

"I see it as my job to make sure that those concerns are addressed one way or another.

"However, there is a long way to go before any decision is actually made and in my view, almost certainly there will have to be a planning inguiry to determine whether any such development goes ahead."

CAPTION(S):

LONG WAY TO GO: MP George Howarth has promised to address any concerns