Liverpool City Council has given the green light to an application to expand Sandhills Station
Everton fans have raised concerns about safety issues at Sandhills Station
Plans to improve travel for Everton fans heading to the Blues’ new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium have now been approved.
Two test events have been held at the 52,888-seater Bramley-Moore Dock stadium ahead of its official opening at the start of next season. The first event saw fans raise serious concerns about the safety of Sandhills Merseyrail station, which is the closest rail hub to the arena.
Fans reported some concerning conditions at Sandhills Station, particularly on their way out of the stadium, with images showing a very packed platform. One fan, Kevin Duffy, told the ECHO: “All it would have taken is for someone to fall onto the track and it would have been a disaster. I held my kids back against the wall. It was pretty terrifying.” While the second test event was regarded as a smoother affair – some fans reported more concerns related to Sandhills.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA) has already installed a new fan management zone outside the station to try and help with the flow of people who will be coming in and out on busy match days. But there are further plans to address some of the crowding issues.
Plans have now been approved for a new footbridge and staircase to help prepare Sandhills Station for the opening of Bramley-Moore Dock
In November last year it was confirmed that the CA would provide £4.2m for what was referred to as the Stanley Dock Rail Access (Sandhills Station) project.
This resulted in a full planning application being submitted to Liverpool City Council for proposed capacity access improvement works at Sandhills. These plans are currently being considered by the city council.
As part of the application, a Design and Access statement reads: “The relocation of Everton Football Club from its current home to Bramley-Moore Dock, is expected to have a significant impact on Sandhills Station.
“The development of the stadium at Bramley Moore Dock, which has a capacity for over 50,000 spectators, is expected to significantly impact the station particularly on how it is operated, and how it is accessed by spectators on event days.”
It states that this application relates to “increasing the station’s capacity by providing a staircase, footbridge and ramp with associated landings to access existing platforms from the corralling area.”
The plans also show provision for an emergency staircase and footpath to Dunes Way, which will be linked to the new staircase and footbridge as well as a new Merseyrail secure compound area. The application adds: “The new ramp, staircase and footbridge arrangement, running along the East embankment of the site, will connect the crowd management zone to the south end of the station’s island platform. Access to the new ramp, staircase and footbridge is to be managed by trained personnel / staff as and when required (matchdays, events, etc.)”
Plans have now been approved for a new footbridge and staircase to help prepare Sandhills Station for the opening of Bramley-Moore Dock
“The layout and placement of the proposed ramp, staircase and footbridge arrangement provides an additional escape route from platform areas direct to Dunes Way, increasing the stations evacuation capacity in the event of an emergency. During match days and events held at the new stadium the layout of the proposed crowd management zone along with addition platform access will provide a safer and more secure environment to manage the movement of station patrons across the site.”
The ECHO can now confirm that these plans have been approved by Liverpool City Council’s planning department, with the decision taking place under what are called delegated powers – meaning the application did not need to come before the council’s planning committee. The decision to approve the plan was made on March 31. It is not yet known when construction will begin.