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EVERTON FOR THE KINGS DOCK GROUP (EKD)
Introduction It is expected that the forum at Liverpool Vision will make a final recommendation on the nomination of a preferred developer for the Kings Waterfront site in Liverpool next Monday, 18 June 2001. The Kings Waterfront site is a world class city centre riverside location adjacent to the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site centred on the Albert Dock. The planning brief for this site called for a ‘world class development’ and the guidelines developed by Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Vision advocated a multi-purpose Arena development.
There are two bidders still in the race. Houston Securities is a consortium including Everton Football Club and SFX. Everton have been a commercial and social asset to the community for over 120 years and are totally committed to the city and its people. SFX are the world-leading artist, event and venue management group. The Everton /Houston Scheme is centred around a fantastic new multi-function Arena / Stadium complex which will serve ALL of the population of Greater Merseyside attracting major international acts and events which hitherto have been offered only at Manchester, Birmingham NEC or London. The Arena also offers a new home and fresh commercial impetus for one of the most important and enduring institutions of Merseyside Life, EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB. The combined expertise of Everton and SFX and the emotional, commercial and cultural ties between Everton Football Club and the people offer the ONLY credible prospect for a commercially successful Arena in Liverpool.
ICIAN
ICIAN are a consortium led by Manchester based property developers AMEC and including British Waterways, Crosby Homes and CGNU. None of the consortium members are locally based and none of them have the degree of public support and goodwill enjoyed by Everton. We believe that the ICIAN bid offers nothing new nor world class for this amazing site. Aspects of their design have been unfavourably compared to Stanlow Oil Refinery and Basingstoke! The bid incorporates excessive provision of socially divisive high cost apartments alongside tourist-centric boutique style shopping arcades of the type that have failed at the neighbouring Albert Dock. The design also includes an ‘after thought’ Arena that lacks the necessary support from an established sporting club and a leading content provider necessary for it to be viable. It would not be a surprise if the Arena was subsequently dropped from their plan due to that lack of viability.
We urge the members of the Forum of Liverpool Vision to vote in favour of Houston Securities - the only Merseyside-led bid, the only truly world class architectural concept and the only bid supported by the vast majority of the local population. We remain confident that the quality of concept, design and commercial vision make the Houston Securities bid the clear winner. However, should Liverpool Vision fail to live up to its name, reject the many strengths of the Houston Securities bid and choose the inadequate ICIAN proposal, it will be hard for many people to escape the suspicion that English Partnerships’ apparent “pet developers” AMEC have overcome the inadequacies of the ICIAN bid by skilful lobbying of their extensive contacts. Choosing the ICIAN bid over Houston Securities would betray the interests, wishes and ambitions of the people of Merseyside and nobody should be surprised if and when the public stay away from the resulting “Mistake on the Mersey”.
OUR CITY - OUR FUTURE - OUR CLUB EVERTON FOR THE KINGS DOCK! Nearly There - Latest The long process of choosing Everton as
the preferred bid seems close to an end, with the Liverpool Vision board
meeting today at 4.00pm. Over the last six weeks our sources have thought
that there were underhand moves to block EVERTON'S BID, & that coupled
with the extensive contacts of the ICIAN bid doing their best to push
forward their own bid. Hence the EKD press release, printed in full
above. The information we have seems to suggest that Everton will be
successful in their bid to redevelop the prestigious Kings Dock waterfront
site. It should be, as it is by far the best bid. EKD Background EKD comprises a group of Everton Supporters from all walks of life, who have gathered together to support the Club’s bid for the prestigious Kings Dock site. Our funds have been raised by voluntary subscription. We are not directly connected to Everton Football Club, although we have kept them informed of our campaign. Our members include people from the following backgrounds – Architects and Planners, Design Engineers, Local Government Executives, Financiers and Accountants, Management Consultants, Computer Entrepreneurs, (apparently this is us at Blue Kipper), Lawyers, Public Servants, Civil Servants, Teachers, Writers and many other professions and employment backgrounds. We share one common aim - to help our Club win the bidding process for the Kings Dock. During the last few months, we have distributed tens of thousands of leaflets to Everton Supporters at matches, asking them to support the bid. We have made numerous media appearances supporting the bid, on local and National radio, and have had numerous letters and articles printed in various Newspapers. Got something to say email info@bluekipper.com |
