Liverpool Council planners are set to approve an expansion of Sandhills railway station's fan management zone, which would add a new bus stop, toilets, and food and drink kiosks, to reduce overcrowding as Everton fans leave Hill Dickinson Stadium on matchdays.
Expansion details and facilities
On Saturday, Everton begin their second season at their waterfront home on Bramley-Moore Dock, having relocated from Goodison Park last summer. With thousands of fans making their way to Regent Road via the Merseyrail network, a series of changes have already been made to Sandhills, including a new footbridge and a fan management zone with dedicated queuing lanes for each route.
Now, Liverpool Council planners will decide on an expansion of that zone further onto the station footprint. The proposal, submitted by Merseytravel, would repurpose land currently used for rail maintenance equipment storage to extend the existing fan management zone along the strip between Dunes Way and the existing station ramp to the footbridge. Land to the south would remain for storage use by Merseytravel, Merseyrail, and Network Rail.
Queuing and safety improvements
A section of the public pathway from Sandhills Lane along Dunes Way will be altered and extended within the site boundary to allow the highway to be widened for a new bus stop pull-in bay. Additional emergency evacuation capacity will be provided by a new double-width emergency escape route to Dunes Way from the southern end of the extended corralling area.
Police barriers have been specifically selected for separation between queue routes. These barriers are movable but have fixed spacing when interlocked, allowing staff to stand between queues and direct people or access deep within the queues in an emergency.
Public response and recommendation
A total of 27 responses were received, with 26 objecting and one supporting. Objections came from three people representing 11 companies operating out of the property across from the station. An officer report said many objections relate to access to premises on matchdays, which is a management issue beyond the planning application's scope.
The report added that expanding queuing provision within the site will reduce pressure beyond the site for people seeking trains after matches and major events. The proposals are recommended for approval when the committee meets next Tuesday.
