Liverpool Council has dropped a controversial plan to redevelop the home ground of a grassroots football club after locals warned it would drive children away from sport.
The council master plan would have razed three fields of green space to make way for a car park at Ireland Park, which the Liverpool Rangers have called home for more than 63 years.
Club president Matt McMah had warned the redevelopment would force him to significantly cut the number of junior teams and increase fees for registration and uniforms. Parents with multiple children registered at the Rangers said they would have no choice but to withdraw their youngsters.
Nearly 1000 people signed a petition calling on the council to overturn the decision.
After an internal report by council acknowledged the plan’s impact on club participation and income, councillor Zeli Munjiza put forward a motion to rescind approval of the plan.
Fifteen committee members from the Rangers watched as a revote was conducted at Wednesday night’s council meeting. One cheered from the gallery when the plan was scrapped.
While the park will still be upgraded, the Rangers will not lose any playing space.
The club will retain all of its fields and Ireland Park will gain a cricket pitch, a walking and cycling track, an outdoor gym and an off-leash dog park.
Labor MP for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda, formerly a councillor, had been a vocal critic of the 2024 plan.
“I was really glad to see that the majority of councillors have listened to the feedback from the community,” she said.
“This is a good outcome for the community, where a masterplan that incorporates and delivers more for the community will be progressed.”
Rangers secretary Vira Valmas said she was “relieved” to hear council had dropped the plan.
“It is a huge win for the entire community,” she said. “As both a committee member and a parent of juniors at the club, we see every week how much Ireland Park means to families.”
McMah said the Rangers would now be able to “continue to grow as a club”.
“I had committee members in tears, they were that excited. This is like a second family for a lot of us. Every time you walk through the gates of Ireland Park, it’s not just going to a soccer club. It’s like coming to a second home.”
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