Liverpool City Council's planning committee has indicated it is "minded to refuse" Liverpool FC's bid to keep a new road beside Anfield permanently closed, though no formal decision has been made. Residents say the 2021 closure has pushed traffic onto nearby streets and made crossings like Walton Breck Road more hazardous. Liverpool FC and Counter Terrorism Policing North West warn reopening could create safety and security risks, while council officers judged traffic and air quality impacts not severe. Councillors proposed a compromise to open the road outside match and event days; the application also seeks a one-season extension for July concerts beyond 2026.
Councillors 'Minded To Refuse' Liverpool FC Request To Keep Road Beside Anfield Closed
Residents say keeping the road closed has created traffic issues around the community [PA Media]
Councillors on Liverpool City Council's planning committee have indicated they are "minded to refuse" Liverpool FC's application to keep a road beside Anfield permanently closed to motor traffic — a decision that is not yet final and will return to committee for a formal vote.
Background
Part of Anfield Road was closed in 2021 during construction of the Anfield Road Stand, and a replacement route was built between the new stand and Stanley Park. Under the original planning agreement, the new road was required to open to motor vehicles when the stand's new seats were first used, but that changeover has never taken place. Pedestrians and cyclists can use the road except when it is closed for matches or major events.
Residents' Concerns
Local residents say the continued closure has diverted traffic onto neighbouring streets, increasing congestion and making crossings harder and more intimidating. At the committee, 17-year-old sixth-form student Savannah Shellard said Walton Breck Road had become busier and described returning home after the bus as "quite intimidating for a young girl like me." She said the committee's vote made her feel residents had been heard.
Safety, Security and Official Advice
Liverpool FC argued that reopening the road would create risks to road users and to people entering and leaving the stadium, and warned that opening could remove a barrier protecting part of the stadium perimeter from a potential vehicle attack. Counter Terrorism Policing North West supported the club's position, and the council's building control service cautioned that reopening might affect the stadium's safety certificate.
Local sixth-form student Savannah Shellard, who spoke at the meeting, said the closure had made Walton Breck Road busier and harder for her to cross [BBC]
However, planning officers concluded that predicted changes to traffic levels and journey times would not be severe enough to render the closure unacceptable, and council air quality specialists judged any impact on air quality to be insignificant.
Councillors' Position And Possible Compromise
Councillors proposed refusing the application on grounds including traffic flow, effects on residents and environmental nuisance. Anfield ward councillor Billy Marrat suggested a compromise: keep the road closed on match and event days but open it to motor traffic at other times. "The rest of the days of the week, that road should be open to residents," he said, adding the application had damaged relations between the club and the community.
Other Elements Of The Application
The same planning application also seeks permission to allow concerts and other major events in July for one more season after 2026, keeping the existing annual limit of six major events and maintaining the 31-day period without football or other major events. Liverpool FC's planning agent previously said the July restriction had prevented an unnamed "global act" from performing at Anfield, claiming lost revenue for the city. The club declined to comment while the planning process is ongoing.
Next Steps
The committee's "minded to refuse" position is not a formal decision; the application will return to the planning committee for a final determination. Residents, council officers and security experts are expected to feature in further discussion before a binding outcome is reached.
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