The Reds had hoped to permanently close Anfield Road to cars following the completion of work on the new stand at their stadium
The newly expanded Anfield Road End at Anfield
The newly expanded Anfield Road End at Anfield
View 4 Images
Liverpool FC have been accused of a “betrayal of trust” with the community around Anfield after the brakes were put on their plans to permanently shut a road outside their ground to cars. Part of the highway on Anfield Road between Alroy Road and Skerries Road was initially closed in the summer of 2021 as work got underway to expand the stand on the same side of the Reds’ famous stadium.
This was completed in 2024 but while access was granted for pedestrians and cyclists, cars have not been able to use it for the past five years. The club had sought to make this change permanent in a somewhat fraught city council planning meeting at Liverpool Town Hall earlier today.
Community leaders have pushed back on the plans, with some accusing the club of betraying the community in its hope to keep the road closed for good. An application to change when the Reds can hold major concerts at Anfield has also been put on hold.
Mark Worcester, planning agent on behalf of Liverpool FC, said: “Since permission was granted for the new Anfield Road stand, there’s been changes in circumstance relating in particular to the increased threat of attacks using hostile vehicles.” The changes were supported by Merseyside Police given the current national terror threat being rated as substantial.
In their comments submitted within the planning report, it was cited how over the last decade there have been repeated instances in both the UK and Europe where terrorists have threatened or targeted road networks and highways. It added: “Protective security and preparedness can mitigate the likelihood and impact of such incidents to people and structures.”
Mr Worcester’s remarks were met with a backlash by Cllr Billy Marrat, who represents Anfield ward. He took aim at the club’s approach to the road and the residents.
Liverpool FC want to permanently close a section of Anfield Road which has been shut to vehicles since 2021. But local people are not happy about it.
Liverpool FC want to permanently close a section of Anfield Road which has been shut to vehicles since 2021. But local people are not happy about it.
View 4 Images
Cllr Marrat said: “This is a complete betrayal of trust by LFC to local residents and the community in general. My personal thought along with many residents is that LFC never intended to restore Anfield Road back to the way it was with traffic flowing both ways and they wanted a pedestrianised area around the ground for tourists, visitors and fans alike.”
Consultations by way of surveys issued during the application indicated a lack of support from the community for the scheme, with 66% against the change in September 2024. This rose to 74% in March 2025 when a second questionnaire was issued.
Cllr Marrat added how the new routes taken by drivers around Anfield were causing “chaos” and said LFC had “not done themselves any favours” in seeking to keep the road closed. Mr Worcester said local traffic patterns had become “well established” during the five-year closure period and amended journey times had only increased by a single minute.
Planning documents said vehicles have typically diverted onto Walton Lane, Priory Road and Arkles Lane. Cllr Portia Fahey, who represents the neighbouring Everton North ward, said she backed the plans based on the adoption of improved terror planning in the form of Martyn’s Law but pointed out “deep flaws” with the proposal.
She said: “Residents feel beholden to LFC, they feel their community is depleted and they are deprived of free movement due to the stadium being there.” Club sources told the LDRS they were mindful of opposition to the permanent closure of the road and were respectful of those viewpoints with LFC seeking to make the area more attractive and safer for residents, fans and visitors alike.
An area of Anfield Road has been pedestrianised since work began to expand the Anfield Road stand of the stadium
An area of Anfield Road has been pedestrianised since work began to expand the Anfield Road stand of the stadium
View 4 Images
Paul Cuttill, Liverpool FC chief operating officer, said he appreciated the feelings from members on the changes. He added: “The world does change and at the point when we went into this, our intention was to reopen the road in its current form, it was designed to reopen.
“However, it was felt we should revisit the use of that area to make sure it was correct for both the club and the community. We do feel it does help to have it pedestrianised and remain closed so that it can feed into the park and make the area work a lot better but also the security challenges were and are a major part of the reason for us to bring this application to yourselves.”
Mr Cuttill said the road remains open for pedestrians and cyclists on non-matchdays. Cllr Lena Simic, another Anfield ward member, said: “Residents have accepted years of disruption because they were assured on multiple times that once construction was completed the replacement road would be reopened to vehicles on non-match and non-event days.
“That never happened. That is why residents feel betrayed, not because they oppose Liverpool Football Club, many are lifelong supporters, many love living next to LFC, but they feel betrayed because the very basis on which they accepted this development, has now been changed after planning permission was granted.”
The newly expanded Anfield Road End at Anfield
The newly expanded Anfield Road End at Anfield
View 4 Images
Felicity Collins, principal planning officer, told the committee how it was the assessment of officers that the changes were not detrimental to residents and had recommended it be approved. Cllr Tom Cardwell, chair of the planning committee, was damning in his assessment of the club he supports.
He said: “What we’re being presented with feels like a fait accompli, I think it’s less than ideal the way we’ve arrived at this situation and what I’d say to the people from Liverpool Football Club is what you hear today is a complete breakdown of trust between the community, the councillors and the club itself. That pains me to say.
“My question to you is please go back to Liverpool Football Club and say you’ve really got to do some very serious consideration and work here. These people are your neighbours.
“You share Anfield with the people who live there and you need to develop a shared understanding of how you use that shared space and a shared vision and that clearly doesn’t exist and that lets all of us down. My message is, you’ve got so much work to do in terms of rebuilding that.”
Members moved the application to be deferred for a site visit to be conducted. Liverpool FC did not comment on the decision.