A long time ago, in a town centre not so far away…

It was announced on 15th December 2020 that the long-disused former RSPCA clinic on Cherryfield Drive is to be demolished, with the contract having been awarded and the work due to take place starting in January 2021.  But all is not as it first seems…

The news was published by Knowsley Council here (Knowsley News).  Cllr Tony Brennan (a Shevington Ward councillor in Kirkby) is quoted as saying “The former RSPCA building has been empty for a number of years and would need significant investment to bring it back into use.”  Now, you might be thinking – from a quick look at the picture and the fact that it hasn’t been used for some time – that Cllr Brennan is right and that’s its time get rid of the eyesore and make way for something new.  Good-riddance and all that!

This small building ironically encapsulates much of what has been wrong with the development of Kirkby Town Centre for much of the past 20 years.

Firstly, the reason this building stands empty is because Knowsley Council have had it earmarked for demolition since at least 2006.

Back in 2005, the Royal Naval Association requested planning permission to move to the site, after the original RNA building was expected to be demolished to make way for the failed MerseyTram line that would have terminated across from Kirkby Bus Station.  This request was rejected by Knowsley Council during 2006 – and ultimately leading to the closure of the RNA altogether.

Later the failed ‘Destination Kirkby’ bid to bring Everton football stadium to Kirkby included plans for a new ‘Primary Care Trust facility’ on the site – this would later become the new St. Chad’s Health Centre sited elsewhere in the town centre.

Then, following the failure of the Destination Kirkby plans, the retail development proposed by Spenhill/Tesco in 2010 had the building earmarked for demolition to make way for a new petrol station.  This demolition plan was retained in the scaled back plans submitted by Tesco in 2013.  This Tesco plan eventually failed in 2015.

Afterwards, development to the land south of Cherryfield Drive was quietly abandoned, with extensive housing now expected instead of new facilities – a long way away from the promises of Destination Kirkby!

The result of all this?

A dilapidated building that may or may not be beyond repair, but which equally could be the home for a community organisation, which in turn could help regenerate in eastern end of the town centre.  If an appropriate organisation had been sought and supported, regeneration could have been achieved a next to no cost to the taxpayer and with great benefits for the local community.

Years of repeatedly failed plans, years of dereliction and then eventual demolition.  Yet we know of at least four community organisations who have considered taking this building on, but have been deterred by the council, because it has been planned for demolition all along!

Vision Kirkby proposed doing just this in our proposal for the Kirkby Town Centre in February 2020!