Liverpool receive council boost in bid to permanently close Anfield Road | OneFootball

Anfield Road Closure Recommendation Puts Liverpool FC Plan Back in Focus

Liverpool FC have moved a step closer to securing a permanent closure of part of Anfield Road to vehicles, after council officials recommended approval of the proposal despite substantial local opposition.

The stretch in question, between Alroy Road and Skerries Road, has been shut to traffic since 2021, when work began on the Anfield Road Stand expansion. Since the stand project was completed in 2024, the route has reopened only to pedestrians and cyclists, and that arrangement may now become permanent.

The issue has stirred strong feeling around Anfield, where many residents believe earlier assurances have not been honoured. Consultation figures underline that sentiment. A survey in September 2024 found 66 per cent of respondents opposed to the closure, and a follow-up in March 2025 recorded that figure rising to 74 per cent.

Photo: IMAGO

Resident opposition shapes Anfield Road debate

At last month’s planning committee meeting, concern was expressed in pointed terms. Anfield ward councillor Billy Marrat accused the club of a “complete betrayal of trust by LFC to local residents and the community in general,” and said he suspected the club “never intended to restore Anfield Road back to the way it was.”

Fellow ward councillor Lena Simic also reflected the frustration felt locally. She told the meeting that 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.” She added: “That never happened.”

Safety case remains central for Liverpool FC

For council officers, the argument remains grounded in safety, highway management and the demands placed on the stadium footprint on matchdays. Felicity Collins, principal planning officer, said officers had assessed the changes as not detrimental to residents and had recommended approval.

Merseyside Police supported the permanent closure, arguing that it would strengthen protection for the stadium from vehicle-related threats. Officials also noted that reopening the road would reduce the available supporter space around Anfield on busy event days, a practical consideration as attendances have increased.

Planning committee decision now moves closer

There was, though, unease within the committee itself. Chair Tom Cardwell criticised how the matter had developed, saying: “What we’ve been presented with feels like a fait accompli. There looks to have been a complete breakdown of trust between community, councillors and the club itself, and that pains me to say.” He added that the club had “some serious work to do.”

Members voted to defer the application in order to conduct a site visit before reaching a final verdict next Tuesday. The proposal is also expected to be considered alongside Liverpool FC’s separate application concerning the scheduling of major concerts at Anfield.

For now, the road outside the ground remains a symbol of two competing pressures, public safety and matchday logistics on one side, community confidence and local access on the other. The final decision will carry weight well beyond the kerbside.