Everton and Tesco plan a �200m scheme

Asda revealed on Thursday they were in talks to build a store in the town centre as part of a new development.

The Kirkby Residents Action Group (KRAG) say they prefer the Asda plan as that would be in the town centre as opposed to the out-of-town Tesco bid.

George Howarth MP said Asda are yet to have firm talks with Knowsley Council.

The �200m Tesco/Everton development, would see a new superstore and 50,000 seater stadium built in the town.

Residents have criticised the bid saying the complex is too big and they are worried about matchday traffic, the loss of green space and the out-of-town location.

The Asda/Development Securities bid hasn't even been properly discussed.. so we don't know whether it's deliverable George Howarth MP

But the Labour MP for Knowsley North and Sefton East added: "When they get the official planning application [from Tesco/Everton] they will go into their own consultation.

"So I think by the end of it all there will have been a lot of consultation, but at this stage there hasn't been enough."

Thel Asda bid has the support of the KRAG.

The council would legally have to consider both schemes if they were submitted for planning and the town could end up with two supermarkets.

It is not thought that Asda store would be on same scale as the Tesco development.

But Mr Howarth said not enough was known about the new proposals.

"The problem is that the Asda/Development Securities bid hasn't even been properly discussed with Knowsley Council so we don't know whether it's deliverable - the Tesco bid is much more advanced.

"We don't know what the finances are, we don't know whether the town centre will be redeveloped properly on the back of that.