Evo-Stik Premier League Marine announces that it is planning to build additional spectator facilities and install a new floodlight system at the Arriva Stadium.

The proposed developments will include the building of a snack kiosk and a 130 seat covered stand at the Crosender Road end of the ground.

The provision of these new facilities will help provide a better balance of facilities at both ends of the football ground, the only areas where space allows such a provision.

Marine Football Club has been concerned for some time with regard to the imbalance of spectator facilities within the stadium in that most facilities currently exist only at the College Road end of the ground.

The new snack kiosk at the Crosender Road end will only be used for games with large attendances and when, at the direction of Merseyside Police and Sefton Council, segregation of spectators is required and in recent seasons this has occurred only once or twice per season.

The 8 column floodlighting system at Marine is now over 30 years old and is not sustainable having had three electrical faults in the last 12 months resulting in fire and failure.

A new eco friendly 4 corner/column system is included in the proposed development.

Marine Chairman Paul Leary said:

“The imbalance of facilities for spectators in our football ground is a cause of concern when we have games with large attendances and in the interests of spectator safety we need to provide additional facilities at the Crosender Road end of the ground.

The Club is in the process of communication with local residents, Merseyside Police and Sefton Council to fully consult and provide details and reasons for the building and floodlighting schemes.

The proposals are subject to the completion of satisfactory consultation by Marine Football Club, to obtaining planning approval from Sefton Council and to raising the £150,000 of funds needed to pay for the building work and new floodlights.

A drop in session has been arranged at Marine as part of the consultation process and this will be held on Thursday 27 January in the College Suite between 6:30 and 9:00pm.

Invitations to attend the meeting have been sent to local residents in addition to representatives from Merseyside Police, Sefton Council and Abacus Lighting.

Paul Leary added:

“The consultation process has also involved local ward councilors Andrew Tonkiss, Peter Hough and Anthony Hill and they have all been advised of our proposals and the reasons for this further development of out football stadium.”