Liverpool Football Club has had its controversial plans for the future of Anfield APPROVED.

The Reds have brought a difficult planning saga to an end today, winning a key victory at Liverpool Town Hall that means a key aspect of its long-term strategy for Anfield can now go ahead.

After a surprising result in front of the Planning Committee last month - when proposals to hold major sporting events that don't involve football at the ground were rejected, the club has achieved an important result today.

It means that Anfield can now play host to major music concerts for around 50,000 people at its famous ground.

But that victory did come at a price - with the Reds having to make some major changes to the proposals after strong objections were made by local residents.

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People were concerned that the added events at the stadium would make their lives more difficult - and explained how they can already suffer on match days through issues such as parking, anti-social behaviour and noise.

After the music concert side of the application was deferred, Liverpool suggested that it would reduce the number of planned concerts from 10 to 6 - and crucially indicated it would be willing to accept a temporary two-year licence for the events, meaning that the permission can be reviewed.

Today at the Planning Committee, Chief Operating Officer Andy Hughes also outlined plans for a community fund for Anfield's neighbours that would be made from the cash the club will make from parking for these high-profile events.

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Other measures include a commitment to employ a dedicated local resident liaison officer who will specifically deal with local people's concerns - as well as adding additional bins outside the ground during the events.

But it was not the comfortable meeting that the Reds had hoped it would be, with a combined 11 local residents and ward councillors still speaking in objection to the plans.

Many said that it was too little, too late from the Reds and said the proposals should be put on hold until the club had proven it can make life easier for its neighbours.

But despite those objections, the committee decided Liverpool had done enough to appease concerns - and granted the permission on a temporary basis.

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A motion to reject the proposals from Liberal Democrat Councillor Mirna Juarez was seconded by Labour councillor Harry Doyle but rejected by the rest of the committee, who then voted to pass the plans.

It means that Liverpool now has a two-year licence to hold 50,000 seater concerts as well as boxing matches and other combat sports at the stadium from next summer.