...for the new stadium. South Glos are deliberating on planning permission for the UWEStad itself and today Bristol City Council confirmed that they had received the application for a Sainsbury's on the Mem: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-18007310 Fingers crossed for both, but I think that the planning for the store is going to be the sticky one. I've a mate in the planning dept at South Glos and I'm fairly confident that it will be approved with conditions. It's an ideal location close to the motorway, Filton Abbeywood train station and on one of the guided bus routes that will be built over the next few years. But I'm concerned about the Sainsbury's and that's the critical 'enabling development' without which the stadium is a non-starter. It's going to be a long tough road, but ever the optimist, I think we can do it. Exciting times ahead and I can't wait to see those big yellow diggers turn up at UWE next year.....
BB I fear the same as you, I just cant see the mem being knocked over for a supermarket especially after the Tesco debacle just a couple of miles away I seem to keep these planning things completely wrong so hey? Cant see you having any problem with the UWE side though..
Well I say even if Sainsbury dont get the planning permission they need, we should just go ahead with redevelopment of the mem. Perhaps one stand at a time and start with the ****test end, being the Uplands
Dont we get a football league grant to help us out? Should be enough to help us build one big-ish stand shouldn't it?
I dont think that the UWE end will be terribly contentious. From what I have heard about the MEM end from insiders at BCC, it seems the anti-anything Bristol Rovers attitude still persists. What must be pretty obvious is that the MEM could be developed for domestic housing and how coud anyone object to that?. However Sainsbury's is a bit of a larger player than BCC and may have some weight to add their argument. BCC Planning department may also be feeling a bit cautious after all of the horrendous gaffs they have made over the AV site proposals. BCC ratepayers have been taken for millions over the dismal cock-ups BCC have made.
It could go either way with BCC - it would be good to have a non-partisan mayor in place to preside over the decision and get the stadia that both Bristol teams need and deserve. Chris - I think that we are getting a Football Foundation grant for the UWEStad, but as I understand it, these things are development specific, so if UWE is a non-starter, we'd have to reapply for a grant to help develop the Mem. I hope it doesn't come to that though as the UWE situation is our very best chance of getting a 20k+ stadium.
BCC have been anti Rovers for my lifetime so hopefully they'll give the green light to Sainsburys just to get us off their patch.
Would be great if a Boris appeared on the scene, with big personality and the capability of kicking arse to get things done. Unfortunately Bristol planning has always been too bloody slow to get out of its own way. The new mayor could well change that!!! Hopefully please.
if they turn down a sainsburys, go back with a homebase/argos or any big store/stores. the very best of luck anyway and to city.
Made this thread a sticky Looking like the locals are kicking off. Planners will decide in June or July. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-18033294
I understand that the main problem is that even if South Glos agree the application, the protestors are permitted three months to register an objection. That means around 18 months of debate before anything can happen.
Cheers for the sticky YOBG Sapphire, yep I think you're right. Let's face it, after looking on in horror at the Ashton Vale debacle, if we get any kind of positive decision on both applications within a year to 18 months, I shall be cock-a-hoop!!!
We must have the most spineless boneheaded councillors in the country. Why do they always turn down anything that would improve the City, yet approve the biggest load of crap going. Bus lanes, cycle lanes, traffic lights at all the most inconvenient places. Remember the wonderful development of the centre down by the Hippodrome, **** fountains if you could call them that; spewing green foamy water, Millenium Square nuff said: Restrictive practices like Glos Cricket Ground. Also, and I mean this, complete idiotic decisions on Ashton Vale for the City ground. Remember the complete stupid decision on Filton airfield and Bristol Airport. On one hand a ready made facility that has the ready built road and rail links, the widest and third longest runway in the country against a runway with a big hill at one end and a shear drop at the other coverd in fog for many days of the month and a winding A road incapable of taking the required increase of traffic for . The reason for turning down Filton. Oh yes needed a bit more work over in Bedminster. Result a few years later airfield closure. Yes I fear the BCC because they are incompetent. We will probably get the UWE bit OK. However, they will probably give the mem village green status.
Maybe if we don't get our way we could resort to the tactics the ****heads are using.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-18193878 ..then again we are better than that so maybe not.
Pretty outrageous stuff, despite the annoyance that the local Nimbys must be - I'd be pretty bloody annoyed if a handful of local residents held up the UWE Stadium, but activity like that is totally counterproductive as it will be viewed very dimly by the judge.
i suspect bristol rfc may have hit problems. london welsh were denied promo to premier league because they ground share with oxford utd, and do not own their own ground. i assume this may have a bearing on the club going to ashton gate. oh dear how sad never mind. or are the rugby club going to be part owners
Last night Bristol City Council finally have Glos. CC planning permission for the redevelopment of Nevil Road, after making them jump through various hoops and in the teeth of concerted resistance from hordes of local Nimbies. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-18258469 Hopefully, this augurs well for our two planning applications. Perhaps BCC are finally waking up to the fact that our city's sporting infrastructure is shameful and, until now, their efforts to improve it have been both woeful and non-existant. Bristol is a city of 600,000 people, with 1.1 million in the metropolitan area, yet we have the worst sporting stadia of any comparable city in Western Europe, let alone Britain. Well done Glos. CC and let's hope that the city's football teams get the stadia we deserve and that our local councils don't throw any further spanners in the works....
The 'Public Notice' regarding the development of what was described as Bristol Rugby Football Club(?),Filton Avenue was on page 30 of last night's Post (30/5). Representations to be made within 21 days of publication.
