Parking and traffic congestion were key concerns raised by Long Ashton residents at the second exhibition on plans to develop a new 30,000-seater stadium for Bristol City.

The football club wants to build a new stadium on a former landfill site next to the David Lloyd sports centre, bordering Ashton Vale.

Several local residents said they thought the club had chosen the wrong site and a stadium would be better on the site next to Temple Meads Railway Station where a music arena had been proposed.

The South West Regional Development Agency turned down the arena plan last year and the site remains undeveloped.

BCFC chairman Steve Lansdown said: "If the Temple Meads site was not right for the arena it can't be right for a football stadium.

"The city council commissioned a study into potential sites for a football stadium in 2002. A number of sites were looked at and the conclusion was that Ashton Vale was the most suitable.

"It is right in our heartland and will not change the fabric of the area.

"I understand people's concerns about parking and there will be a considerable amount of parking at the stadium, though we will encourage people to come without their car.

"There's the park and ride and the rapid bus system will come into play.

"The residents of Long Ashton feel parking and congestion will be worse but we will try to alleviate that problem."

Mr Lansdown has already bought the site for a new stadium as part of a joint venture between his family and a construction firm but a master plan for the site will not be drawn up until local people have been consulted.

The club intends to put in planning applications to both Bristol City Council and North Somerset Council early next year.

The scheme straddles the border between the authorities, but planning consultants say the councils are working closely together on the project.

Ashton Gate, which has been the club's home for 100 years, only holds 20,000 spectators and City says it needs to expand.

It would cost £40 million to upgrade two of the existing stands at the current stadium.

If planning permission is granted the club would like to see the new stadium completed for the 2012-13 season.

The club has met with stiff opposition from members of the Ashton Vale Heritage Group who protested when bulldozers moved onto the field where the stadium is planned last month.

Group spokeswoman Sharon Dallin, said: "Ashton Vale Heritage Group is in regular contact with the Bristol City Council conservation department who have confirmed that an investigation into the activities on the site is ongoing.

"The group will be assisting the council in any way it can with its investigation.

"Because of the natural beauty of the area and the affection that residents have for it, many people have come forward and provided photographs and video footage recording the Ashton Vale fields over the last 50 years."

The group has organised a walk on November 15 at 1pm when people will walk along a public right of way on the land.

The group has also developed an e-petition calling for Bristol City Council to purchase Ashton Vale fields with the aim of developing a nature reserve.

People can give their views and ask questions at a final exhibition at the Premier Suite at Ashton Gate, from 10.30am to 5.30pm today (sat).