Bristol City's new stadium gets Government seal of approval
Bristol City FC has overcome another major hurdle towards realising its plans to build a new £92 million stadium at Ashton Vale.
Local Government Secretary John Denham has decided he does not need to make a final decision on the issue and therefore a public inquiry will not have to be held.
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Bristol City stadium
An inquiry would have taken up to a year to complete and therefore delayed a start on building work – assuming that it found in the club's favour.
Colin Sexstone, the club's chief executive, said the club was delighted to have reached this major milestone.
He said: "This is great news and another major hurdle overcome.
"The decision by GOSW (Government Office South West) and the Secretary of State to let Bristol City Council determine the application is a significant step forward.
"It has been the culmination of nearly two years of hard work to bring the project to this stage.
"Other important hurdles remain, and more hard work will be required from ourselves and other partners, but this is a huge milestone for us.
"Bristol is also a candidate host city in England's bid to host the Fifa World Cup in 2018, and so this decision is further evidence of our ability to produce a technical bid that exceeds Fifa's expectations.
"We do also understand the local sensitivity of the new stadium and are making determined efforts to engage with the local communities so there is greater understanding about the project and we can all move forward together."
City councillors gave their overwhelming support to the stadium plans last month.
But the scheme had to be put before the Secretary of State because the site for the new stadium is designated as green belt.
The club now has three major hurdles to overcome:
● It needs planning permission from North Somerset Council for a new entrance next to the Long Ashton park and ride site. The stadium
would be within the city council boundary but the entrance is over the border in North Somerset.
Talks between the club and the council are still in progress following a recommendation by a planning committee to refuse permission.
● A planning application by Sainsbury's to move its store from its Winterstoke Road site to Ashton Gate.
The plans have now been submitted to the city council and should be considered by councillors on a date to be fixed in the next few months.
The club needs to sell the Ashton Gate ground in order to raise funds to help pay for the new stadium.
● Residents in Ashton Vale have called for the stadium site to be given town green status. The move would effectively overrule planning permission and stop the new stadium from being built.
An inquiry under a council-appointed independent inspector, who then makes a recommendation to a council committee, is expected to be held during the next few months but it is not likely to take as long to complete as a full planning inquiry into the stadium.
The club is working to a target of kicking off the 2012-13 season at Ashton Vale.
Bristol's deputy council leader Councillor Simon Cook said: "This is great news for Bristol and the club."
55 Comments
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by Happy days, MSN
Saturday, March 13 2010, 7:48AM
“Excellent news, Lets hope we are not in the lower divisions and can fill the stadium. Who is going to service the debt we don't want to end up like Man U or Portsmouth.
County ground also has planning permission... That only leaves the Mem as an eyesore, a ramshackle of stands.
Come on Rovers get your act together.Otherwise you may be playing Robins in the new stadium!!!”
by Self Confessed Nimby, Ashton Gate
Saturday, March 13 2010, 12:24AM
“As a self confessed Nimby, or NIDWTSIMBG, I hope you will enjoy the view from the stands. You should be very warm, the 'Toxic waste' and Dog Poo you referred to will be snug and festering right under your warm bottoms. The contents of the landfill you deride so much will be crammed under the stands, none of it can leave the site, unless of course you feel so strongly about your new stadium that you would like to have all the landfill contents nicely churned up and then delivered to your garden. Just pop your address on your next email. I am sure the developers would love to get rid of it. It's costing them vasts amounts of money to try and make it safe. Stay warm and cosy.....We had to live with it for twenty years while they filled it, now its your turn. Enjoy.......”
by Annette Hennessy, Portishead
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:13PM
“Why can't people understand that this stadium is not just for football fans as it will become a fantastic venue for live music. This stage of the proposal I don't think was ever in any doubt and I don't expect Steve Lansdown was sweating about it. Only one of the three remaining hurdles may be a problem. A three letter word - NSC. But then, a few sweeteners will no doubt do the trick.”
by Phil, Bristol
Friday, March 12 2010, 9:49PM
“Great News....however with Gary Johnson as manager what's the point if there are only 7k fans in the ground!
Good Quality Ground needs a good quality manager,”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Friday, March 12 2010, 8:16PM
“No, seriously, if you think I've used another alias, I'd be intrigued as to what you think it is.
Since I haven't done so, I wonder who you've mistaken for me...”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Friday, March 12 2010, 7:23PM
“Just to amuse me, what do you think is my other alias? I haven't used one, as a matter of fact, but I'd be intrigued to hear your latest bit of paranoia.”
by Ken, bristol
Friday, March 12 2010, 6:17PM
“Look at the plans for the new stadium.....it looks worse than the existing stadium. Spend the money on the team not a crap new stadium.”
by stoney, ashton
Friday, March 12 2010, 6:03PM
“Iam sure alot of people are fed up with all the debate ,people who are against the stadium being built always thought the s.o.s would rule with the council.The people of ashton who live near the ashton gate stadium are going to be the biggest losers .As well as having a 24hr mega store ,if the stadium is built the main acsses route will be via baron closeso people will still park there cars around ashton gate stadium walk across winterstoke road by ashton gate stadium and down the new walk way into the new stadium.If the stadium is built people will be waiting for hours to get away and dont forget there will be only one road in and out from the stadium.To get village green states you have to prove that people have used the fields for a number of resons as long as you have statments from people then by law they can not turn the application down.I want bristol to have a new stadium as i have stated before but trying to biuld one in the wrong place is crazy and as i said its the people of ashton who will suffer the most i fear south bristol will soon become known as gridlock city as the traffic on matchday will be crazy.I know some people will object to my point of veiw but if as they say they will do and close ashton vale to permit holders only ,i think most people can see people will still park in the same place they have always done .ashton drive will be closed you will only be able to drive into southliberty lane if you have a permit and the only parking will be a thousand places near the stadium .Which means cars will park in long ashton which will bring even more problems to the area .One thing i think should be pointed out is why are the council giving approx 17million in order for the stadium to be biult when there are so many people losing there jobs and front line services being lost to people who are in bad need of them”
by Chris, Bristol
Friday, March 12 2010, 6:00PM
“Simon Cook is a two faced spin merchant
Who knows damn well the Green belt is no-go area but it seems to me one rul=e for the elite one for the hardworking people of Bristol = NO JUSTICE
Bristol City have a great ground spend the money there
wont cost half as much !”
by Ken, bristol
Friday, March 12 2010, 5:48PM
“The Hedgehog, Horfield
As a super moron you might not understand this but here goes: GCCC have only got planning permission. They havent got one developer prepared to take a risk with the development. There is no such thing as student accomodation to pay for the development.
You are an old man but get a few of your facts correct. Oh and dont change your alias again...its very boring and obvious.”