Bristol Rovers ‘should re-apply for new stadium’
Horfield residents want Bristol Rovers to go back to the drawing board with plans to redevelop the Memorial Stadium – more than two years after the scheme was first approved.
The club has been in talks with Bristol City Council since it announced plans to redevelop the ground in phases while matches continued on site, rather than moving to Cheltenham to allow building work to take place in one go.
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Bristol Rovers ‘should re-apply for new stadium’
Residents living near the ground believe a fresh planning application should be submitted in light of the change, claiming the phased development will cause more disruption than was originally proposed.
Steve Barrett, a member of Horfield Residents Opposed to Stadium Expansion, says the new construction plan involves 33 months of building work, rather than the 18 months originally agreed.
The 55-year-old, who lives in Filton Grove near the stadium, said: “We are very concerned because it would mean an extended build period.
“While building work is going ahead, there would be no parking provision at the ground and residents would get noise seven days a week.
“Because the stands will disappear, one by one, the noise won’t be contained and will be released to local housing. Under the original plans, the work would have been carried out in the centre of the ground, with everything being built around the outside and noise would have been contained.
“Under the latest plans, everything will be going on at the boundaries of the site, with football matches going on as well.
“We think the club should reapply for planning permission. A number of conditions mentioned in the first application will not be met.”
Bev Knott, Liberal Democrat councillor for Bishopston, said: “I asked the planning department ‘doesn’t this need a new planning application?’ and it would be a good idea to have greater clarity.
“They must do things properly. The council said in November that they would get legal advice and that arrived in December and discussions have been going on since then.”
Planning permission for the redevelopment was granted in January 2007 and the club has three years to start work before it lapses.
Rovers announced in October 2008 that they had scrapped plans to play home games at Cheltenham while they built their new £35-million stadium.
A major rethink of how construction would be carried out could make it possible for both the football club and Bristol Rugby to stay put. The construction plan will be organised in phases so that at no time does capacity fall below 8,500.
The club insists the new 18,500-seater stadium – which was put back a year by the credit crunch – will be built, complete with a hotel and more than 500 units of student accommodation.
Bristol Rovers hope to start work in the summer and complete the redevelopment by the start of the 2011-12 season.
But last month, the club’s chairman, Nick Higgs, said Rovers were yet to secure a deal to fund the redevelopment.
Bristol Rovers’ director of finance, Toni Watola, said: “It is true that we have been and will continue, to talk to the council to ensure that as the development proceeds it continues to fit in with the Section 106 agreement and other aspects of the planning permission. We are working very closely with the council to make sure all the planning conditions are met.
“We had detailed discussions with them around six weeks ago, and believe we have met all the issues that have been raised regarding the changes in the development process.”
A council spokesman said: “We are currently are in talks with the club and developers over their revised proposals. We need to ensure that the various planning consents and Section 106 agreement would still be complied with under the proposed new arrangements.”
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by Paul Wilson, Brentford
Thursday, May 14 2009, 5:48PM
“Natalie, you are totally wrong about light pollution. Rovers have the most modern lighting in the football leaugue, and if you actually look up at the lights you will see each one has a hood on to stop the light polluting in to the streets.
So my question to you is, have you ever looked? Although you obviously live quite a way from the Mem.
I have some sympathy I live in the same street as Brentford, which is also the home of Chelsea reserves, however I have adapted my lifestyle to coincide the fixtures. Why should I, one person moan about the interests of thousands?”
by gasfan, filton
Monday, May 11 2009, 3:30PM
“i will give the horfield residents one bit of respect by saying that i think that the stadium would be better if it was built near temple meads as it could double up as a concert arena”
by gasfan, filton
Monday, May 11 2009, 3:25PM
“the one thing that people say about this project is that but rovers are currently only getting seven thousand plus a game. well the key word there is CURRENTLY think how many more gashead would turn up if we had a better stadium and had somewhere to sit the current stadium is a shambles this project will make a real big difference to rovers fortunes”
by Jonboy, G-Land
Wednesday, April 15 2009, 5:17AM
“Er Mike. We have consolidated our position and invested in players and coaching staff. Keep up.
Besides, Horfield Resident and those of your ilk. Nothing can stand in the way of the mighty Dunford Dome. Nothing I tell you. mwahahahaha....
It is time that this City looked to the future and invested in sport. We don't all have sugar daddys to bankroll our way to the premiership, I mean mid-table championship...”
by Gary, Kingswood
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 6:38PM
“Horfield resident - at the wish of not sounding like a broken record can you please name one of these mythical out of town sites that are available? I have asked everytime this topic arises and never had an answer.”
by Mike, Staple Hill, Bristol
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 4:08PM
“I think all you gas heads need to calm down... its not as if the stadium will ever be built!
In all seriousness, clubs like southampton have got themselves in to real trouble by building new stadiums that are mostly half empty at best. I admit, I have the same concerns about the one true team in bristol (come on you reds!).
You would be far better off shelving the stadium plans and consolidating your position in league 1 by investing in players, coaching staff.”
by Natalie, Bishopston
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 3:39PM
“this is not the only time Bristol city Council has put the interests of sport/ commercial pressure above the local community.
We have so many problems parking outside our homes, noise, light pollution etc, so regularly with Rovers, Bristol rugby and Glos. CCC.
By the way, Glos. CCC are hoping to expand to a new 15,000 stadium (now only 5,000). THis will be used for yet more fans on our croweded door steps and late night gigs - Elton John noise pollution is a step too far.
PS. Glos CCC put the ONLY objection to the new Brunel Primary school next to their ground and the school didnt get the go ahead and was quietly shelved. Do you think if the memorial stadium or Glos CCC gets one objection everything stops ? I thought not!”
by Local Resident, Horfield
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 2:26PM
“I couldn't agree more with 'Horfield Resident'! If the requirements have changed, then the planning application MUST be resubmitted. I have nothing against football, but as mentioned, we have been here longer than Bristol Rovers. The impact on the residential area will be tremendous - and the Council's new 'Proposed Waiting Restrictions' are only going to add to that problem! I suspect A gashead and MisterX are both Rovers fans and/or do not live in the immediate area. This is NOT a 'not in my backyard' mentality - even if I loved football I would say enough is enough - the whole Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium is like Japenese Knotweed and becoming all consuming - next thing we know it'll be compulsory purchase orders on properties to expand even further!”
by steve, bristol
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 2:24PM
“f a o horfield resident the stadium has been there long before you and all the other nimbys were”
by MisterX, Reading a Decent newspaper, not the BEP!
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 1:52PM
“A A Gashead has rightly said yet another *non story* day at the BEP. There is no legal recourse as regards planning permissions purely because both teams will remain in situation whilst the proposed work takes place, the mere dreamt up thought of there being such recourse is simply laughable.
It really is about time the Horfield rose got back to getting on with their own lives instead of wasting even more of their private lives on fighting a lost cause that was lost a long time ago now. There will *always* be a "Not on my doorstep" campaign group whenever and wherever any development such as this is subject to being accomplished. Instead of continuing to moan about it why not try turning up to games of either the football or the rugby (your choice, matters not which) and show yourself as a *true* supporter of your neighbourhood and city and therefore backing local sport onwards to the success a large city such as Bristol truly deservers. Back your local sport instead of trying to block it, take pride!”