Bristol City Council hits back over 'witch hunt' against committee that refused plans
BRISTOL City Council's leader has expressed anger at a "witch hunt" against the committee that refused Sainsbury's planning permission.
Councillor Barbara Janke has written an open letter to the Evening Post following the shock decision to reject proposals for a new supermarket at Ashton Gate last Wednesday.
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An artists impression of the new Bristol City stadium,jpg
Mrs Janke claims members of the south and east development control committee have been subjected to "intense, sustained and deliberate bullying" following the meeting.
The Liberal Democrat member for Clifton also says committee members have been "targeted personally in vicious emails and threatening phone calls".
There have been angry responses from many Bristol City supporters since the refusal, as the supermarket proposal is seen as an essential part of the football club's plans to build a new £92 million ground at Ashton Vale.
The club says without the supermarket there is no stadium, and without the stadium there would be no chance of Bristol hosting World Cup games in 2018 should England win its bid to host the tournament.
The Post has received hundreds of letters, emails and comments from readers since the decision, the majority of which condemn the council for not seeing the bigger picture.
But Mrs Janke has described some aspects of the reaction as "an extremely disturbing attack on the democratic process" and a "wholly unacceptable threat to proper and considered decision making".
She said: "A wild hysteria has been whipped up against these councillors and it has been done in an attempt to browbeat them into submitting to the will of the football club and its wealthy chairman.
"It has been a naked attempt to frighten individuals into doing the bidding of certain interests."
The council's own planning officers had recommended approval for the Sainsbury's application, which is why the decision to refuse was unexpected.
On the night, of the eight councillors making the decision, four voted for refusal – Fi Hance (Lib Dem, Redland); Peter Levy (Lib Dem, Horfield); Cheryl Ann (Lib Dem, Horfield) and chairman Simon Rayner (Lib Dem, Kingsweston).
They were concerned about increasing traffic levels from the supermarket and the effect on traders in the Bedminster and Southville areas.
The two Conservatives – Lesley Alexander (Frome Vale); Kevin Quartley (Bishopsworth) voted against refusal.
The remaining two members – Jos Clark (Lib Dem, Hengrove) and Derek Pickup (Lab, Hartcliffe) – abstained.
In her letter, Mrs Janke argued the councillors made their decisions in good faith and not according to their political party. She also repeatedly stressed the Lib Dem-run authority is backing the stadium plan, despite the Sainsbury's decision.
One example Mrs Janke used is the council's decision to hand over £4.6 million of land to the club, which was made by the ruling Lib Dem cabinet last week on the day after the Sainsbury's scheme was refused permission.
This has been criticised for different reasons, from residents who say the authority should not be handing valuable plots to private organisations in the middle of a recession.
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by geoff, bristol
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 2:54AM
“i wander if the olympics were not in london,would their have said no to planning permission,for the buildings involved.houses land brought for the olympics.the stadium could have had a long life with football olympics music events over and over again.bristol city council seems to have other interest most times when something that does not agree with them .refusal is their answer”
by Nimby, Bedminster
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 1:03AM
“I for one am sick of people whining about "bringing this city into the 21st century" "can't stop progress" "nimbys stopping progress" and all the other cliches brought out to defend a hypermarket.
How many people currently throwing their toys out of the stadium sized pram could actually be bothered to sign a pre-prepared letter in support of Sainsburys? Why did you not get off you backside and do something about it when it would make a difference?
Maybe because you thought it was a fix, but a fix to your advantage thats why.
JC- Nothing of interest has been uprooted by this pathetic attempt to make corruption allegations stick. So some Councillor works for a company that has done business with George Ferguson. Big Deal. Google can uncover all sorts of partnerships between alot of people involved in this development when you start to dig.
There was no corruption. It was just a part of the process that was not amenable to lunches, cocktail parties, general lobbying and all the schmoozing that goes with the development world.
No amount of marching, petitions, ranting will change that now, and a planning inspector will simply laugh at the stadium enabling development/world cup links.
If they decide to appeal at all that is.”
by JC, Bath
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 12:08AM
“Some pretty interesting stiff has been uncovered by people looking closely at the whole affair. All this bleating is to deflect attention away from their own inadequacies, and to avoid having to answer some difficult questions.
The whole pacakge has been open knowledge, both BCC and Steve L have put a lot of time, effort and money getting it this far. BCC's own professionals have backed this part of the plans. The reasons for rejection border on pathetic - Is it any wonder that a lot of questions are being asked? As for the bit about Steve L just paying a bit more - This sort of half-baked rubbish suggests a bunch of clueless amateurs who are totally out of their depth.
Whatever your views on the stadium, let's at least have it dealt with professionally, and by competents. And maybe by exposing the incompetence and lack of conviction, it might indirectly help Rovers should they ever look at developing the Mem.”
by Pete, Bristol
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 11:18PM
“I for one am glad the councillors have stood up to the courage of their convictions. The bigger picture is not the 2018 World Cup.. The bigger picture is a structure/s that will stand for many many more years. It is therefore crucial that we make sure it will have a positive and sustained impact on the community. It should certainly not be rushed and ill thought out. Even if it means that we arn't in a position to host 2018 matches.
BCFC fans could always approach Tesco and build the stadium in Stokes Croft...”
by Roger B, Bristol
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 10:47PM
“Well, having read all the hysterical comments about the councillors, Barbara Janke, Sainsburys and football crowd, I'm with Barbara.
These councillors did exactly what they were elected to do. They examined what the officers had to say, balanced it against the representations that had been made to them, and made a reasonable decision. If they had to accept every reccomendation made by the officers what would be the point of councillors and elections? They clearly made their decision in good faith, and in response to representations from their constituents.
The people who have no democratic mandate, the football club and Sainsburys, can whinge all they like, but the decision was taken according to the democratic process, and the councillors were completely justified in making their decision.
What is completely inexcusable is the response from the football fans, making death threats and threats of violence against elected representatives merely shows what stupid people follow football.”