George Ferguson: Let's rally behind new Bristol City stadium
I am positive we are going to get a new football stadium for Bristol City, and the club should be heartily congratulated for its determination in gaining the support of the city planners, even if it is technically to be built in green belt and has attracted some understandable local opposition.
There are, of course, some important interests that should be taken into account and the principle of the green belt as a resource for recreation and food production should be upheld.
However, a stadium adjacent to the David Lloyd centre on reclaimed land at Ashton Vale is the best we have on offer and I believe the time has come for Bristol to rally behind it and City's premiership ambitions.
However, we need to do everything we can to avoid the new stadium becoming an excuse for spreading a rash of development over the green belt and losing a much-loved resource for existing residents.
Apart from housing, which can and should be provided primarily on existing brown field sites, we now hear that there are plans for an arena adjacent to the stadium which would ensure that virtually every day and night is a "match day" with the resultant traffic.
Bristol badly needs an arena – an indoor entertainment and general sporting venue for 10,000 to 12,000 spectators – but it must be as accessible to the maximum number of people by sustainable transport. Stuffing it out on the edge of the city may be OK for Bristol City and its supporters, but it is not the answer for a venue that belongs to us all.
There was bitter disappointment at the failure to see through the arena project near Temple Meads, but I strongly believe that this was the right place and it should be re-visited. After all, the land has now been remediated at vast public cost and should be put to good public use.
By siting it adjacent to the A370 at Ashton Vale, car use would be encouraged and would undoubtedly be the prime form of transport, even if public transport links are improved. By siting it at Temple Meads, rail becomes the transport of choice. We simply cannot afford to carry on developing car-dependent facilities.
So just because an almighty cock-up was made of the previous plan it does not mean it was not right in principle and cannot be achieved at reasonable cost with a supporting mixed use development.
There can be no better facility to place at the city's heart than an arena that could display the best of Bristol's talent and attract great acts and events that sadly shun us for lesser cities that have dared to take the plunge.
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by Mark, Bristol
Sunday, November 15 2009, 3:13PM
“By George; he's finally got it!
But putting an arena beside Temple Meads will do nothing for the people of Bristol other than grid lock one of the busiest river crossing points in the City.
I see a problem with all this Brown Field/Green Field debate.
Inevitably, as population growth predictions come to pass the City will outgrow its ability to exist within its boundaries. Where, if the green belt is so sacred, does George and the rest of the 'right thinking' brigade of environmentalists and Anti Global Warming Campaigners propose we accommodate our growing society's needs?
It is almost a certainty that more outlying villages, Long Ashton among them; will be absorbed within the Cities boundaries in time.
So although the arena will be on 'edge of centre' now; in time it will become inner City, Just like the Memorial Ground.
That or you will have to halt population growth.”
by Lawrence, Nanaimo B/C Canada
Thursday, November 12 2009, 8:11PM
“re the new stadium,
Does anyone know if the GREAT name [ATYEO] will be part the stand ?
Will add, if you build it , they will come,”
by Mitch, Ashton Vale
Thursday, November 12 2009, 8:22AM
“Jibbywib, according to an interview on the local news the other evening with a Lib Dem councillor, the possibilty of building a rail link is still a possibility and an option they would like to keep open. They will open the line for use only when the arena and football stadium is used.”
by jibbywib, Cotham
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 5:51PM
“Just to correct Mitch, Ashton Vale will not be serviced by rail. A station was looked into at the consutation stage but the line running adjacent to ground is a freight line and as yet there are no future plans to incorporate a passenger line as well. This was raised at the planning meeting recently.
I would like to question Mr Ferguson's rather lilly-livered opinions on BCFC's recent application as now his side of the fence has been defeated and BCFC have prevailed (for now) would he want to further alienate the countless City fans that line his red pockets with money every home game? I have already started my own boycot of the TF in opposition to his previous negative, divisive, untruthful statements.”
by Mitch, Ashton Vale
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 11:54AM
“Whilst George's arguement is how people travel, putting next to Temple Meads Rail Station doesn't mean that 12,000 people will travel to the arena by rail, if they do, this would be horrendous.
Part of the proposed development in Ashton Vale constitutes a new rail station and BRT, so this surely would ease congestion on match days and when the arena is in use.
Forgive me is I'm wrong but this comment "Stuffing it out on the edge of the city may be OK for Bristol City and its supporters, but it is not the answer for a venue that belongs to us all." I don't understand. From my understanding, the new arena is a seperate entity and nothing to do with the proposed stadium development. I appreciate that some time ago Bristol City FC were contacted about building a new arena, but it would be nothing to do with funding or building of the stadium.
I think Ashton Vale is a good location compared to Temple Meads. Temple Meads is already congested on week days and if the councils statement is correct that the arena could be used three times a week, surely rush hours around the arena would be 10 times or more worse, even with rail travel.
With the location at Ashton Vale, people have access to a dual carriageway through to the Portway (also mainly dual carriageway) then to Avonmouth simply a few miles to the M4/M5 corridor. If it's at Temple Meads, people must battle through the busy junctions to the M32 passing a major shopping area, which is heavily used already. Simply a nightmare for shoppers and the people of Bristol.”