“David -- if an arena at Ashton Vale would cost half that of the city centre, does that "half cost" include the building of a new rail station at Ashton Vale? Thought not!”

“I think the council would be barking mad to consider Temple Meads for an arena when there is a golden opportunity to site it next to the new stadium. The cost of the infrastructure required would be half the cost of a city centre location.

Having an arena next to a stadium out of the city centre works very well at Coventry and other places.

Stick the bus station next to the railway station, that makes much more sense.

It would be idiotic to consider Temple Meads over Ashton Vale for the siting of an arena.”

“George Ferguson desperately raising his profile via the BEP AGAIN.

The Green people are absolute shambles of human beings.

Locating the arena at Ashton Vale makes it closer to road links into Somerset and Wales, the M5, and there is a train line right next to it. The transport links are a million times better even before you start taking into account the congestion nightmare that would occur with tens of thousands of people trying to get out the CENTRE of Bristol all at once.

All this is, is George trying to get his name in the paper and get a bit more cash for himself.”

“George Ferguson is once again saying clearly and loudly what desperately needs to be said.

If we are even half serious about becoming a Green Capital or even just a Sustainable City then we need to think seriously about the transport implications of such iconic new developments as the Arena.

One only has to visit Cardiff Millenium Stadium to see the extent to which its proximity to Cardiff Central Station and its generally central location in the city is the key to its accessibility.

Think of the 'synergy' between an Arena at Temple Meads and our rail services, which would receive a big boost during otherwise off-peak periods. The infrastructure and the capacity is there already and has the potential to be increased.”

“There may be a nearby Railway Station, but not everyone will want to, or be able to travel to a stadium by train. The coach or bus is a lot cheaper in a lot of cases.
Bristol, yet again, lost a golden opportunity to put the Bus Station next to Temple Meads on what is now the Temple Quay estate of offices. It would have been at the end of the A4/A37 and not all that far along Temple Way from the M32.
Cardiff may regret moving their Bus Station away from Cardiff Central Station Railway Station and more importantly, the Millennium Stadium?”

“Does Bob actually have any idea what events an arena could hold? It would not be limited to simply concerts finishing late at night; there would also be exhibitions and conferences going on through the day. People visiting these events would no doubt spend money in the nearby city centre too, benefitting more establishments than a crappy drive through at Ashton Vale, next to a stadium that looks like a B&Q with a collapsed roof.”

“Does George Ferguson ever look at timetables, there is a very limited night train service hence no benifit to having it next to temple meads.”