Gloucestershire unveil new blueprint for County Ground revamp
New plans for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club's £10 million expansion show where up to 350 students would live at the revamped ground.
Following July's public consultation the plans for the new 20,000-seater ground have been altered to reduce the number of student flats that form part of the development.
The picture above shows for the first time where the flats would be accommodated in the development if it is given the go-ahead.
The club says it needs to expand the County Ground, in Nevil Road, to continue to host one-day international matches beyond 2011.
Initial plans included 550 student flats to be built at the ground in Bishopston to help cover the cost of the project but new plans have seen this reduced to 350 with the blocks moved further away from the Kennington Road entrance.
If the plans go ahead, the capacity at the ground would increase from 16,000 to 20,000, with the number of permanent seats rising from 3,668 to more than 10,000.
It would also include a new swimming pool. A new primary school would be built next door to the ground near the City of Bristol College's Brunel Centre campus, on land currently used as an overflow car park during major matches.
The cricket pitch could be used as a playing field for pupils of the new school.
Two park-and-ride services would ferry spectators to and from the ground to ease traffic congestion and avoid parking problems on the narrow streets around the venue, although an as-yet unspecified number of parking spaces are included in the plans.
Stephanie Keene, spokeswoman for Gloucestershire CCC, said: "Since the launch of the proposals at the public consultation event, the design team has reviewed the comments and suggestions received from the public at the exhibition and have amended the proposals in response to many of these comments.
"Feedback received was generally very supportive of the proposals, which are crucial if the club is to retain its coveted one-day international status beyond 2011, and the club is looking to progress the proposals to an application shortly.
"There were some people who had concerns over traffic and parking, as well as the impact of the proposed student accommodation, which is vital to the funding of the scheme.
"As a result of these comments, the club has made some significant changes. This has included revisiting the viability of the proposals and the club is currently exploring alternative sources of funding that would enable the amount of student accommodation to be reduced."
The club is delivering 2,500 leaflets to neighbours and inviting them to attend an exhibition at the ground on Saturday, September 5 between 10am and 1pm, to make further comments on the proposals.
4 Comments
by Lydney Bob, South Glos.
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 6:31PM
“The pipes and dreams are full of red herrings. Students flats is a worn out idea(l), as there is more such accommodation in and around Bristol than there are students.
Surely, to build a prison, a mental home and an old folks home on part of the ground would be more viable.
Also, a permanent travellers site at the ground should ensure much government and council funding.”
by I.R KITTEH, Bristol
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 2:45PM
“Test cricket is highly unlikely the club just hasn't the money to compete, even if the ground was up to standard. Even Lords might only get one game a summer, and thats the best ground around.
Still not happy with the student flats, but then how else do we raise the money.
Looking forward even with the redevelopment, theres not many internationals left before 2018 that aren't already allocated.”
by Mike Galeo, Rhodes,Greece
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 10:47AM
“Only one thing wrong with the plans as I see that is the way the team plays just has well build affordable housing on the playing area.”
by James, South West
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 10:47AM
“It's a pity that if the club is prepared to go this far they don't go the whole way and turn the ground into a potential test arena.
If Durham can host test matches, not to mention Glamorgan hosting an Ashes test, then surely it is not out of the question for Gloucestershire to do so.
All seems a bit half-hearted.
Can't help thinking that if Somerset's ground was situated in a more populous area they would have done so - then again they always seem more go-ahead than Gloucestershire and are in the process of turning their small ground into something really impressive but, sadly, not big enough for test matches.”