Making way for shopping mall

This week in March, 1985, the race was on for a joint housing association project to rebuild on 15 acres of Totterdown's slopes, which had been empty for more than a decade.

Cleared of homes in the early 1970s for a Wells Road/Bath Road interchange which never was, the plan now was for 800 new houses and flats, eight shops and a pub.

Another scheme going before the planners was for a David Llloyd tennis centre at Stoke Gifford.

The project, ironically, would have incorporated a new home for Bristol Rovers. In the event, the tennis centre finally opened at Ashton in 1995 – the year that the company was taken over by Whitbread.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Wednesday, May 22 2013

In the spring of 1985, mystery still surrounded the future of Fairfax House, then Bristol's, and Broadmead's, biggest store. The owner, the Co-op, had recently sold the 1960s store to Ladbroke's, the leisure group, with staff being told that it was facing imminent closure.

We now know, of course, that it was to be demolished to make way for The Galleries shopping mall.

There was delight for those who enjoyed sailing the Bristol Channel when it was announced that the Balmoral, which was languishing in Dundee after a failed venture as a floating pub, would be restored for cruising. The operators of the paddle steamer Waverley had been asked if they would be prepared to manage and run the ship, which would be based in the West County.

The Balmoral would replace the Prince Ivanhoe, lost off South Wales in 1981. Currently moored up in the Floating Harbour, next to Prince Street bridge, the 1947 former ferry now faces an uncertain future. Due to last year's bad weather, and falling revenues, no trips are scheduled for this year.

The Post disclosed that Bristol businessman Brian Chinn had become the owner of historic 1812 Leigh Court for an undisclosed sum.

Set in 168 acres, this former home for the mentally handicapped had recently closed as part of the Government's Care in the Community initiative.

Finally, Bristolians were appalled by hooliganism before City FC's game against Millwall.

Post reporter Richard Latham said: "These are the worst scenes of crowd violence I have ever seen at a football match."

One fan was taken to hospital with serious stab wounds and a pub landlady and her family were forced to take refuge in their attic as Millwall fans burst in.

During the game, over 200 seats were ripped out of the Dolman stand and used as missiles. In all, 13 people were arrested.