Split over Tesco plan for Bristol City stadium
Shopkeepers and traders in Bedminster say they are against plans for a new supermarket at Ashton Gate to fund a new stadium for Bristol City.
But the majority of shoppers spoken to by the Post yesterday said they didn't mind another store and would shop there.
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Bedminster traders are split over Tesco's plan for Bristol City stadium
The Bristol Evening Post carried out a random poll in North Street – the bustling shopping street near Bristol City's existing ground.
Shopkeepers fear that another supermarket would kill off trade – just as the street was starting to thrive.
One of them, Julia Robinson, a joint director at Health Unlimited, said: "Keeping this community alive is difficult enough without another supermarket in the area.
"This street will die if they allow Tesco to use the football ground.
"The shops down here help to create a very important community spirit in the area.
"It would be absolutely outrageous if that was lost.
"We would end up like Park Street – just a string of charity shops, cafes and bars."
But the majority of shoppers said they did not have a problem with another supermarket and would use it.
"I don't have a problem with it, said Glyn Thomas, 57, a building lagger of North Street. "It can be a nightmare for parking near the ground."
Pensioner Mina Saunders, 73, of Fairfield Place, said: "It makes sense to me. It will be less far for old people to walk who live down that way."
Tesco has confirmed that it is interested in building a new store on the site of the club's existing ground.
It would provide the key link in funding a new 30,000-seat stadium at nearby Ashton Vale.
But the council understands some council officers and politicians are against the plan because of the effect that another supermarket would have on local shops and traders.
In yesterday's Post, club chairman Steve Lansdown urged the council not to drag its heels over his plans for a new stadium.
He said the city had a reputation for failing on major projects and warned that he was not prepared to "sit around for years and years" if the plans dragged on.
Tesco says the £80-million stadium plans were a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Bristol and the South West".
The supermarket giant said the stadium and new store would create 1,000 jobs between them.
It was originally expected that the City ground would be sold for housing but the recession has meant that the amount of money generated by a homes scheme would not be enough to help fund a new stadium.
Former Lord Mayor Peter Abraham has also warned the city council not to drag its heels on the issue.
A new stadium would raise the prospect of World Cup games in the city if the Football Association wins its bid to host the tournament in 2018.
One of the major objectors to a new store could be Sainsbury's, which has a supermarket in nearby Winterstoke Road.
The chain was initially refused permission to use the former UBM site but won the day after a public inquiry.
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by margaret, hartcliffe
Saturday, May 30 2009, 12:15AM
“after reading the story of st peters hospice in knowle ,,and their need for larger premises to do the special work they do it makes all the arguments about tesco and bristol city stadium put to shame ,whilst i understand how football supporters feel about their team but i feel better use could be made of that land than making tesco more money or bristol city selling it for as much as they can get just to make a bigger and better stadium aarent peoplles lives and care worth more than that”
by filton avenue, filton
Friday, May 29 2009, 9:52PM
“Glenn Vowles, you are correct with what you quoted from yesterdays Evening Post but I don't think you have interpreted it correctly. As I understand it the stadium will cost 80 million pounds, Mr Lansdown has raised 40 million by selling some of his shares and 20 million is to come from the sale of the old ground, which leaves 20 million to be found, thats what the hotel and houses on the new site are for but this won't raise all of that amount so Bristol companies are being encouraged to invest in this project not the council, thier only involvement will be to pass the planning application.”
by Jonathan, Montreal, QC
Friday, May 29 2009, 6:17PM
“But they didn't accuse me, they accused you. And rightly so by the look of it.”
by Brian, Bristol
Friday, May 29 2009, 6:13PM
“No, but they make it their mission to take away any reason to go to the smaller stores - mainly by forcing them out of business altogether. Someone accused me of wearing rose-tinted glasses earlier - where did you buy yours? ;-)”
by Jonathan, Montreal, QC
Friday, May 29 2009, 5:08PM
“Brian, a free market allows the bigger and better run companies to hold an advantage over the smaller and/or less well run companies.
Pretty obvious really. It still means, though, that people can still go to the smaller shops if they want to. Tesco are not proposing that people will be forcibly marched to their shops instead of visiting others.”
by Brian, Bristol
Friday, May 29 2009, 4:58PM
“I loathe this use of "free market forces" as an excuse when it comes to such a ridiculously large company as Tesco. Because once they're around, there IS no free market anymore.”
by Jonathan, Montreal, QC
Friday, May 29 2009, 4:53PM
“Well Glen, it seems that you're in an ideal position doesn't it? Perhaps you can get the massive green presence on the council to object to this proposed scheme?
I doubt Steve Lansdown is any more concerned about the diverse range of shops than anyone else, i imagine that he is happy to leave them to be subject to free market forces, the same as anybody else.”
by Paul Mizen, Bemmy Down
Friday, May 29 2009, 3:58PM
“Two things i d'ont understand. If Ashton Gate is only worth £5 million for housing, why are Tesco prepared to pay £20 million? Who will own the new stadium? Oh, and if Bristol is such a "backwater", why was it recently voted the place in England that most people like to visit, and why was it judged to have the happiest residents in thr whole country?”
by Glenn Vowles, vowlesthegreen.blogspot.com
Friday, May 29 2009, 3:20PM
“'Mr Landsdown says...he needs Tesco's money. What will he need next, a subsidy from the Council?' (Rob, Crews Hole).
Indeed he will Rob. In yesterday's Post Steve Lansdown is quoted as saying this,
"There's a feeling that Steve Lansdown is going to pay for the lot but the city of Bristol has to pay for some of it because this is going to be around for a lot longer than I am. I'll pay for some of it but there are others who can chip in as well."
Mr Lansdown it seem wants: to build over green space; wants Tesco and council tax payers money to help him do so; wants to push the whole process along by exerting his not inconsiderable influence, along with that of the media, Tesco, the FA...on the leaders
of the big three parties on the council (who in turn will influence all councillors - including those on the relevant planning committee). I doubt that he is concerned at all about the impacts diverse range of businesses already operating in the area.”
by Rob, Crews Hole
Friday, May 29 2009, 2:01PM
“It's going to be a least 3-years before they stop playing football at Ashton Gate, who knows what house prices will be by then? If more houses are built on sites like this then less will need to be built on Green Belt. Surely someone like George Ferguson can come up with something imaginative for the site that will provide houses and still generate the money that Mr Landsdown says he needs.
Yes Bristol needs a new stadium but not at any cost - the plans already include building housing and hotels on the nature conservation area next to the proposed stadium (which is also a flood risk area) because Mr Landsdown says that is needed to fund the project. Now he says he needs Tesco's money. What will he need next, a subsidy from the Council?”