Bristol City FC chairman Lansdown asks why can't Bristol get its act together?
BRISTOL City FC chairman Steve Lansdown has blasted the decision-makers who have hung a massive question mark over plans for a new £92-million stadium.
The decision to turn down planning permission to build a Sainsbury's superstore at the Ashton Gate ground has delayed hopes of a start on the new 30,000-seat stadium at Ashton Vale for at least several months.
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Bristol City FC chairman Steve Lansdown
The club had hoped to begin using the new home for the Robins at the start of the new season in 2013 but it is now hard to see how it could open before the following year.
Mr Lansdown, who is on holiday, said: "It is fair to say I am disappointed and annoyed by this decision. I am perplexed why this city cannot get its act together when we are trying to do something constructive.
"When I get back we will have discussions with Sainsbury's to see what we can do from here. We are disappointed and it makes you think that it is a wonder that anything ever gets done in Bristol."
Money from the sale of the land at Ashton Gate would have gone towards the cost of the new stadium. The multi-millionaire businessman sold shares in his firm Hargreaves Lansdown last year and raised about £47 million in the process towards the cost of the stadium.
But he underlined the need for the sale of Ashton Gate to go through for the project to get off the ground.
Mr Lansdown said: "We are still determined to see the stadium built but the question now is how we are going to raise the funds. The sale of Ashton Gate would have paid off a big chunk towards the cost of the project.
"To a large extent it is now in the hands of Sainsbury's and we will be talking to them in the next few weeks.
"I am bewildered that the decision was taken to block the supermarket. The officers at the council took a lot of time and money to come to the conclusion the application should be approved and they were ignored by the committee.
"We are largely in the hands of Sainsbury's. It is in their hands whether they decide to appeal against the decision."
The new stadium has been chosen to host World Cup games if the Football Association wins the bid to stage the tournament in 2018.
The club's chief executive, Colin Sexstone, said: "It's a devastating decision. The planning committee completely ignored the recommendations of the planning officers and those of an independent consultant.
"The planning committee has scored a massive own goal because Bristol is now a laughing stock.
"People I have talked to in other parts of the country are gobsmacked at the decision. They can't believe how a council can be so dysfunctional.
"We will not be able to start on the new stadium until the future of Ashton Gate has been resolved.
"This really is the time for the people of Bristol to get up and shout because at the very least, there are so many job opportunities at stake."
Sainsbury's could appeal against the decision, which would lead to a public inquiry that would take several months to complete.
In a statement, the supermarket giant said it was disappointed with the decision. It said: "Sainsbury's has consulted extensively with a whole range of individuals, groups and organisations in the community since the beginning of the year and we had made a significant number of changes to the planning application as a result of what we heard."
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by cityred, BS3
Sunday, July 25 2010, 8:36PM
“Good grief! Will the moronic bigots who normally save their posts for the fans' forum please now stop leaving your ignorant, ill informed bilge on this site too! It's bad enough you 're on BCFC's forum giving fans a bad name and upsetting my husband with your fascist bile!
Go away and get back into your narrow minded little holes.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Saturday, July 24 2010, 10:03AM
“:| Back to the beginning.
Quote:- "It's all very well bringing in all these experts with years of experience, qualifications and the general ability to make a decision, BUT when it's presented to a group of small minded people who are completely clueless in the subject they are making the decision on, it's insane!
No wonder Bristol is so far behind the likes of Cardiff, our glorious city is being run by buffoons.
..and when the chair of the committee is in bed with the Lord of North St (Mr Ferguson), no wonder it was denied!". . Rob, Bristol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GugsCdLHm-Q
RIP Bristol.
.”
by andy cappel, MSN
Saturday, July 24 2010, 7:03AM
“As an outisder looking in ,I think a Sainsburys on that site would ruin the area.Why not just leave the Sainsbury s store where it is now and sell the site for housing. I expect Sainsbury will pay more money than housing , but if you can 't afford to build a new one perhaps the council could help with the funding to include a new arena for showtime..
But you only have to go to other cities in the country to see how they are progressing,ie Cardiff, so I am afraid the councillors are stuck in the past.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but lets look ten years forward and see exactly why we needed a new stadium.
Football will be spent out by then
clubs bankrupt and in administration.
(except of course for Blackpool and OLLY)”
by Roger B, Bristol
Saturday, July 24 2010, 6:38AM
“Att the end of the day, this decision was made by elected representatives. You might not like it but that's democracy for you.
The chairman of a football club doesn't seem to have any democratic mandate, nor do developers of a supermarket. It seems that a lot of people here would rather be ruled by them rather than live in a democracy, no matter how flawed it may be.
Not me. I'm happy that these councillors have been brave enought to take this decision - that's democracy in action.”
by Loving It, Bristol
Friday, July 23 2010, 11:47PM
“Otib has a thread saying thank you ole. I would also like to thank ole as he inspired me to do a bit of research myself. A number of possible conflicts of interests have been found with regards to the people who voted in favour of the stadium. Do all you city fans want to complain about that? I won't share the links at the moment as I want to print them out and attach them to my complaint before the web pages vanish. Do some research yourself and I'm sure you will be able to find them yourselves!”
by Lee Harvey Oswald, bristol
Friday, July 23 2010, 11:33PM
“I also heard that Simon Rayner was on the grassy knoll.
conspiracytheorist, Bristol
I told you it wasn't me and as for Jack 'Ruby' Rubenstein, up yours mate. And Fidel Castro.....even more up yours.”
by TOTEENDTONY, WSM
Friday, July 23 2010, 11:32PM
“LANSDOWN'S THROWN HIS TOYS OUT OF THE PRAM AGAIN. WHY IS IT ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE'S FAULT? HIS CLUB SHOULD HAVE FOLDED IN '82. TRY SUPPORTING THE ONLY CLUB IN BRISTOL WITH A HISTORY! THE GAS HAS BEEN REFUSED PLANNING 7 TIMES!!!!”
by Loving It, Bristol
Friday, July 23 2010, 11:01PM
“Interestingly, Mr Kevin Quartley who voted in favour of Sainsbury's works for Pilkington Glass. http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Council-Democracy/Elected-Representatives/councillor-interests.en?XSL=interests&CouncillorId=83
They are suppliers of glass to Bristol City Council and have been involved in a number of projects. No possible conflict of interest in his decision then? Plenty of glass in new homes, a new stadium and a new Sainsbury's. That makes the vote 3-1 in favour of the plans being rejected!
I'm sure if you looked into the majority of every big planning decision made in Bristol there has been some connection with the people making the decision and the people involved. This doesn't mean that there is a conflict of interest.”
by isitoveryet, Bristol
Friday, July 23 2010, 10:59PM
“If you are going to allege libel I suggest you have a look at the BCFC fan site - nothing particularly edifying there either - pots. kettles etc. Talk about hypocrites. Pathetic!”
by David, briz
Friday, July 23 2010, 10:21PM
“Talking of Libel, on Mr Rayners website. he has now accused the Club of stirring hatred against Councillors, i hope he has proof of this, as far as i'm aware the Club has acted with dignity. The words, Paddle, Creek, Up a, Without, come to mind.”