Bristol campaigners: We'll continue fight against Tesco plan for Ashton Gate

Campaigners against a new Tesco supermarket at Ashton Gate say they will continue fighting despite the rumours Bristol City are now in talks with Sainsbury's instead.

The Bristol Evening Post revealed exclusively on Saturday that although the current application involving Tesco has not been withdrawn, the club is believed to have signed a deal with Sainsbury's – who already have a supermarket nearby on Winterstoke Road – so it would be them who ends up building on the stadium site.

City want to build a new £65-million ground at nearby Ashton Vale, and chairman Steve Lansdown has consistently said that without the money generated by selling their current home to a supermarket the new stadium will not happen.

Campaigners in the area objected to Tesco moving in, as this would add to the list of supermarkets already in the area.

A statement from Berate, the pressure group which has been fighting the building of another store close to North Street, said: "Until any of these details are confirmed and the current planning application is withdrawn, the Berate campaign will continue to object to the existing plan.

"We understand from Bristol City Council that the planning committee meeting on the 5th of November has been cancelled. We take this as a positive indication that the club knows they cannot win planning permission for the existing plan.

"The campaign will be discussing the implications of all this early next week."

Clifton East councillor Simon Cook, deputy leader of the Lib Dems, said: "I can't really say anything until the planning application arrives and we see what the detail is.

"I understand there has been discussion between Sainsbury's and the club and if they decide to go with Sainsbury's it will be a bigger store than the Tesco plan. The existing Sainsbury's site would go for housing or employment.

"We don't know until the planning application comes in and we will have to wait and see what the planning application details are and justify them on planning grounds."

Mr Cook confirmed the council meeting to discuss the stadium plan is set for November 4, at the Council House from 6pm.

He said a meeting to discuss the Tesco plan had been re-scheduled from November 5 to November 11.

He said planners would have to consider whether one store relocating would cause fewer problems, as well as the implications of a larger store.