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Bristol City stadium in hands of nine city councillors

Tuesday, November 03, 2009, 14:00

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Nine councillors will tomorrow be making one of the biggest planning decisions in Bristol for years.

They are members of the council's Development Control (South and East) Committee which will decide whether to give consent for a new stadium at Ashton Vale.

The club wants to build a new £65m stadium near the Long Ashton park-and-ride site to replace its current home at Ashton Gate.

Ironically, the chairman of the committee, Labour Councillor Sean Beynon, 26, who represents Southville ward, will not be able to take part because he's a City season ticket holder and therefore has a vested interest in the club.

The meeting will be chaired instead by Tory Councillor Lesley Alexander (Frome Vale).

The only other Labour councillor on the committee – Colin Smith, 60, who represents Bedminster ward – is also a City season ticket holder and will not be taking part.

Councillors Beynon and Smith will be substituted for the meetings by fellow Labour councillors John Bees (Kingsweston) and Royston Griffey (Hartcliffe).

Tory Councillor Kevin Quartley, 47, cannot attendand his place will be taken by Councillor Mark Weston (Con, Henbury).

Although some of the councillors have only been in office for a few months since the elections in June, they have undertaken training workshops to help them make fair decisions. Planning committees are quasi-legal bodies which means that councillors must make decisions which are legally robust.

They are not allowed to comment before a meeting in case they prejudice the proceedings.

A council spokeswoman said: "The Development Committee (South and East) will meet on Wednesday to consider the application.

"Members of the committee, just like any other Development Control committee – come to the meeting with an open mind.

"Members of the committee will look at all the evidence submitted, hear any representations and make an informed decision on the day."

The committee was due to meet on Thursday night to discuss a separate planning application to build a Tesco supermarket at the club's current ground at Ashton Gate.

But the meeting has been cancelled following the club's decision to sell off the ground to supermarket chain Sainsbury's.

Bristol City FC is hoping the Sainsbury's planning application will be discussed by councillors early in the new year.

The line-up of councillors:

Lesley Alexander: Con, Frome Vale, chairwoman. Mrs Alexander, 62, of Thingwall Park, Fishponds, is a retired bank manager who has been a councillor for nearly six years. She admits she has no interest in football but her husband, Charles, is a West Ham supporter. She said she has always had an interest in politics.

Royston Griffey: Labour, Hartcliffe. Mr Griffey, 65, is a former constitutional lawyer in Hong Kong who started his career as a clerk with the Port of Bristol authority. Married with two grown-up sons, he said he entered local politics because he has always been interested in the public sector. Asked if he was a football fan, he replied: "No."

Jacqueline Bowles: Lib Dem, Southmead. Dr Bowles 64, of Dove Street, Kingsdown, had one of the Lib Dems' biggest wins in the June elections when she won her Southmead seat. Divorced with two daughters in their 30s, she said: "I wouldn't call myself a football fan but I love Bristol and want to do my best for Bristol."

Mark Weston: Con, Henbury. Mr Weston, 29, of Pembroke Vale, Clifton, is political agent for South West Tory Euro MP Ashley Fox and has been a councillor since 2006. He said he entered politics because, "I got fed up with the state of things and wanted to try to make a difference". He said: "I'm not from Bristol but I love the city."

Simon Rayner: Lib Dem, Kingsweston. An architect by profession, Mr Rayner, 29, who lives with his partner in Clifton, won his Kingsweston seat from Labour in this year's June elections. Mr Rayner doesn't regard himself as a football fan but said: "This will allow me to view the planning issues relating to the stadium."

Mary Sykes: Lib Dem, Hengrove. Mrs Sykes, 74, of Bishopsworth Road, is a retired water authority scientist who has served as a city councillor for 10 years. She said she entered local politics after she was "roped in after helping with elections". She does not regard herself as a football fan.

John Bees: Labour, Kingsweston. Mr Bees, 62, is a former dock worker of Hallen Drive, Sea Mills, who has served as a councillor for 17 years. He said he entered politics as a result of his background in trade unionism. He said: "From that point, I wanted to represent people in the local area."

Cheryl Ann: Lib Dem, Manor Farm. Ms Ann, 44, a mother of four, who lives in Tilling Road, Manor Farm, became a councillor in June this year when she won her seat in Horfield. She was inspired to enter local politics by her partner, the former Lib Dem candidate, Tony Lewis, who was killed in a car accident in March.

Fi Hance: Lib Dem, Redland. Ms Hance, 42, who lives in Hurlingham Road, Horfield, with her partner and two young daughters, became a councillor in June. She works as a case worker for Bristol West Lib Dem MP Stephen Williams and decided to enter local politics so she could make a difference to the quality of people's lives.