Sainsbury’s stadium deal draws praise as Berate checks out
By Bristol City Football Club’s deal with supermarket chain Sainsbury’s to redevelop its Ashton Gate stadium site has drawn support from politicians and brought to an end the campaign group set up to fight plans by rival retailer Tesco.
Bristol South MP Dawn Primarolo echoed the words of club chief executive Colin Sexstone, saying the deal was a “win-win situation” that would be “good for the club and good for our city”.
Ashton Gate: Deal with Sainsbury's to redevelop the site
Labour’s councillor for Southville, Sean Beynon, added that the proposals “make much more sense” and urged Sainsbury’s to do a “better job of consulting with local residents than Tesco managed”.
Meanwhile, the Berate campaign group has announced it is to disband following the confirmation that Tesco has pulled out of the running to redevelop the site which has been home for Bristol City FC since 1904.
In a statement, the group said: “At the meeting of campaigners earlier in the week, it was decided that if the application was withdrawn or refused Berate would disband, to allow the residents and club time and room to engage fully on the new ideas for development at Ashton Gate.
“The campaigners take little credit for the withdrawal of the application, but we have succeeded in our efforts to empower the residents to engage fully in developments that affect their quality of life.
“We strongly advise both the club and Sainsbury’s to make every effort at more meaningful engagement and consultation during the development of their plans for the future of Ashton Gate, and to ensure that issues such as the fate of the Winterstoke Road site, traffic management, opening hours and retail impacts are discussed from the start rather than being ignored.
“We cannot guarantee that any new application will not attract opposition from residents, as we do not, and have never claimed to speak for everyone, but people will have to make up their own minds on reading the details of the application and decide if they think the impacts will be less, the same or more.”
Sainsbury’s will move from their existing site in Winterstoke Road to build a bigger store on the stadium site, which will help the club fund their new stadium at Ashton Vale – which council planners yesterday recommended for approval.
Talks with rival retailer Tesco ended at the weekend, which campaigners gave a cautious welcome to given their concerns over the impact a third supermarket in the area would have on smaller, local traders.
Mr Sexstone confirmed the deal would generate sufficient funds to build the new stadium and that it would be in the best interests of the community as well as the club.
“This is a win-win for the local community, for the club, as well as for Bristol as a whole,” he said. ” We believe that the agreement with Sainsbury’s is in the best interests of both the surrounding community and the club.
“This is a huge step forward in the club’s plans. Moving Sainsbury’s across Winterstoke Road will help generate sufficient funds to build the new stadium. Sainsbury’s current site offers exciting opportunities for redevelopment.
“We have been listening hard and will now be consulting again with all interested parties. It is imperative that we get this right and we want to work with the community to achieve this. If Bristol is to benefit from a new stadium it is essential that we get best value for the existing site, and the Board are unanimous that the agreement with Sainsbury’s delivers this.”
Jamie Baker, Sainsbury’s Regional Development Executive, said the deal was a “fantastic opportunity” and called on residents to take part in a new consultation exercise.
The current planning application for the store at Ashton Gate will be withdrawn and, subject to the new plans being approved, the club could be in their new home by 2013.
“Although any development isn’t likely to happen until 2013, relocating our existing store across the road to Ashton Gate will mean a new store with better facilities and product range, the existing site will be made available for redevelopment and it will help to provide Bristol with a state-of-the-art stadium.
“We take our role in the community very seriously and value the views of those who live and work near our stores. During the next few months we’ll be working on the details of the proposals in consultation with the community, our customers and the local authority. We look forward to sharing our ideas and I encourage people to take part in the consultation to let us know their views.�”
Same shit different pile !!