News / Politics
Second chance for arena proposals
Plans for Bristol’s arena will get a second chance when they go in front of councillors again next week.
Proposals for the £93 million venue were sent back to the drawing board in early March, with councillors arguing the application was thin on detail for transport improvements.
But the designs for the 12,000-capacity venue will go back to a planning committee next Wednesday with an updated transport plan which includes:
Use of three park & ride sites with additional buses at peak times
Use of park & ride service to Bristol Parkway station at the end of arena events
Additional buses and night buses provided by First Bus
Cycle parking on Arena Island increased from 250 spaces to 440 spaces
35 taxi spaces and nine coach drop-off bays
Stewards to direct visitors on-foot via safe routes
A commitment to a strategy to direct visitors from city car parks.
A commitment to consult on and implement parking controls in residential areas nearby
Initial plans were thrown out in early March by councillors who claimed the proposals for travel to the arena were “deficient” in detail.
The mayor was criticised by most of the main parties after accusing councillors on the committee of playing politics by delaying the arena so close to the election on May 5. The delays caused by the decision at the last meeting are thought to cost £80,000 per week.
If the arena goes through next week the mayor can claim to have delivered one of his key manifesto pledges before the vote.
The new travel arrangements have been put forward in a report, not yet published, to the next committee. A budget of £7.75 million has been allocated to the transport measures from the project budget.
Ferguson said: “I’m pleased that we have managed to get the arena plans back to committee within a month.
“Officers have been pulling out all the stops to provide the additional transport information requested by councillors. I hope that this new report, along with conditions that will be attached to the application, will give them the confidence they require to approve the plans for this vitally important venue for the city region.”
Read more: New images of arena as plans submitted
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