News / KNowle West
Mayor responds to calls for supermarket to open in Bristol neighbourhood
The mayor of Bristol has responded to growing calls for a supermarket to open in one area of the city.
During a phone-in on BBC Radio Bristol’s John Darvall programme on Thursday, Filwood Residents Association chair Nick Haskins asked Marvin Rees why there is not a supermarket in a south Bristol estate.
“There’s no supermarket and about three shops,” said Haskins, referring to Filwood Broadway, the main shopping street in Knowle West.
is needed now More than ever
“The shopping there is terrible for the old age pensioners and disabled.”
Nick Haskins is fighting for a supermarket to open in Knowle West – photo: Nick Haskins
In response to Haskins, Rees said he recognises the challenge of attracting a supermarket to Knowle West.
“Having a supermarket in Filwood has been a challenge that local councillor Chris Jackson has been pressing for some time,” he said.
“Our challenge is we can’t force a supermarket to move somewhere, but we can try and lobby and support them where we can.”
Mayor Marvin Rees has said attracting a supermarket to Knowle West is a “challenge” – photo: BBC
Hopes for a supermarket in Knowle West were reignited last year, after the council announced it was commissioning a study to market test retail interest for Filwood Broadway.
Though the street does not have a supermarket, it does have a mini market, which has recently been extended to include a refrigerated section.
Filwood Broadway is also one of nine high streets across Bristol that are being prioritised as part of a £4.7m recovery package.
It is not clear where a supermarket could be built on the street, with the library, old swimming pool site and former cinema building there all earmarked for housing.
Charlie Watts is reporting on Knowle West as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media
Main photo: Charlie Watts
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