‘Labour are using Bristol Rovers’ new stand as a political football’

I’m proud to represent Bishopston and Ashley Down, home to both the Memorial Ground and Gloucestershire Cricket Ground.

Sport is in our blood in this community, and I want the community to be a welcoming place for football and cricket fans across the city and beyond.

So as Bristol Rovers started the new League One season with a draw against Barnsley on Saturday, I was disappointed to see Labour’s cabinet members using the redevelopment of Rovers’ South Stand as a political football, in the run up to a local by-election.

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Read more: ‘The Green Party’s approach to City and Rovers’ plans raises concerns for the future’

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I want to set the record straight for Gasheads and residents alike about what’s happened with the South Stand, and more widely on developments across Bristol.

I started getting emails in June from residents telling me about work starting on the South Stand. This was a surprise, as Rovers hadn’t received planning permission, which is needed for knocking down and building a large structure like this.

At this point the planning application was not even live for comment. More emails came flooding in with concerns around early morning noise, trees being cut down, and safety issues on the site.

I met with the club’s CEO and other staff members. It transpired that the club had put in an application back in April, and heard nothing, which is unsurprising due to the current delays and backlog currently being experienced by the planning department thanks to repeated cutbacks.

But even so, Rovers told me they had been advised by someone at the council that as long as they got their paperwork in order the process would be quick and they could go ahead and build. This was poor advice.

Emma Edwards says the Labour administration are trying to use the Greens as scapegoats for delays to Bristol Rovers’ new South Stand – image: Bristol Rovers

The Labour administration know about the delays in planning and the trouble it is causing our city. So why were Rovers led to believe that their application would be straightforward – to the point that they were selling tickets for the unbuilt stands this season – when that isn’t the case for any planning applications?

It’s almost like Rovers have been set up to fail by this advice, and now the Labour administration are trying to use the Greens as scapegoats.

The club have been misled. The administration now seeks to mislead the public and pin the blame for the current unbuilt stand on opposition councillors.

I “called in” the application to the council’s planning committee to protect the club, though it likely would have had to come to a committee anyway due to the significant interest.

As anyone who’s tried to build an extension could tell you, if you try and build a big structure without planning permission, residents can take you to court and a judge could demand that you tear it down.

That would be embarrassing and financially devastating for the club, disruptive for everyone, and could even result in games being postponed on safety grounds.

As approaches to disability access and safety regulations are constantly updated, working with planning officers will ensure the building meets the latest standards to enable families and people with disabilities to attend safely.

Calling it in gives the residents a chance to have their say and gives the club time to get all their ducks in a row, in order to avoid bigger problems down the road.

I will support the club’s application if they take the steps needed in the interests of residents and fan safety.

This is unfortunately just the latest example of Labour politicising planning in Bristol. If Green councillors vote against or abstain from a planning application, no matter their reason, it is used as an attack line by a worried administration that has clearly run out of other ideas.

Planning committees are different to others – they are independent, not “political”. Councillors are legally not allowed to be “whipped” by their parties on these committees, nor are they allowed to decide their votes in advance and follow a “party line”.

Emma Edwards has defended “calling in” Bristol Rovers’ planning application for the new stand – photo: Amelia Banfield

Labour’s mayor and housing chief are putting their colleagues who sit on the planning committee in a compromising position.

Do they support applications blindly because party bosses have told them to and risk breaking the law – and exposing the council to serious financial and legal risk – or do they judge them based on their merits as they are required to?

All councillors should support developments based on their merits; their safety, their affordability, their environmental impact, how well they support the local economy and the community.

This is to protect residents, our environment, and in the case of the South Stand, the club and their fans.

But it’s also about the future of the city – the buildings we approve today will determine the shape of Bristol for decades. They should be able to stand the test of time.

I want Rovers to have a well-built, safe and accessible stand that all their fans and guests can use. Sport is a vital part of life in our community.

As one resident wrote to me, for some people their football ground is like their church, and they desperately want to go to church. I respect this passion.

I want Rovers to have a good relationship with their community, being at the heart of it. And I want residents to feel heard, their concerns addressed and to not be impacted by poor building practices.

Despite Labour’s attempts to divide the community, I think a solution for residents, the club and fans is still possible and I will continue to work hard to achieve it.

This is an opinion piece by Emma Edwards, Bristol’s Green Party group leader and a councillor for Bishopston & Ashley Down ward

Main photo: Wael Al-Qadi / Instagram 

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• Hussain AlSaeed becomes new co-owner of Bristol Rovers
• New stand at Memorial Stadium will not be ready for start of new season
• ‘Big milestone’ for new Bristol Rovers stadium

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