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

While the Lionesses march on into the final stages of the Women’s World Cup (we’re rooting for you!), the new domestic men’s football season is just getting started.

Bristol City and Bristol Rovers make a huge contribution to our city, both economically and culturally – you don’t have to attend Flag Day at the Three Lions or be a season ticket holder in the Thatchers End at the Memorial Stadium to recognise this.

They bring millions to the local economy, employ thousands of workers, and each club’s community trust invests in Bristol’s grassroots sport, promotes social inclusion, and funds a wide range of good causes.

They have plans to go further than this too.

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Read more: Ashton Gate and Ashton Vale set to both be transformed

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Bristol Sport are investing in affordable housing on a former landfill site in Ashton Vale, using the proceeds to fund a sporting quarter – a new 4,000 seater stadium for the Flyers basketball team and convention centre, homes, a hotel and public space – bringing even more jobs to south Bristol and footfall for local businesses.

Labour are proud to support these plans and are working on bringing a new train station to Ashton Gate too; supporting the club and local residents.

The Green Party members of the development control committee, however, failed to support the housing proposals – if they had their way, the sporting quarter wouldn’t have been able to go ahead.

A sporting quarter at Ashton Gate wouldn’t have been able to go ahead if Green Party councillors had their way, writes Tom Renhard – photo: Bristol Sport

For the blue side of Bristol, this is a familiar story. In 2014, Bristol Rovers wanted to build a new stadium next to UWE.

To fund this, they had plans to sell the Memorial Stadium, which would have seen a Sainsbury’s and affordable homes built there instead.

The Bristol Green Party campaigned against it and even went so far as to donate to the judicial review seeking to overturn the plans. Almost a decade later, after these delays, the Gas remain at their current site.

Not only do they remain at the Mem, but it now only has three stands instead of the usual four. As things stand, from one end the usual chorus of Goodnight Irene will be replaced by an eerie silence.

Rovers are currently trying to rectify this. They’re applying for planning permission to build a relatively modest stand which would bring the number of supporters up to its pre-Covid capacity, helping to support the sustainability of the club.

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Read more: Anger as Rovers start building new stand without planning permission

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The Green Party ward councillor has taken issue with this – opting to ‘call in’ the planning application so it is delayed and decided on by councillors, rather than being assessed by planning officers and approved by the council if it meets the criteria for development.

There are no reasonable grounds to reject their application. The Mem’s been a sports stadium for more than a hundred years after all.

Yet, with Rovers’ first home game on Saturday, this process is being dragged out longer than it needs to be. This call-in will mean thousands of fans missing the opportunity to attend potentially months of matches.

Not only is this harmful for Rovers as a club, but for supporters and for the local businesses that rely on the footfall.

As a neighbouring councillor, I of course understand some residents’ frustrations. It is right and proper that the planning process is followed by all and consideration is given to the impact on members of the community affected.

It would clearly be better to open a constructive dialogue with the club to ensure the construction starts at a reasonable time and that disruption to local residents remains minimal.

The Green Party should today withdraw their ‘call-in’ application and let officers make a decision in line with the existing policies, which I hope can be expedited to be resolved as quickly as possible for all concerned in line with planning processes.

Tom Renard also criticises a Green councillor for calling in the planning application for the proposed South Stand at the Memorial Stadium – image: Bristol Rovers

The Bristol Green Party’s approach to both City and Rovers’ plans raises concerns for the future.

Marvin Rees’ administration have been working to help secure Rovers a long-term future in the form of a new, modern stadium at the Fruit Market.

There’s been a lot of challenges to overcome to get to this stage and there will undoubtedly be more on the way.

There are Green Party councillors that clearly have a well-established track record opposing the aspirations of both our city’s professional football clubs. And that’s not all.

This has played out with a failure to support council housing schemes and low-carbon heat networks, too.

City and Rovers are both key institutions in Bristol. Labour’s proud to back them. We invite others to do the same.

This is an opinion piece by Tom Renhard, Bristol City Council’s cabinet member for housing and Labour councillor for Horfield     

Main photo: Alex Seabrook 

Read next:

• ‘All City fans should wish the best for Rovers’
• ‘Big milestone’ for new Bristol Rovers stadium
• Campaigners slam mayor’s support for homes on ‘beloved’ green space

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