New Stadium

[Bristol]

Hi all,

Just wanted to ask for the help of my fellow football fans.

Down here in Bristol we have a new stadium and 8 acres of wildlife wetlands planned. But the both plans could be scuppered by a legal loophole that would class the former landfill site a "town green" and thus prevent the stadium and wildlife wetlands area being created.

We need YOUR help, our fellow football fans. We're approaching 30,000 signatures on the epetition which would make it three times larger than any other that Bristol City Council has ever received.

Please join us in supporting the new stadium by signing the petition http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/epetit ... /sign/1094" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . Please send to your mates and don't forget to check your email to validate your signature.

Thank you ever so much for all your help. I've put more info below for those who want it and for those who don't - thanks for your time and good luck for the rest of the season.

Cheers

WHAT IS IT? - A new 30,000 stadium would be the home of Bristol City but also act as a regional stadium. It's aiming to be BREEAM Excellent, the highest status for sustainability. It will also host stadium concerts for the South West.

WHY? - The current stadium lacks space, has no corporate boxes, structural problems and the a couple of years back the school study centre had the ceiling collapse. With 16 offices scattered across the site it's also not environmentally friendly

WHERE? - We're putting the stadium on a former landfill site close to the current stadium.

WHAT ELSE? - We're committed by planning to provide hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of community benefits every year. It will also help us house our new Community Trust, will provide a community gym and school class room.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE? - We're creating 8.2 acres of Wildlife Wetlands area right next to the site, specially managed to attract wildlife. The stadium will have a bio-mass boiler, rainwater harvesting, 3+ car spaces, and 6 times the number of buses (which will also be made free to use) to make it a great thing for the environment.

DID IT GET PLANNING? - Yes...from TWO councils! It's been ok'd by two secretary of states.

AND THE FINANCES? - It's being paid for by the club and Chairman so not using any taxpayer money. It's worth £260m to the local economy and will open up two new sites for development worth hundreds of millions again!

SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? - A legal loophole by a tiny minority of people who live close by. The area closest by has 2,700 people living there and just 22 have stood up (not under oath) claiming to use this former landfill site for 20 years. It would stop the stadium and the wetlands.

SURELY PEOPLE WANT THE STADIUM? - Yes! A vast vast majority do but this law is being misused. A vast majority of local residents want the stadium (backed up by a ComRes poll). The campaign has attracted some high profile support already including Baldrick actor Tony Robinson, Marcus Trescothick and many local clubs such as Swindon Town, Yeovil Town, Chelenham Town, Bath City, Bristol and Bath Rugby Clubs, Somerset and Gloucestershire County Cricket Clubs.

WHAT NOW? - We need to convince Bristol City Council not to designate the former landfill that has gas escaping as a "Town Green".

CAN I HELP? - Yes! Absolutely. Even if you're not from Bristol you can understand how silly this is and make your views known. Please sign the petition at http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/epetit ... /sign/1094" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CAN I READ MORE? - Of course check out:

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Wel ... ticle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZZqNFrR ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.acityunited.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[William the White]

What's the view of the Gas?

[General Mannerheim]

The gas want to ground share !

Tbh I've seen the plans for the new stadium, and the site, and the old ground! & I think it would be a travesty if it's not built! Economically aswel as for footballing reasons.

Unfortunately missing out on the World Cup hasn't helped their bid for a large stadium in the area, and I'm also surprised theyre only going for a 30k-er!? I'm pretty sure city would piss that if they ever make it up, but also the south west needs a big venue for other events, sporting or not.

Bloody tree hugging do gooders worrying about a shitty bit of green space (that the club have promised to provide elsewhere) are standing in the way tho, and winning!

[Il Pirate]

I'll sign if only for fond memories of the sherpa final. In a pub near the stadium, massed with both sets of support, I was chatting to some city fans when an almighty brawl broke out. This fella said to me " for Fks sake, a great day out like this and they still can't behave themselves". Then we realised we had been infiltrated by about 40 millwall scum, who had just come for a day out to cause havoc. Boy did they take a kicking. Not advocating footy violence in any way you understand, but on this occasion...........................

[bobo the clown]

Bristol & Plymouth were going to do pretty well out of the World Cup, weren't they !!

My natural tendency is to say "feck-off & get it built on your own" given all the interference put our way by John "two Ermin Capes" Prescott when building the Reebok & trying to sell Burnden, but then realised that it was the bleedin' tree huggers who are objecting & I'd do anything to piss them off !

That said, I suspect they more likely to be NIMBY than anything positive.

[officer_dibble]

What would signatures from Bolton (etc) do in terms of battling a village green application?

Good luck with it mind, that village green thing is a loophole that needs closing!

[Worthy4England]

I've never forgiven Gerry Gow in 1978.

My vote goes with the tree huggers.

[Bruce Rioja]

Hugh Curran's diving header into the Embankment end goal in 75? to make it 5-1 against the Gas. "Who the feck is Alan Warboys? ...".

Build what you like, where you like!