anon
The scale and design are totally inappropriate to the area, and it won't make any difference to the success of the football club, which is non-existent. I can understand the argument for the rugby club.
Jane
I am a local resident strongly opposing the developments. We do live near a stadium and we are prepared for the current level of traffic etc, but we did not chose for 18,000 fans, 550 student flats and the huge monstrosity next to our homes! By all means improve the stadium, but why does it have to be so big and obtrusive? Surely it would be better to improve the current stands and facilities to allow maybe 14,000 fans for the rugby but Rover's do not need an 18,000 capacity stadium! The level of deceipt and trickery by Rovers in their panning and advertising of this development has angered me and it demonstrates how money and power can crush us 'little residents.' The council have a committment to everyone in Bristol and as far as I can see they are ignoring evidence to prove the stadium is going to have a negative effect on the local area in order to satisfy the people with the money.
james north
i think this is a great idea because brisol is now the 4th biggest city in england! it will be great because the new staduim will attract tourist. we need this staduim for cup games extra rugby aswell bristol rugby tem are amense! boo bristol city im only 13 but hey i like leaving comments
callum mccormack
how many fans can bristol rovers stadium hold? im in school
shaun
it will boost the memorial stadium up.and there might be more people going.but i recon we should boost the capacity up to 20,000,
dan govier
i think the capacity should be 20,000 as of how many went to cardif and wembley. the nicer and bigger the stadium more fans will whant to come.And the club will get more money so we can bring in better players to the team.
rovers till i die
we dont sell out enough 4 a new and bigger ground
Sean Davidson
I think the plans are good but we should put the capacity to 20,000 because i am shor that on big games we have at home we could easly have that amount. because if you look at the johnstone paint final and the play off final we had 40,000 ish so if we choose to upgrad the capacity of the pains I think it would be a grate ider not just as a bristol rovers fan but as a bristol rugby fan!
Luke
The futures the way to go, the old buildings need to go as does the stadium, why keep living in the past when its behind us now and the way is forward. Roads are allways going to be congested anyway with the number of cars on the streets already so why would it matter if there was a few more for football. Football is the future.
Simon Baldock
The stadium must go ahead for the good of not only the football and rugby clubs, but also the city as a whole. For generations this city has been lacking in facilities and now it is time to pass the plans through and bridge the gap between us and other cities who have decent facilities for years. This city deserves better. Having seen the plans, the nonsense some of the locals are coming up with regarding parking is perculiar. The club will set up a better transport policy than is already in place, so this will give the area a big lift that is neeeded. May I remind residents that the ground has been there for many years, so you knew what to expect when you moved there. Planning application MUST be granted.
Nick
The proposed development breaches the policies set out in the Bristol Local Plan so if it gets consent it will be an enormous breach of the trust we put in our local politicians and will make a mockery of planning law.
onewhoseesall
All you sports fans are being shortchanged by a cabal of greedy businessmen. You may get a brand new 'super stadium' but buildings will not improve your teams' performance. look at the real motives behind the planning proposals.
Ricky Creed
Bristol City Council and South Glos have confirmed that there are no appropriate council-owned places for a new stadium in the Bristol area. Also, the club cannot force landoweners to accommodate a stadium (unless of course the council wants to invoke comuplory purchase powers!). Bristol Rovers have to therefore submit plans for the most sensitive site and design for a stadium to meet the purposes of the local community and the Bristol public. The plans to avoid building on more greenfield land by regenerating the existing stadium preserves and conserves land. The design of the stadium also meets the need of Bristol Rovers and Bristol Rugby whilst offering multi-fiunctions to the community. A new stadium is needed and this is the least intrusive proposal available to non-football and Rugby supporting public in Bristol.
A Smythe
The plans for the stadium are far too big in such a residential area. The height of the stadium would block light and dominate all the houses around it. There is simply not the infrasture to cope with such a development. Re: the student accommodation, consider supermarket trolleys dumped everywhere, noisey drunkards smashing road bollards in the middle of the night waking neighbours and just the inconsiderate nature that some seem to have, I am not generalising students, I was one myself, but there are enough silly ones amongst them to ruin it for everyone else, we are all witnesses to this up at Frenchay since the new student village opened. Build a bigger better one on the outskirts of town.
Gee
Maybe BRISTOL RUGBY Should build themselves a Stadium... They are doing well and deserve it... More and more people are watching Rugby.
Gee Singh
£30m for only 7000 Extra seats... What a Rip Off!!! The Development much needed and would be a Great addition to this city as a whole but come on, if your going to do it, do it properly. The Bigger Bristol Gets and the Bigger the Clubs get its going to happen anyway so why delay? Just Get On With It!!!
Sarah
I'm a local resident and my main objection is not the increase in the capacity of the stadium but the scale of the whole development which is just not appropriate for the size of the site. When I bought my house I knew the stadium was there and accepted that there would be noise and some problems parking (in fact I quite like the cheers of the crowd on match days). However, that's at most a couple of days a week. If this development goes ahead then the student acccomodation and hotel will make the development massive, be in use 24 hrs a day 7 days a week and all the windows will overlook the surrounding houses. I can see the top of the floodlights at the moment but I'm not overlooked by the stands. This certainly won't be the case if this goes ahead. The stadium should be in North Bristol where the fans want it to be but not on this site which is too small and doesn't have good transport links. Rovers and the Rugby club should look at other sites and try to do a land swap with one of the big housing development companies that have recently aquired sites in North Bristol.
Rovers fan and mem neighbour
I think Rovers need a ground to be proud os and don't need telling that by people from Swimdon. However I would challenge any Rovers fan as to whether they would like 100 student flats at the bottome of their garden towering over their house. This is just a profit making scheme for the Board and a let off for the Council who have continuously turned down much more suitable sites over the years. The plans will go through but will ruin a lot of peoples lives. I love matchdays but this is students/bars and hotels all week every week disturbing my kids and causing havoc for normal working people.
Sean B
18,000 fans in and out of one small access road - the Bradford city fire burned the stand down in 3 minutes. I woundn't risk it.
City fan
I agree with nathan's (the swindon town fan)comments. Knock both memorial and ashton gate stadiums down and build a joint stadium on the outskirts of the city that bristol can be proud of. sell both current plots to developers for housing/retail centres. Like reading and maybe soon cardiff (hopefully not cardiff) the teams will have something to reach for and get bristol as a premiership city like it should be! The council chould stop funding useless little projects and pump money into this venture which will boost both the economy and reputation of the city.
Paul (Gashead)
We need a new ground as regulars at the rovers will know. its going to have a good effect on the surrounding area but just one problem PARKING!
Dale Gregor
I believe the plans for the new stadium should be welcomed by all, bringing a new lease of life to the area can't be a bad thing surely...
Richard Mane
I feel the plans would have an adverse effect to the surrounding area,the extra parking problems, noisy dirt producing students,not to mention the over baring effect on the adjoining houses which can't be more than 18 metres away in some places.If I remember correctly the plans for Ashton gates stand near the park had to be reduced in size because of this.I think this is yet another plan to increase the size of Mr Dunfords and Edward wares empires,and to hell with the locals.
jimmy hazard
i think that we should go ahead with the plans
Michael Newington-Wise
A larger ground without provision for parking will cause immense problems in an area where parking is already a problem and the roads are struggling to cope with the volume of traffic. If a new stadium is needed then it should be built on the outskirts of the City close to motorway or rail links.
joe thornell
bristol rugby are in the rugby premiership should get the new ground and it will get more people watching at the groung because no they had to put a new stand because more people are wanting to go and watch
jordan jones GAS HEAD
i think they should'nt because we have'nt got enough supporters at the moment because rovers are playing rubish at the timebeing
burgess 06
im a true blue nd i was born a blue nd i rekon the new ground will b better 4 the fans and the public
josh
i think its a great idea cuz weve been playing in crap stadiums for ages.
were a good club its time we have a good stadium
Andy
To start with - Absolutely sick to the teeth of football. I'm sure I'm not the only bloke out there who couldn't give a monkey's about the game. Anyhow, besides that I live near the ground and probably won't be for much longer if these plans go ahead. The traffic alone will bring the whole of the area to complete gridlock - its hard to imagine how much worse this could get more than it already is!!!I could go on all day about how bad this decision is but it won't make any difference whatsoever to the decision makers who are only worried about putting the profits in their pockets! Just knock the whole place down as it is and make Horfield a much happier place......
chris dallimore
it might look a bit empty! why should these plans be accepted, when previous attempts by both bristol clubs have been turned down.
it won't happen.
MONKEY GAS
The city is crying out for a good sports stadium. Rovers have not had a decent ground for years and it will bring a boost to the club moral if they have a ground to be proud of.
tony
excellent looking stadium, but unfortunately will never happen with DUNFORD in charge
nathan
i'm a swindon town fan and we have the same problem with (NIMBY) residents,whilst i understand local residents views but i cant feel any sympathy for them as they originally chose to live near a football ground to begin with.i pay my tax i would like swindon to have a stadium its taxpayers can be proud of.a modern stadium is vital in the success of football clubs nowerdays regardless of current attendance figures.Reading fc was getting just 4,000 per home game 8 years ago,they built the madejski stadium and now they have 25,000 sell outs and are now in the top flight for the first time.everybody in reading feel pride of their city because of it.it just shows what a town/city can do if people support eachother.people dont like building on green land but yet they also dont want to build on current land because of traffic and not wanting it to upset their lifestyle,we cant have it both ways.all buildings-housing including was once built on green land many,many years ago so they cant exactly use that excuse.with success of a football team or sport brings not just joy and pride to many people but also the opportunity to grow its community coaching programmes to get kids off the street,to cut crime,to get kids playing sport and cutting obesity and health problems and also allow the club to play a bigger role in the community.i think its a win win for everyone but some people are so selfish nowerdays that are not prepared to listen to others views and say no,no,no.
nathan
swindon
swindon town fc fan
ciderhead
lol probably end up get burnt down like their old ground did a few years ago
Paul davies
This city is crying out for much needed decent sporting facilities i believe that without these improvements and with the current useless [sic]board we now have the club will wither and die.
John Berry.
Let's face the fact,the Memorial ground is just not viable due to it's location in a RESIDENCIAL AREA !!.I know it's Pride and Tradition with Rovers and the Rugby in the area,but it MUST be better to build a new stadium a bit further north,with all the Road and Rail services in easy reach there ??.
Richard
Parking on football match days is already a major problem for nearby residents. Increasing the capacity of the ground (almost double) will only make the parking problem worse. To expand the facilities to this extent, they must move to a more appropriate area.
stephen
Why so much interest in Rovers redevelopement ?
Why was there not this searching for comments about when the cricket club built a new stand or when bristol city revealed its plans or even before rovers came to town the building done at the mem by the rugby club ?
Is it that local radio wants the clubs to stay small for fear of losing out coverage to biger media outlets ?
Thomas Giltrow
i think its a billiant idear it could bring cheaper flats to students ect, im a rovers fan as well a bristol rugby watcher
jamie
Rovers average gate is 6000. why do they need this stadium? surely its just to make money from selling the flats. the stadium will be white elephant. whilts hte extra flats will make the parking problems worse.
Louis
I love the idea of the Gas getting a bigger ground. This wound bring in more money for both the rugby club and rovers so they could buy better players. but the thing i'm worried about is that they wont let kids play they will keep it away from kids training and getting better. I think that the club should push for the kids in the local area and bristol to play footy more therefore making better players for the future and cutting obesity. Also its very well sitting around talking about it but we need to get it done. They said that it would be done this year or next but they havent done it yet. We can talk the talk but can we walk the walk!!!
Big Lenny
The stadium looks ace but don't put the student flats in it would be an embarrassment to our football club we would be a laughing stock. how would we look if we drew man u liverpool or leeds in the cup?
mark
bristol needs better stadiums as other citys are bypassing bristol and bristol already a backwater for all sports in this country
steven
Bristol is agreat club and a new stadium would just be great for the club, players but especially fans
ALAN
Looks great,at last Bristol could have a stadium to be proud of.
R.Jones
It would be brilliant for Bristol. I hope it goes through.
Jacob Gardner
It would be great for the team and fans and would help the team to grow and finally leave league 2 and enter league 1
Gashead
I think they need to develop the stadium but the 100 student flats is a bit odd!?!? Surely they can't be that up tight that they need to be landlords to pay for everything now!
Stephen Graham (A Carlisle United Supporter)
Ive just being reading about the new stadium plans and they look good, i would be proud if Brunton park looked like that. There is no doubt in my mind that both Bristol clubs Should be in League 1 at minimum, at championship level. I know that Rovers get good home support in L2, but if they were to do well and get promoted and do other things, would 18.000 capacity be big enough for a club the potential size of this?. Plus i dont see any way of making the stadium any bigger after the proposed development.
mark
Bristol rovers dont need a new stadium because they dont get enough people to fill up the memorial stadium . Why would they waste money adding seats to the memorial stadium when it doesnt get a full capacity anyway
welsh gas gal
Would be fantastic to see Rovers get a nice Stadium. You need to speculate to accumilate...look to the future.I dont think it will encourage more trouble...far from it. Rovers have been let down by the council FAR too many times...but we have always had bouncebackability. we are an honest, family club, that deserve a better future. this Stadium would be the way forward. the crowds will come.
Westy
To be honest, Rovers arent pulling capacity crowds (Blame the ticket prices, haha, cheaper prices = more crowd = more atmosphere = more wins!) and i think the money available for the club to do something like this should be invested in players to gain promotion, and once we are up there, then maybe look at the quality of the side we have vs. the rest of league 1 and think about ground expansion!
Ian - Cheltenham
Yes parking in't great around the stadium, but the hooligan element does seem to be exaggerated and how do the residents of Horfield think the residents
of Eastville felt having that Tesco's and hideous Ikea on our old ground with the additional traffic that has generated 7 days a week, every week. Also comments about Rovers not being able to fill the ground are just pure crap. How often does the mighty Ashton Gate get capacity crowds? If the club is going to be able to compete in higher leagues then the ground needs to be of a better quality and improved capacity. Look at those teams struggling in League 1 and the Championship - Brighton, Crewe, Rotherham, MK Dons, Walsall, Hartlepool, Yeovil - all grounds with relatively small capacities. Fans in the seats and terraces are still important, even in this day and age. Despite the new ground plans looking good it would have been nice to have had that "Severnside Stadium" as it would not have needed us to rely on the pro Robins Bristol City Coucil to approve it.
Norton Gas
The ground plans look excellent and it will pay for itself, also it surely would bring a few extra jobs too, but the locals moaning about it must have been chatting to the residents that are up in arms over the airport expansion, surely if you have brought a house near an airport/sports ground/trading estate or even a school, you would use your common sense with the way the world is going, more people = more growth, sorry but it's not rocket science people!
jon con
go 4 it :D bristol needs something like this and it will be a great asset to the city and to the club.
West Stander
I think we ought to try & find an out of town site, sell the land for a fortune to Ikea & Tesco, and leave the shortsighted, backwards thinking local residents to stew in a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week traffic & pollution clogged hell! Only joking of course, but quite honestly what would you prefer? If you purchased houses next to a Sports ground, surely it must have crossed your minds that one day a it would be updated or developed!!
Birdy
A bit of a step up from Twerton Park! I live near the Madejski and having a team and a ground to be proud of has provided a real boost to the local residents. I would encourage Bristol City Council to look at the big picture and get a sporting facility that befits the City. Good luck Rovers and Shoguns -you both deserve it.
Kane Price
I think that more money should be invested in the squad and not on the ground. the ground should only be built if we gain promotion. for some reason i can not see why this would make Bristol Rovers a better squad.
Ben Formela
What Bristol needs is state of the art stadium which both clubs could share. Unfortunately, Rovers are forced to pursue the development of the Memorial Ground because the recalcitrant city council are reluctant to allow a new stadium to be built. How can Rovers progress with the current facilities at the Memorial Stadium?
Andy Knight
Yes, give Rovers and Bristol Rugby the go-ahead. The other option is to move away and the land will then be redeveloped for a supermarket or another DIY store. Ask Eastville residents which they prefered, Ikea or Rovers? They would have a Stadium back tomorrow.
Marshes
Yes, they should give the go ahead and be able to build a new, improved stadium. It's good for the football and rugby team, as well as the people of Bristol. Just think of the possibilities!
Ed
A good idea but lets see if we go up 1st and see if we can become an established league 1 side otherwise we wont fill it and it wont be worth the investment.
Tom Gibbs
I can't wait till the new stadium is billt becaus when rovers get prmoted we will pack out the old ground cos it is to small.
les mann
every time rovers hit a bad run they drag out another set of stadium plans to try cheer up the long suffering fans,how about something to put the stadium to more use,catering for greyhound racing and speedway for example
stevie
I've read all the comments and whilst there is some truely constructive and fair questions being raised, there are also some damn stupid statements.
You residents of horfield and surrounding area', what would you rather look at, a decrepid old ground which is falling to bits or a new modern looking development that would bring sports facilities, better security, and income into a community, which is quite frankly a lower-middle class community, surely that can only stabalize or increase your market values as there will be more of a reason to look at the area. I agree, match days are cramped and it's exactly the same at other football grounds, even old trafford is surrounded by residential area's but do you hear them complain at 70000 odd people around their garden most weeks? No. Why? because they are probably sat in the stands supporting the local team which is what the locals of horfield and filton should be doing. You might feel more of the community spirit then, which is more than what you feel at ashton gate. You residents all knew that a sports ground was there when you bought your houses and common sense surely must have said that it was not always going to stay in that similar state forever and a development would always have been on the cards no matter who was in charge of the stadium. I think this is the most promising development yet but i'm concerned at the lack of seats in the ground why have so many terraced ares's still? It's not just Rovers and shoguns that need this stadium it's the city of bristol as a whole. It's an embarresment that a city of this size doesn't have a top flight football team and facilities that could even boast a club of that stature. Liverpool Manchester, Glasgow and Central London all have 2 or more.(most surrounded by residential area's by the way!!) Come on let's finally have the stadium we deserve and let's do a Wigan and move forward because im sick of watching lower league football.
Paul - Bristol City fan
Cant belive im saying this but good luck rovers. All the residents moaning about traffic etc and saying move to a new ground... what happens to the mem then? Im sure you'll be very happy having shops built on it and having traffic all day every day rather than a few hours every other Saturday and a few nights! You new the ground was there when you bought your houses!
Maureen Wilson
Having read a lot of comments there are an awful lot of untruths on here. Firstly why are the residents only complaining about Rovers? Recently the rugby have been getting higher gates and do all those people travel on their bikes? Secondly the sporting facilities, and student accomodation in this city are a disgrace. We are the 7th largest city in Britain and yet our facilities are put to shame by places half the size of us. And finally Rovers did NOT sell half their car park for building. This was done when the rugby club went bust in a vain attempt to pay off their main creditors. I think Rovers would have preferred to keep the land, but it was a done deal. As for the residents I have to say, "What did you expect when you moved near a sports ground? I would prefer it if there was a new site we could move to, and no doubt the residents would prefer a new retail park where the Mem is, you know one that is open 24 hours a day 364 days a year. If you want real congestion just go down the road to Ikea and Tesco's, and lets remember that was once Rovers ground sold off for pure greed after effectively kicking rovers out. No one considered the residents that live there did they?
The residents have to look at it this way. They are inconveinianced for 4 hours once a fortnight for half the year. If rovers leave then they will build a retail park 7 days a week 364 days a year or perhaps another 200 homes along with another 300 cars. I know what I would prefer.
Jozer
Bristol needs a decent stadium, and obviously think it should be Rovers. The local refusenicks should think about what happened around Eastville & Bradley Stoke. Would they rather have a stadium causing congestion once or maybe twice a week, or a B&Q/ASDA/ whatever causing congestion 24/7?
Rob
I cannot believe the complaints from some people. hooligans? how many of them trash your land every week? rubbish! its just another little argument to try and curry favour! Parking? no big issue, half the parking is down kellaway avenue anyway. Noise, pollution and rubbish? one game a fortnight for football, and one game a fortnight for rugby. that equates to about 6 hours in 336 hours a fortnight. why deprive 10,000 gashead and 10,000 rugby fans becuase you cant park for 3 hours on a saturday? Selfish! You knew there was a ground there when you moved! We need to work together to get it done properly. We moved the whole plans becuase you might miss out on an hours sunlight in the winter. why cant you let atleast 20,000 people be happy?
David Wilcox
I know local residence feel that the development would mean more parking problems but the ground has been where it is for 70 years. It's not a new development.
Chris
Its for the good of the city, we need a club to be proud of :)
Mr Matt Kyle
Redevelopment to include residential flats is not acceptable unless substantial car parking is provided. The area is very congested and traffic problems are my main concern. I am a local resident.
Bruno Jacobs
Both parties (club and residents) should have their say, but I think a new/bigger stadium could also support the industry around... More people(?!), more economy
Paul (from Horfield)
As a Rovers fan (though I don't go much these days) I'm really happy to see the club making long-awaited forward movment. I'd really like it if they could do something about parking though. I have to plan my comings and going on match days as it's impossible to park. I don't think hooliganism is a significant problem, match days are far safer than the Centre at the weekend. Overall I think the Mem Stadium is a plus for Horfield and local businesses (but only just!)
Marshy
Rovers Need A New Ground, this is exactly wat they need to help us get out of league 2, good ground atracts good players! Keep It Up Trolls n Lennie!
Rovers fan since '68
You can make the streets resident parking only on match day. That's easy. Run a really good dedicated bus system down to city centre. or use the available parking space out at Filton and run a good shuttle service by bus or maybe both.
Ruth Crouch
A city the size and importance of Bristol should have at least two modern stadiums. How we lag behind the likes of Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool etc. This needs supporting...next we need a premier league club!!!
Nigel "POPEYE" Morgan
Best thing that has happened to the gas for years!!!!!!!
Alex
I cant understand why the local residents are so againsted the new stadium. Im a local resident and on a match day traffic is only an issue for 30 mins before kick off (and not as bad as the rush hour up gloucester rd)and parking problems only occur for a couple of hours every other weekend. And if its so bad now that they have to plan for it now what diffrence does it make if there are more fans!!! STOP BEGING SELFISH AND LET BRISTOL HAVE SOME PRIDE IN ITS SPORTING FACILITIES.
Colin
As a Rovers fan the stadium is a must ! As a resident who lives next door to elland road LEEDS I also have the trouble of parking on match days, but hey I knew that when I bought the house ! ok so a lot of residents lived near the ground before Rovers moved in, but a city as great as Bristol realy does need some sort of football stadium, there will always be someone not happy with the situation, but a new ground alone will not increase the crowd sizes thats done on the pitch and that will or wont happen, nothing to do with a posh new stadium and facilities to be proud of.
ben rickard
it will be amazing to have a bigger ground it will bring more fans and fame to the team we might be able o have bigger games so we ge premoted
Bristol gas
Sarah Chapman says about the traffic you should of known there was going to be traffic problems if you live near a football stadium ?? well whats better - 3 hours of traffic on a saturday afternoon - 20 afternoon games per A YEAR or let rovers leave there and then build supermarkets and shops there open 24 hours aday 7 days a week - i would of thought that would be more traffice problems in the local area would it not ? well done Geoff Dunford good plans Come on BC counil give us what we want for a change
Komeil
first of all the design is boring a plan rectangle what?
and the bigger the pitch the lack of fans can get in which means trouble outside especially after men have come out of the pub???
Derrick G
Trolls & Co are doing a good job, but they need financial backing,to improve the team, especially when you look at our home crowds, compared to most of the top teams in the league. a new stadium is LONG overdue. Come on council, you know it makes sense.
garry
now will the prices go up
Marshy
keep up da good wrk trolls ur doin a gr8 job at da mem, i new stadium wuld b gr8 4 club n fans, 4eva Blue! up da gas!
Jimmy D
As a City & Bristol Rugby fan, I have to be honest and say this is fantastic. Bring it on Bristol City Council and do the right thing for once - might help the Gas too! This is excellent for the city of Bristol... well done Mr Dunford (for once)
ROB CLABON
i think that if the government (TONY BLAIR) gives us enough money then we can build it. but you know the government they are well gert stingey. but my mate said that you need good football to have a good stadium. i mean look at bristol city.
Chris Radford
Great plans - best yet. Come bristol council get working on thos now - make us Bristolians feel proud about are City again. its time we brought our sporting facilities up to date. what better way that to help the local community as well. Lets get going!
Chris Radford
Great plans - best yet. Come bristol council get working on thos now - make us Bristolians feel proud about are City again. its time we brought our sporting facilities up to date. what better way that to help the local community as well. Lets get going!
paul in france
As a Gas of thirty years plus it all sounds very familiar ie complaining locals and,as usual,probably little or no support from "City" council.I,ll remain cynical,altho with fingers firmly crossed,and beleieve it when i see it.
Terry
Another scheme put forward by Mr Dunford, cus he thinks it will keep the fans happy. It will never happen unfortunatly
Pirate Planners
We are a group of UWE final year students undertaking a project on the impact of the proposed stadium development. Do you have any views or information, or perhaps you would be happy to be interviewed for your opinion? Please let us know - [email protected]
barny
The council have always had a problem with rovers for many yrs. Its about time they sorted this out so the rovers will have a decent stadium that wont need changing where as if they keep treating us like this then the problem will never go away, come on you blues
Paul Wilson
About time somebody helped those people who help us by providing new affordable accomadation. The fact that it will also provide up to date stadia for the Rovers and Rugby club is a bonus. As a city we severely lag behind the rest of the country in sports facilities and new innovations, mainly due to successive councils who have the heads stuck up their own a*******
sam
there will be all this talk about a new ground but it will probably never fall through just like city's proposal for a new stand.
Blakestar
Bristol needs sport facilities to match other cities of similar sizes. Bristol is a rugby city, and they need a decent home for the team, and for supporters. Make the parking work, and get things moving!
chris,bristol,lockleaze
i think it is a good idea and more better for the supporters. it will be beter for the team and it will atract more supporters to see the match. maybe rovers might do better who knows? good luck with the plan. pleas build the new stadium.
chris
i think it is a good idea and more better for the supporters. it will be beter for the team and it will atract more supporters to see the match. maybe rovers might do better who knows? good luck with the plan. pleas build the new stadium.
chris
i think it is a good idea and more better for the supporters
Sarah Chapman
I live on Filton Avenue very near the ground. Match day is a nightmare already and will be tons worse if they get the go-ahead for the new stadium and flats. Parking on match days is terrible. We are phyiscally locked in our house until after the match or if we go out prior to the match we cannot return until after due to not being able to park our car. The club are saying that if they get the go-ahead for the student accommodation they will ensure that the students do not have cars as this would make the parking and traffic worse on match days. Is the club saying to residents that they are phyiscally going to stop the students driving/parking. I don't think so! The location on Filton Avenue cannot get any larger - its not fair on local residents. I think there should be a joint initiative with Bristol City Football Club to look at building a new stadium (and don't forget Bristol Rugby)away from any residential areas. I hope that Bristol City Council take a really long, hard look at this proposal and think of us residents
bob
bludey brilliiant plans just wt rovers need a good stadium and a good manager come on bois!!!!!!!!
Rob
Will it ever happen, heard it all before. Why are the locals complaining about parking? Simple solution, do what you want to do well before or after the game, failing that, do it during the game, leaves more parking for the fans. Can't see any justification in living near a sports stadium and then making a fuss when it's being used by thousands of people, duh.
Ian
Patrick, I'm afraid of hungrey holligans too, don't know what they are but they're not welcome in Horfield I can tell you.
Sam Watts
I would like to say if this stadium is built then we will be able to compete with the higher team i.e. city and will generate more cash to spend on better players and i think this new ground will take this team forward.
Joe
This is great for both football and rugby
Dave
The proposal looks fantastic and
I am sure will initially attract
more support.However what is the point if nothing is done to
strengthen the team.Whereas 4 years ago we were pushing for promotion to the Championship
the board base success on avoiding relegation to the Conference.Sort the team out first.
Billy
who pays for the stadiums?
Dustin EIden
I think that it would be a great thing to build a new stadium. It would be a good thing to have people playing in new places.
Will
Ok, I'm a Rovers fan, I live no where near the Memorial stadium and I think it's a rubbish idea. The ground will hold 18,000 standing supporters. The aim for all lower league clubs, is to magic their way to the Premier league like Fulham and Wigan. But with a 18,000 terraced capacity this shows that the people behind this plan do not think this is possible. Get to the Prem you'd have to put seats in which would lower the capacity with no room to extend the stadia.
Simon
What a crazy idea! The roads cannot cope with the extra cars and congestion will be even worse than it is now. Developers never seem to consider the impact on the local community.
Des
The main issue locals have is with the congestion and parking on match days. Roads around the stadium should be made "residence only". Let Bristol Rovers , the main beneficiaries of the stadium deal with the issue of supporters getting to the game not the locals who have have little or nothing to gain. Incidentally, when many people bought their homes in the area the stadium was home to bristol rugby not the Rovers. There is a big difference....trust me !
Lee
Why have a 18000 seat stadium when the avg attendence is only 5500???
Paula
Great news! I think it's just what the team and fans need. I agree that the parking will be an issue but if there is transport laid on from the centre then there shouldn't be a problem. Some local residents (which I am one) forget that it will bring in money for the community, that can only be a good thing surely! I'm completely behind the plans.
Matthew, Bristol
In all honesty neither Rovers or Bristol Rugby Club pull big enough crowds to fill it, so why is it needed. It's far too big, and the local community is already at it's wits end with football related problems. If the Club wishes to increase the amount of problems for the locals then it should also be forced to put something back into the community into which it is not wanted.
Giles W-O-T
Wasn't the sports ground there before all the houses were built? Didn't all the current owneknow that the Mem was there when they bought? Proper parking plans are a must though. It would be insanity to miss the opportunity to get our (currently woeful) sports facilities in Bristol another inch up the road to decency. Nevertheless our incompetent Council will manage to upset all parties before they bodge it up (again).
gas bird
Ok this stadium is gonna be fab for bristol, the only people who have the right to complain are those that lived in the area before Bristol Rovers moved in, you new people, you knew there was a ground there so you are gonna have to live with it, new stadium or not Rovers are always gonna have fans so why not just let us have our ground, and your not gonna compain when you have better security in your area for free of charge are you!
Danny D
As with previous schemes, this all means nothing as the Council have not yet approved the plans. Remember that the Council were supposedly 'actively pursuing a site' for a new Rovers stadium, as site after site was turned down. If it were true I'm sure a site would have been found. The Council never really wanted to help either Bristol club - the offer of a stadium to be shared by both clubs would never have been acceptable to either club. The Council knew that when they offered. Sporting facilities in Bristol are emabrassing. By the way, why the hell is it 'Bristol City Council'- as a Gashead I feel that's an insult. Surely, it's about time that we had an impartial 'City of Bristol Council'!
Mark
The development proposal has to be a complete package. New Stadium + improved public transport on match days + enforced resident parking permits to encourage use of public transport. Or build a multi-storey NCP car park on Horfield Common (joke!)
Alex
Looks great. I cant understand all the complaints.
patrick comer
why should power hungrey football ( wannabe) mogals blight a residential area for their own ends and cause misery with parking and holligan s every saturday and weeknights Take the thing out in to the country somewhere and drown it
Bristol Blues
The stadium from the outside doesn't look too good, but Bristol City Council have always rejected any plans so i guess Rovers are running out of ideas, so we'll wait and see about this one. It won't be hard though to create the best stadium in Bristol. As for the negative residents comments why not move near Lulsgate and complain about the noise of the planes!
David G - Washington DC
The stadium looks similar other "indentikit" / "off th peg" stadiums like Bournemouth, Yokel Town etc. Unfortunately this is a minus point as it will lack any real identity or gravitas. The stadium looks to be over ambitious based on the current state of the clubs financial and playing abilties. The physical situation, in a mainly residential area, will constrain any future development in addion to the many problems of parking, noise, transport links etc. A more sensible approach would be to make the minimum of safety related changes to the current stadium and dust down the severnside plans. Rovers, City & the Shoguns need to think with their heads and not their hearts - a joint stadium is the only real way forward for the good of all Bristol sports fans.
Paul G - Radstock
The plans look brilliant. So it's disappointing to read the complaints of people who bought houses near to what they already knew to be a sports stadium since 1920. Everyone who lives in a big city knows about the problems of traffic and car parking - at last there's a chance to properly manage what happens anyway. Meantime just look at the fantastic stadia and concert venues elsewhere in the UK. But every time someone dares to suggest anything like that for Bristol or Bath, the NIMBYs are out in force It's attitudes like this which give such a negative picture to business investors, with a knock-on that costs jobs, causes talented people to move away from the area, and leaves this part of the world short of top-grade recreation facilities. Also, the local authority must be finally seen to give the 'blue half' of the city a fair deal, after decades of bias either against football in general, or in favour of only one of Bristol's sleeping giants.
Ray Casely
Great idea and long overdue. However, I cannot see the Council agreeing to anything related to sport being developed.
Peter Cook
Flats seem a good idea. The one thing that has held the club back is the lack of directors willing to put money into the club. But one does wonder where they think they are going to get 18000 paying spectators - apart from when they play City!
Mark
Any organisation has to evolve in order to survive. The stadium is looking its age and needs a revamp. Increased crowd capacity for the Rugby has to be a good thing, although I do not like the atmosphere at football which could go either way with larger capacity!
Chris
Its still got terracing! And its still going to be smaller than ashton gate!
Sherlock
Architecturally, it's a little more pleasing than most of the modern bowl designs, but still unimpressive. Obviously the stadium's functionality comes first, but it can't cost much to come up wih better designs than this.
Nigel
Dont forget theres a rugby club that needs decent facilities too,premiership rugby must have a good stadium,Bristol has been a laughing stock for too long,to all those who moan,shut up and lets get in the 21st century!
Jack
That does look pretty impressive but it still won't beat Ashton Gate, Bristol Citys Ground, still got more capacity
Paul Wilson
About time someone had the idea of supporting key workers and students as well as football. Great idea
LIz - Horfield
Can i take it that the people who write to support these plans are Bristol Rovers/Shoguns supporters who don't live in the immediate vicinity of the ground? Why on earth choose to expand in this already extremely highly populated location. I live a couple of streets away and already have to deal with horrendous issues of parking/litter/noise/general traffic. As for not allowing the students to have cars? Who thought up that bright idea? That's totally un-enforceable.. translated that means "we're not going to bother to build them a car park... they can park on the streets along with everyone else (who already can't find anywhere to park!!)" It's sad to say but upon hearing of these plans i can only hope that both of our Bristol teams play so badly over the next seasons that noone wants to plough any money into them. Come on you CITY!!! The mind boggles as such incompetent planning!
Andy
The vision would attract better sponsorship, better players, better results, and yes, better gates. Please drop the gates of 5000-7000 argument. This vision is one for the future but some people clearly prefer the present. One reason Bristol remains a sport backwater
BHBSGAS
As exciting a prospect these plans look I still fear the lack of co-operation from Bristol City Council will probably hinder any developments before they even take off. Rovers fans deserve better facilities than what is currently on offer. The idea of housing students, gyms etc sounds a good way of funding such a scheme. Just a side note, good luck to Brighton who are awaiting a decision from Mr Prescott concerning plans of a new ground at Falmer...trips to the Withdean could become a thing of the past.
Matthew Jackson - High Wycombe
The stadium plans look fantastic. It would be brilliant for the fans, local residents and even the council. Great idea to build student flats into the design, we have to stick students somewhere, so why not at the back of a football ground! As for the local parking, that is always going to be a problem around ANY football ground. I just hope and pray that for once the Council prove me wrong and actually support something that either rovers or city propose. Bristol sport needs it.
Terry Oxford
Where would people park?
Richard
Good thinking Rovers, but maybe not.
An average Stadium design in a poor location, land locked by residential housing as the site is now. It’s a total nightmare when Rovers play at home as the traffic is terrible. I’m sure many local residents won’t be in favour and I think investing in this site is a poor business plan.
Roo, Rovers Fan
Don't you think we should be sorting out the team and getting the current stadium filled? What's the point in spending all that money if all we are doing is finishing mid table in the lowest league? Surely the money would be better spent on strengthening the squad.
Jazz
It will be the best ground in the southern league!!
Daniel - Cardiff
Ignore my idiotic brother Adrian, He is only 10. The stadia looks impressive I believe we have a championship ground and I believe thats where will be in a couple of years time
Duncan L - Bristol
Probably a bit bigger than required for the number of Bristol Rovers fans
Nick - Bristol
Looks good, and will bring more people along due to the improved facilities. Finally a home for Rovers! I just hope that we can match the plans with better performances on the pitch. I hope they sort out the PA system too - but then it can't be much worse than the one we have a present!
Adrian - Cardiff
What an embarrasement. Is this the future of BR? Is this where we want to play Champions League Football! What are the AC Milan fans going to think? As for me I'll have to walk 5 miles to the ground after finding a parking space, i'll have to leave at 6am from Cardiff to watch a game. Good business brains unfortunatley Rovers bosses don't possess
Danny
Really impressed with the plans, It will bring in more fans, because of the better facilities. People saying we only get 5000 must have only looked at 2 games this season. Our gates in the last 5 years average around 7000 for a struggling 4th division team. A new stadium and promotion will see who the bigger club in Bristol is. Not those 5000+ extra "fans" who turn up at ashton gate only when they win. I live in Horfield and have no problem about the plans going ahead as along with about 80% of horfield residents. However it would benefit if transport was laid on to the games, possibley from the Centre. Regards
jeff
i think it looks ok, it is the way ahead but the rovers will have to think carefully about the parking issue and how much they will charge people to attend matches in an all seater stadium, clubs do always seem to increase prices when stadiums go all seater bearing in mind that we should be looking at trying to increase attendances and getting bums on seats rather than potentionally driving people away, it may also give the players some pride in playing for the club which sadly has been lacking for quite a few seasons it. IF the ground is built and its a big if it`s only 1 of the things that needs to change at the Rovers but at least it would be a start.
Tuarita Lawson
How many car parking spaces will there be to allow for the extra people? It is an absolute nightmare for residents in the area, and not only for those living in the immediate vicinity of the stadium, and I was certainly not aware of these plans but perhaps they don't feel it necessary to ask people living on the other side of Gloucester Road what their feelings are even if we are still affected every time Rovers play at home!
Squelch
£16 million pounds and will be funded by "student flats"?! Good buissness plan Bristol! Muppets.
Matthew Bray - Bath
Ive supported rovers since i was 5 and have saw plan after plan! i'll beleive it when im sat there cheering on the gas in the stadium til then just more pictures yey!
Ryan a rovers fan
Looks crap.
Sarah
I wish that Rovers management team would meet with the residents and tell them how it is going to affect house prices, quality of life, parking, violence, public disorder from extended pub licensing, litter (i would love the team to clear the litter from my front garden- beer cans etc).Do they want to come and disinfect my garden wall after the rowdy blokes have had a good pee up it? Are they going to support the local primary school that has no sports area? What about all the children in the area with noise pollution from concerts and other functions. The rugby crowd are cillised- the football crowd are not. When I moved to this area the stadium was purely rugby and wow- what a difference.I am angry more with the council for even letting the intial plans go ahead. As someone has already said- it not's as if they draw a big crowd anyway- so WHY?
John Edwards
So will Mr Dunford be increasing the rent that BRFC already pays him for use of the stadium?
Red Rob
I can't see that playing in a stadium that will appear to be even more empty than the current one on match days will help Bristol Rovers FC at all.
is going to help teh football
Tony Mills
Very impressed with the plans and looking forward to playing in a modern stadium. Lets hope the builders come in sooner rather later and that the benefits the new development will bring to residents see them support it 100%
Brian W
The plans look well-conceived and match the Government drive for low-cost housing into the bargain. No doubt Bristol City Council will do their very best to block planning permission, but this time Whitehall is on the side of the football club. Leyton Orient have a similar scheme to include low-cost housing. As for parking, this does need to be sorted out - if the Council show willing, a form of park and ride could be created. The neighbours who complain every time improvements are suggested might like to consider that the stadium was there before they were - surely it would be obvious that match days might cause some inconvenience - but I don't see any reduction in house prices - so maybe it's not so bad after all!
Jeremy Poynton
April 1st, is it?
Neil
Residents already have to face massive inconvenience from an inappropriately located stadium. Rovers need to sort out the parking and traffic problems before they think about expanding.
John Bailey
Lets get some bricks down all these plans but they never seem to get off the paper. Until I see it i wont believe it ,but things need sorting out soon on and off the field,come on Rovers sort it out !
Phill
"Mr Dunford said that people living in the area had already been told of the plan" A scruffy photocopied flyer with no planning pictures and little actual detail is all the residents have received. In addition it was only delivered yesterday. The is not a good way to start communications on what is a major development.
Andy
Where's the pasty shops?
Programmes Gas
Well this is a depressing load of comments, the only +ve being from a City fan! This is a stadium for a realistic future, 18,000 all seater, community use, and even residential use. The club needs a gaurenteed income to survive, and this goes a long way towards this. Football and Rugby fans at the Mem deserve better facilities, the stadium needs to involve the local community during the week and what better way than bringing in first class GP and Dentistry facilities alongside a fitness club? These are the first plans I have seen that look viable and let's hope Bristol City COuncil do not take another two years making up their minds.
Mark Richards
Sorry to sound cynical but will believe it when i am sat in the upper tier.... Good luck convincing the neighbours
Martyn Ellis
What is the point of building a stadium of this size when Bristol Rovers only get gates of five thousand!!
Danny Boy
Being a City fan I think it looks great!! Well done Rovers!
Peter de Meteor
Why must it be all-seater? I, and most of my friends, like standing. Surely the areas at the front of the stands could be terracing, couldn't they?
Rob
The view of the planned development looks impressive but would it also be beneficial to show a picture of match day with roads gridlocked, fans rampaging, residents confined to their houses whilst so called fans fight running battles (e.g recent fixtures against Swansea and Bristol City)etc..... The club only recently sold off part of their car parking facility for housing development. Where are these additional supporters and students going to park? Lets be honest what is the point of increasing the capacity to 18,000 for a budding 'conference league' organisation that only attracts approx 6,000 whilst in the football league.
Cintra
It looks hideous!
Steve
Yet more plans but when will we see something happening ?
