March date set for new Sainsburys application

The planning meeting to consider the latest application for a giant new Sainsburys for Ashton Gate is now confirmed for 2 March 2011. So if you want to object to the proposed store you must do it as soon as possible. You can send them in by writing to:

Development Management
City Development
Bristol City Council
Brunel House
St George’s Road
Bristol BS1 5UY

Or you can email them to development.management@bristol.gov.uk

Along with your objections you must include your name and address and quote planning reference 10/04777/P

Evening Post backlash at Sainsbury decision

You can just imagine it can't you? Evening Post office on Wednesday night preparing to pop the champagne and claim 'It was the Post that won it' on Thursday's edition. Maybe they started to sweat a bit when the planning meeting passed ten o'clock in the evening. And then the unthinkable, the supermarket proposal at Ashton Gate is refused.

In Thursday's edition they just manage to get the decision on the front page, but not too much more. Damn those deadlines. The hacks must have been pretty miffed. Bet they couldn't wait for today to unleash their finest on the Ashton Gate scandal (could this be Aston Gate-Gate?).  Mike Ribbeck, Ian Onions, Andy Sloan and Uncle Tom Cobbly all had their say on the story. Pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 and the back page all cover the story. Come on guys, don't you think you're going a bit over the top? Balanced reporting? Well let's just say the Post has maintained its pro supermarket, sod the local community stance.

Through all the froth and frenzy my favourite quote was Cllr Mark Bradshaw (Labour Bedminster) who said: 'Suggestions that everyone in Bedminster was opposed to the development are about as fanciful as suggesting that most of my constituents can afford to do their weekly shop in North Street'.  Having read this I immediately contacted Aldi (in North Street) to check they haven't doubled their prices. I was assured that they hadn't and would continue to provide excellent value for money for the local community.

And so the saga rumbles on...

What next for Ashton Gate?

So now the Sainsbury’s planning proposal has been turned down what happens next?

Well if we are to believe the rhetoric coming out of Bristol City last year, then no new superstore means no new stadium. So that’s it then? We all pack up and go back to how things were?

Of course there could be an appeal against the decision but there is no guarantee the outcome will change. They could revise down the size of the new site, but then you start to ask why Sainsburys would want to move. Or City’s Chairman could find another buyer for the site and raise the shortfall in funds for the stadium elsewhere.

Let’s not forget $teve Lansdown, who upped sticks earlier in the year and moved to the Channel Islands to avoid paying tax, has amassed a personal fortune of £452 million. He knows how to cut a deal to bring in some cash. So perhaps, just perhaps there could still be a happy ending. Ashton Gate gets redeveloped bringing much needed affordable housing and small business units that would complement the community. A new stadium gets built and England win the bid for 2018 World Cup.

Although a blow has been dealt to the supermarket proposal this isn’t the end of the story. We’ll have to wait for a few more days to see what action City and Sainsburys take next.

At Simply Southville we are proud of our local community and the green credentials of the city we live in. The Sainsburys' proposal doesn't fit, it's not right and this website will continue to oppose it.

Newsflash - Councillors refuse application for Ashton Gate superstore

Well I never! At the Council House tonight councillors on the South & East Planning Committee have rejected Sainsbury's proposals for a massive supermarket on the current site of Bristol City's ground at Ashton Gate. Simply Southville understands it was rejected by four votes to two, with two abstentions.

Well done to the people in Southville, Ashton and Bedminster who have campaigned to stop this unnecessary development. Let's hope Bristol City can find an alternative use for the site which is more suitable, so it can fund its plans for a new stadium.

More to follow tomorrow...

It's D-Day for Ashton Gate superstore

On Wednesday 21 July at 6pm councillors on Bristol South Planning Committee will meet to decide whether to approve the planning application for the Sainsbury’s giant store at Ashton Gate. If it goes ahead, they will then consider a second application for the existing smaller Sainsbury's at Ashton Vale to be demolished and 145 homes built on the site.

Since last week, Bristol Friends of the Earth has been co-ordinating the local campaign against Sainsburys and they urgently need your help to:

Turn up at College Green at 5.30pm Wed (30 mins before the meeting starts) for a 'WE LOVE NORTH ST SHOPS, NO to NEW SAINSBURY'S SUPERSTORE' group photo with local residents and North Street traders.

Support the local residents including George Ferguson and one of the North St shop owners who are giving 3 minute submissions against the planning application at the planning meeting by coming into the Council meeting and sitting in the gallery. The submissions come at the beginning of the meeting.

Even if the store is approved by the planning committee, it is not over. The application will have to be considered by the Secretary of State for Local Councils, Eric Pickles. He will take 21 days to consider whether to hold a public inquiry or not into the approval.

Southbank Arts Trail - 8 an 9 May

The 2010 Southbank Bristol Arts Trail takes place this weekend, 8 and 9 May. This year, over 55 venues will be opening to show the art, performances and other such things of over 150 artists.

Wander the happy streets of Southville, Bedminster and Ashton, pop into homes, churches, bars, cafés, community centres and all kinds of other spots and see some interesting and diverse work.

Trail brochures, with a map, venue details, events listings and the like are available at several venues, including the Southville Centre, which acts as the main hub of the Trail. There you can see over 30 artists, musicians, makers, and all sorts under one roof, grab refreshments and contribute to a message to the future.
It's highly recommened!

Who to vote for in Southville?

Here at Simply Southville Towers we’ve been giving great thought who to vote for on 6 May. Of course we are voting both for an MP and a city councillor to represent us.

First of all let’s take a look at the Southville ward and the election to Bristol City Council. Well of all the candidates that are standing for Southville, the only one that actually lives in the ward appears to be Tess Green, the Green Party candidate. The other three live in Brislington (Labour) on the Portway (Conservative) and Cotham (Lib Dem).

It is really a two-horse race between Labour and the Greens. In 2006 the Green candidate won by seven votes from Labour, and in 2007 Labour got the seat by six votes ahead of the Greens. Labour candidate, Barbara Brown, has been quiet on the big issue in the ward - the proposed superstore development at Ashton Gate. Tess Green is firmly against it. So Simply Southville says back Tess Green on 6 May.

As for our MP, Labour’s Dawn Primarolo looks to be pretty safe in the Bristol South constituency. But at Simply Southville we say it is maybe time for a change. Labour nationally looks a spent force, so why not consider one of the two Dr Marks. That’s star gazing Lib Dem candidate, Dr Mark Wright, or the Tories hopeful Dr Mark Lloyd Davies. There are five other candidates standing in Bristol South. More details of the candidates and previous results check out the BBC website for our constituency.

A word of thanks to our outgoing Councillor Charlie Bolton. He's stepped down from the council but is the Green candidate for Bristol South.

So, go Green for Southville and vote for a Dr Mark in Bristol South.

Here’s to you Mr Robinson

Just over the river from Southville tomorrow, the country’s media will descend on Bristol for the second prime ministerial debate. It did seem a little strange tonight to switch on the news and see Nick Robinson (the BBC’s political editor) reporting live from outside the old industrial museum, with the Arnolfini in the background.

For anyone who’s walked past the Arnolfini today they’ll know that the place has been turned into a high security venue. In fact anyone thinking of going into town tomorrow night don’t forget Prince Street Bridge is closed from 7pm to midnight for pedestrians. And road closures around the area start even earlier.

I know Sky is not everyone’s favourite media company, but full marks for them for picking Bristol for this historic event (good job it wasn’t the BBC - it would have picked Bristol and then moved it to Cardiff at the last minute!). So for the next 24 hours Bristol will become the UK’s media focus. What a great opportunity to promote our city, the harbour and of course the Arnolfini itself.

So Simply Southville extends a warm Bristol welcome to Brown, Cameron and Clegg. If any of you fancy a pint and meeting some real voters (who are allowed to speak, cheer and clap) then pop over to North Street and we’ll buy you a pint of Bristol Stout in the Tobacco Factory.