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.
Thursday 22 July 2010
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The following was posted on the Bristol City fans forum this morning and I would be very interested to hear what you have to say about it.
ReplyDelete'The CHAIR of the South Bristol planning committee is Sean Beynon, who lives in and represents the local ward of Southville. He had to stand down from the planning decision meeting as he is a Bristol City Football Club season ticket holder and therefore he was considered to have a conflict of interests.
The VICE CHAIR of the South Bristol planning committee is Simon Rayner, who represents Kingsweston in the north of the City but lives in Clifton. Neither of which, not that you need reminding, are in South Bristol.
Simon Rayner not only chaired the Sainsbury's application meeting but had a vote, which he used against the plans.
Simon Rayner was also in the minority of 2 out of 9 who voted against the successful application for the stadium itself.
Simon Rayner commented at the time in the media that he did not like football.
Simon Rayner works for Alec French Architects a business who, like George Ferguson, has a commercial interest in alternative opportunities to develop the land
Here's the best bit "Alec French Partnership" and George Ferguson's "Acanthus Ferguson Mann" are well established partners under the name of "Concept Planning Group" who tender for urban planning projects in Bristol
Simon Rayner's employers "Alec French Architects" and George Ferguson's "Acanthus Ferguson Mann" partnered to win and execute the £90 million taxpayer funded tender to develop @Bristol
Simon Rayner's employers "Alec French Architects" and George Ferguson's "Acanthus Ferguson Mann" are preferred partners of Westmark Developments, a privately-owned developer in Bristol specialising in, wait for it, residential and mixed use schemes, precisely what George Ferguson advocates and Simon Rayner voted for
So there you have it:
A Bristol City Season Ticket holder who represents the local neighbourhood declares a conflict of interest on participating in this decision, but his deputy, who chairs and votes on the decision and does not represent any BS3 neighbourhood, does not declare that he works for a firm that has a very well established partnership with the firm owned by the proposal's most outspoken critic George Ferguson, and who collectively have an interest in alternative uses of the site, apparently with no conflict of interest.
Just to be absolutely clear on the level of conflict of interest here, George Ferguson attended the meeting and spoke against the plans as a highly visible member of those against the plans. Across the room from him, the chairman of the meeting and a key decision maker with a vote on the application, works directly in partnership with George Ferguson since his employers are commercially aligned with George Ferguson in seeking opportunities to work on mixed-use development in the greater Bristol area.
After seeing his feeble non-explanation for his vote on Points West last night I wrote to Simon Rayner (copy of the letter here: http://www.otib.co.u...ost__p__1254324) this is before I found out how close his ties and loyalties to George Ferguson are. A Bristol City season ticket holder's indirect conflict of interest in wanting Sainsbury's application to succeed is no greater than Simon Rayner has in voting for it to fail. Arguably the Bristol City season ticket holder gains only a seat in a new stadium while Simon Rayner has a clear commercial interest.
The fact that this gross hypocrisy was not addressed tells you all you need to know about the make up of this decision making committee and our Liberal cabal, sorry council.'
Hi Anonymous
ReplyDeleteThis is what Simply Southville thinks, it's a statement Simon Rayner posted on his website about these 'silly' allegations:
http://bit.ly/9kNlCn
Southville's other Councillor Tess Green also couldn't take part. If Sean would have voted for, Tess would have voted against. So no change in result.
Its not about Sean being allowed to vote, its its about Rayner not being allowed to vote or Chair in the biggest decision this area has ever had to make. you nor Simon can deny that this is a categorical failure by Rayner and BCC. as an op-poser to the scheme I would have liked to see this done and dusted and put to bed not Suspiciously Shoved back by a Joke of a planning comity.
ReplyDeleteShame, even when we get the right results we do it in a stupid way. and that statement pretty much shows Rayner did not go in open minded which should be how Planning comities are.
Pleased with the result but not patting anyone on the back for their conduct.
Didn't Sainsbury donate money to the Tories?
ReplyDeleteShocking that Tories should participate in a decision when their party has already been bought.Didn't the two Tories on the committee support the decision?
As I recall George Ferguson is former Liberal counciller for BCC. Shabby behaviour but what do expect when Barker's involved!
ReplyDeletePlease sign epetition in favour of the recommendations to give the fields at Ashton Gate Town Green Status
ReplyDeletehttp://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/petition/1206