The Council's Vision

When you got your council tax bill last year it was accompanied by a booklet entitled "Your Council Tax and Business Rates explained 2007 -2008" with all sorts of wonderful sounding mission and vision statements. But how does it hold up against the real world?

"A thriving economy"

Aim - to maintain and develop a competitive
economy, ensure all people and neighbourhoods can
contribute to, and benefit from, that thriving economy
and to make Bristol one of the most attractive places
in Europe

Apparently with the exception of Horfield where nearby pubs now close on Rovers matchday afternoons, The John Cabot licencing suspension in part due to football associated violence, means it has not yet reopened. Book Cupboard forced to pull down shutters and shelter pedestrians from violence in the street (reported in Swindon, but not Bristol) on a Saturday afternoon residents severely restricted from travelling and being more economically active on matchdays due to traffic densities curtailing access.

Health and Well Being

To ensure everyone in Bristol has the opportunity to
be as healthy, fulfilled and as independent as possible.

Unless they live in Horfield where up to 150 disabled sports fans must compete for only 8 disabled parking spaces instead of the current 32. Where air pollution concerns are ignored and deemed insignificant despite planners insisting on restrictions over students owning cars and approving a hotel without parking, to mitigate traffic which proves there's already a big problem

A High Quality Environment

Bristol to be a green capital of Europe, tackling the cause
of climate change and creating a clean and attractive

Where urban designer comments are ignored as are environment BCC's Sustainable City Team's comments, in terms of the failure to commit to lower carbon technologies presented. Also ignored BCC ecology officer who suggests a wildlife survey to establish existing species within existing natural environment.

Balanced and Sustainable Communities

with a high quality of life where no one is disadvantaged

Unless they live in Strathmore Rd where their daylight will be compromised or round the perimeter of stadium where the noise pollution is likely to keep infants awake beyond their normal sleeping hours. Not to mention shift workers etc.

The Final Insult (page 28) says

"Our Mission: to improve public safety through preventing, protecting and responding" giving sage advice about "knowing your escape route"

Tell that to the ambulance driver stuck in traffic for 15 minutes in Gloucester Rd on matchday, compromising patient safety.

When you consider the many roads bordering the site which are inaccessible to large emergency vehicles not least on matchdays, it compounds the view that insufficient diligence has been applied to plans, which give rise to serious conflicts with BCC's "corporate aims".