The S106 Signing is Not the End

The start of the New Year has brought fresh challenges. It is almost a year since the contentious planning application meeting for the development of the Memorial Stadium and the S106 agreement has only just been signed, six months later than the originally slated deadline.

For many months now any questions we have raised with different Council departments involved have received the reply that nothing can be done until this agreement has been signed. So now we can ask the questions and expect the consultations that need to take place. Common sense would suggest that this should have happened before any signings but planning moves in mysterious ways!

We are not satisfied with the agreements about traffic volumes, noise, air quality, loss of light, parking, ‘Park and Ride’ provision, and will still continue to challenge the premises on which they are based. The Stadium Monitoring Group set-up needs to be representative of all views involved and have an independent basis.

We are still involved with the ‘Ombudsman’s investigation into the whole process.

There has been a revealing survey done by the Liberal Democrat party into the Resident’ Parking Zone. This could be a good foundation for talks about parking let’s encourage them to set up a meeting so our voices can be heard.

We are very concerned that the use of the site 24/7 has not been truly appreciated by the planners. This development is commercial with accompanying stadium facilities! We need to get the message across.

What HorfieldROSE can't understand is why so many of Bristol City Council officers' own questions or concerns about the proposals appear to remain unaddressed or ignored?


Now the S106 has been signed we can keep asking the questions, we can keep pointing out the problems. So if you have concerns, examples, questions, etc. now is the time to voice these. Contact your councillors, the planning department, the Avon and Somerset Police, the Parks department for parking on the Common. Send in your photographic or detailed examples and ask for a reply and intended action; continue to question until you are satisfied!

The recent Evening Post article suggested that Bristol Rovers will be holding an exhibition of plans later this month so another opportunity to question them too - and make sure it happens – too many promises have been unforthcoming.

The start of the New Year has brought fresh challenges; if you value the area and the community then speak out and make sure we are heard. Lots of different people saying ‘it matters to our quality of life’ shall not be ignored.