Devastation at the Memorial Ground

Click on images to see larger versions:

The pictures on this post are of what is known as the "open space to the south of the stadium". As you can see the land was densely vegetated and the mature trees provided a welcome screen against the sight of the existing stadium for residents on Downend Road.

On 22 April, without warning or notification to neighbours, workers entered this area of land and deforested the area, clearing the land of existing trees and plants, which in itself is unattractive, but worse exposes residents more fully to the eyesore of the existing stadium buildings (which are small in comparison to the proposed new stadium).

Although landscaping of this land is part of the planning application, it is still governed by the conditions that accompany that permission and section 8 of the conditions reads as follows:

"The development hereby permitted shall not take place until there has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority a scheme of hard and soft landscaping, which shall include indications of all existing trees and hedgerows on the land, and details of any to be retained, together with measures for their protection, in the course of development. [etc]"

Obviously if they have already cut down all of the trees it is difficult to comply with this condition. Landscaping plans have been submitted to the council, but they have not been approved.

This piece of land is outside of the boundary of the stadium ground but is owned by the stadium company and hence by Rovers. In the initial planning application, Rovers suggested this piece of land could become an public amenity area (a sort of mini-park).

The residents of Downend Road made representations to development control (planning department) that they would prefer the land to be left as it was because existing mature trees protected the view and lack of access to this area protected their privacy and also security (as access would make it easier for anyone to get into their back gardens). Despite these protests, and the fact that not altering this area would save Rovers money, this aspect of the plan was left in place.

When plans for the phased development became available it transpired that this amenity land would become part of the construction site during the build. This change requires that this "open land" be made up to the same height as the main stadium ground.

As you can see from the photographs, the very reason this land has not been used for anything else is that it is accommodating a large change in level, as the stadium ground has been built up at the southern end to level the pitch. To continue the level right to the edge of the back gardens will mean a four meter high retaining wall right behind the garden fences.

A normal citizen would not be permitted to erect a solid fence over two meters in height (which is the reason people put trellises on fences to make them higher).

This incident illustrates a number of things. One, how Rovers management have disregard opinions of their neighbours throughout this planning process. Two, having received everything they have asked for in the past they no longer feel it necessary to wait for approval. And three, their willingness to push for the ends they want by any means and regardless of the fairness or even the legality of their actions.