MP Liam Fox joins North Somerset councillors versus Bristol City new stadium plans

WOODSPRING MP Liam Fox has put the boot in to try to stop Bristol City FC's new £92-million stadium from being built on a green belt site at Ashton Vale.

Despite more than 30,000 fans living in North Somerset – many in Nailsea he has written to the Government department which will be making the final decision on the stadium plan, spelling out the objections of some of his voters in his constituency.

He has also written to North Somerset Council leader Nigel Ashton opposing a new entrance to the proposed stadium which would use the access road to the Long Ashton park and ride site.

In his letter to Cllr Ashton, he said: "I have written separately to GOSW (the Government Office of the South West) asking them to refuse to endorse Bristol City Council's proposed approval of the football stadium's planning application...".

Dr Fox said: "I am opposed to the stadium on the green belt because of the wider picture.

"I think it's fair to say that for me and lots of my constituents that because we are fighting over housing targets in the green belt, this has become an added complication.

"I think there are many people who would be much less concerned about the siting of the stadium if they knew it would not lead to the loss of green belt to more housing."

Dr Fox said there was a danger that if the stadium was built on green belt land, then it would set a precedent and strengthen the hand of developers.

He said this was due to a planning document called the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) which sets out Government targets for housing during the years ahead.

The Shadow Defence Secretary said if the Conservatives won the next General Election then the RSS would be scrapped and it would then be possible for the stadium plan to be considered as an isolated issue.

In his letter to John Bright, GOSW's regional director, Dr Fox says he has been asked by constituents to put some points to him.

The letter goes on to say that the stadium plan ‘flies in the face of good planning’ and ‘would make a mockery of the Prime Minister's well-publicised promises to protect the green belt’.

It adds: "If approved by GOSW, the precedent would be set for piecemeal incursion into the green belt – riding roughshod over local plans and interpreting financial advantage as 'very special circumstances' to permit building.

“Indeed, we hear already of a ‘me too’ proposal to build an indoor arena, previously proposed to be built on brown-field land, in the green belt adjacent to the proposed stadium.”

Dr Fox said he would be ‘very interested’ in Mr Bright's views as to whether the possibility of a World Cup match being played in Bristol constituted ‘very special circumstances’ for giving approval.

In order to win planning permission for development on the green belt, the club must show there are ‘very special circumstances’ for building a new stadium at Ashton Vale.

The club says its current gro at Ashton Gate is too small and outdated and does not meet its aspirations to play in the Premiership. It also says it has commissioned consultants to look at alternative sites but none is viable.

GOSW will draw up its own report on the stadium plans before putting the matter to Communities Secretary John Denham for a final decision.

The issue has to be dealt with by the Secretary of State because the application is for use of green belt land.

A spokesman for the Communities and Local Government department said the Secretary of State would take into account all views.

No one at the club was available for comment.

Dr Fox's comments follow a refusal by North Somerset councillors - including those representing Nailsea, Backwell and Wraxall, to give planning permission for an entrance to the proposed new stadium which would be built on a former tip which is now designated green belt land near the David Lloyd sports centre.

The decision was a recommendation which will now be discussed by the council's main planning committee on Wednesday, January 20.The club has indicated it will launch an appeal if the decision goes against them.