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Only 45 parking spaces at ‘sustainable’ arena
As few as 45 parking spaces have been pencilled in for the new 12,000-capacity Bristol arena.
Planners and city transport bosses, backed by the mayor, said they were taking a “sustainable” approach to the new venue behind Temple Meads which will have 200 bike racks.
Early blueprints have been made public ahead of a planning application to be submitted in late October.
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They show an arena at the back of the old diesel depot which can adapt into a concert venue, sports pitch, ice rink and theatre.
The plans also show steps coming down from Bath Road to a new plaza between the front of the arena and the new Arena Island Bridge which last week was lifted into place connecting Cattle Market Road.
Phase 1 of the plans will see a temporary 200-space car park, which will be converted into offices and retail in phase 2.
Once the conversion is complete, finishing a £200 million regeneration of Arena Island, there will be just 45 car spaces left over for disabled and operational purposes.
As well as the bike racks, there will be improved pedestrian and public transport routes to encourage visitors to come through Bristol, including a boardwalk connecting Temple Meads to Totterdown Basin.
The council’s transport boss Peter Mann said there would be a predicted 3,600 people arriving by car to each 12,000-capacity event, of which there would be 20 per year.
He added: “We have recognised there is probably significant capacity around the arena that providing a dedicated car park wouldn’t be appropriate.”
Mayor George Ferguson pointed out that the recent Arcadia event in Queen Square, which attracted more than 12,000 across two consecutive nights, did not see any complaints to the council about parking.
The new £90 million arena is expected to open in early 2018.
But parking could prove a sticking point in the planning application, with many councillors already opposed to so little provision.
The council said it expects a decision on the planning application to be taken in February next year.
A pre-planning, public consultation will now take place from September 16 to October 13, with several drop-in sessions, including:
Wednesday, September 23, and Thursday, October 1, 6pm-7.30pm at the Citizen Service Point, 100 Temple Street.
Saturday, October 26, 9am-6pm at the Galleries, Broadmead.
The exhibition will also be on display in the Citizen Service Point at 100 Temple St for the duration of the consultation and in the main foyer of the Central Library from September 28 until October 13 and online at www.bristoltemplequarter.com/