News / Transport
More parking demanded for arena
Councillors backed a move to urge the mayor to rethink parking provision at the new 12,000 capacity arena.
The Conservative group tabled a motion calling on George Ferguson, who was on an official visit to the Vatican, to find sites where parking spaces could be created near Arena Island, behind Temple Meads.
Councillors representing wards around the arena said residential streets would be clogged when the big shows came once every three weeks.
is needed now More than ever
Even the majority of Green Party members backed the move, with deputy leader Deb Joffe saying her Windmill Hill constituents were already “anxious” about the plans.
The arena’s original business plan required 1,000 parking spaces within a 15-minute walk.
But the council later said parking income was “no longer required”, as they do not form an essential part of the income.
Conservative councillor Mark Weston questioned the revised business case. He said: “It is not meant to be an awkward motion – I think all of us want the arena to work.
“If you look across the country, authorities have a habit of underestimating costs. This project is very tight on its margins in the current business model.
“The Mayor does need to look at the income stream from parking in order to make the business case work.”
Claire Hiscott, Conservative councillor for Horfield, said that every four days there would be an extra 6,000 people coming to the area to use the arena, while every three weeks there would be 12,000 visitors for sell-out shows.
She added that Cardiff, Nottingham and Birmingham all have at least 2,000 parking spaces within ten minutes walk from their arenas.
All except four councillors – all from the Green Party, including its leader Rob Telford – voted for in favour of the motion.
Ferguson is not obliged to follow the recommendations.