‘Get on with building Bristol Arena at only viable site’

Marvin Rees is facing a backlash from within his own party over the decision to consider an alternative location for the long-awaited Bristol Arena.

Labour’s Olly Mead has urged the mayor to show the leadership expected of him and get on with building the multi-million project at the “appropriate” site, referring to the earmarked land by Temple Meads.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the councillor for Horfield argued this was the “only viable option” for the 12,000 capacity arena in terms of planning policy, regardless of the findings of an “expensive report” from KPMG.

Olly Mead says the site by Temple Meads is the only viable option for the arena

The criticism came in the wake of last week’s announcement that the Brabazon Hangar at the former Filton Airfield is officially being considered as an alternative location – and one that would bring investment from private sector developer YTL.

Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire has also joined Labour colleagues, including Bristol South MP Karin Smyth, in raising concerns about the proposed relocation.

“I am fully behind the commitment to this important project and am writing on behalf of my constituents whose jobs and livelihoods stand to be affected by what happens next,” said Debbonaire in a statement to cabinet.

“The option to consider Brabazon Hangar, while possibly being financially attractive for the local authority, raises some red flags.

“I appreciate that locating the arena at the Brabazon Hangar would allow (and probably necessitate) a much larger scale of parking provision, which may be able to provide much-needed income for the local authority.

“Yet sustainability and public health must come first and encouraging significantly more car journeys when events are being held would not be justifiable. Locating the arena in central Bristol, supported by sustainable transport infrastructure, would be the best solution.”

Thangam Debbonaire says sustainability and public health must come first

She argued that a major point of the whole scheme is to prove Bristol can get things done when it comes to major infrastructure projects, but said the council faces the danger of proving the exact opposite.

Debbonaire added: “I cannot help but wonder if there’s a risk that an arena in the Filton area would increase the likelihood that the Cribbs Causeway expansion could one day be approved, as it could aid a potential claim by South Gloucestershire that Cribbs-Patchway is their ‘town centre’ in their local plan.”

Rees has stressed that no decision has been made and the report will weigh up the economic, social and environmental benefits to each site, saying he needs to ensure the final project is one that’s right for the city.

But Mead argued that the city centre location would bring benefits in terms of businesses that would employ local people and boost the economy, saying he’s not surprised that South Gloucestershire are excited at the prospect of it being built on their doorstop.

Martin Fodor, Green councillor for Redland, challenged the mayor on at criteria has been set out for the ‘value for money survey and argued the process needs to be more transparent.

Brabazon Hangar is beinf officially considered as an alternative arena location

The mayor said: “To make sure we are on course to deliver the project in a way that is financially responsible is absolutely essential. Hopefully people will see that the report is not base on emotion, but on what’s right for the city.

“We do not want an arena for arena’s sake, we want it because of the roll it can play in our city. We want to make a responsible decision and one that the city will be happy about. ”

Cabinet papers updated members on progress so far, including the widening of the report to include two sites and signing off a pre-construction services agreement with Buckingham Group, with a view to firming up final costs.

The final decision is expected in the spring.

Read more: ‘Emotion cannot play a part in Bristol Arena decision’