Green councillor resigns from planning committee over ‘Broadwalk Scandal’

Green councillor Ed Plowden dramatically resigned from Bristol’s development management committee on Wednesday evening in protest against the shock U-turn on Broadwalk shopping centre.

The decision to approve the demolition of the shopping centre in south Bristol and turn it into 850 new homes on Wells Road was made in July.

The decision was met with fury by Knowle residents who said it “damaged trust” and “made a mockery of local democracy”.

The development has received criticism over the lack of affordable housing and the height and density of the 12-story development, known as the ‘Redcatch Quarter’.

Now Green councillor Ed Plowden, has resigned, after what he described as “misleading and dishonourable actions of certain members of the committee”.

In a statement following his resignation, the councillor for Windmill Hill said: “It is with great sadness and after a lot of reflection that I have decided to resign from this committee and be replaced by another Green Councillor, which I will seek to have confirmed at the next Full Council meeting.

“Immediately following this committee a petition of no confidence in Bristol’s planning system was started which now has almost 2,000 signatures; and 100s of people have crowdfunded almost £7,000 for a JR. I therefore believe that this committee has brought the Council into disrepute.

“This is because the misleading and dishonourable actions of members of the committee before, during and after our last meeting mean that the people whom I am proud to represent and live amongst no longer have trust or confidence in this committee.

“I have been very proud to be part of the committee & help to shape the future of Bristol, & despite being very disappointed by some of its decisions, for example over the Mead Street decision, have been careful not to do anything to call into question its authority or legitimacy.

“I am confident that I will be replaced on the committee by one of my brilliant and hard working Bristol Green colleagues. It’s been a privilege to serve on the committee and I am concerned that councillor Eddy was “not interested” in hearing my concerns that led to this hard decision and indeed the wider context within which it operates.

Plowden said the Broadwalk U-turn was now referred to as the ‘Broadwalk scandal’ by residents of Knowle, many of whom felt duped by councillors who had vowed to refuse the development.

“I have been unable to defend or explain what happened at the last committee to local people, who now describe it as the Boardwalk Scandal, and so I can no longer be part of this committee,” Plowden concluded.

Labour councillor Nicola Beech, criticised the green councillor’s resignation on Twitter.

Beech, who is also cabinet member for planning, city resilience and flooding, called Plowden’s resignation a “stunt” and “pantomime” that should be “kept in the Hippodrome”.

“Embarrassing stunt from Bristol Green this pm in DCA,” she said.

“If you want to resign based on a point of principle that is, of course, the right of any elected councillor. But have some respect for the day’s agenda and the public already trying to navigate a complex day. Desperate actions.

“And then councillor Plowden, despite resigning, the proceeded to vote on the St Christopher’s School application…. I love a festive panto but keep in in the Hippodrome!” she added.

A crowdfunder has been launched by opponents of the Broadwalk plans to pay for a judicial review into the decision. And some members of the public are now calling for a formal investigation into how the U-turn happened.

Main photo: Redcatch Quarter

Read next:

• Fury after plans to knock down shopping centre approved in U-turn
• Petition claims Bristol’a planning system is failing
• Major city centre housing development could have no affordable housing

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