‘We get one shot to make sure Temple Island works best for the people of Bristol’

The vast majority of councillors, including the mayor, have voted in agreement that the preferred place for a Bristol arena is in the city centre.

But this is highly unlikely to sway the final decision on the best use of the earmarked site by Temple Meads, as Marvin Rees maintains that pressing ahead with the project at this location comes at a high financial risk to public money at a time of unprecedented uncertainty.

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Read more: Bristol’s cabinet recommended to scrap Temple Island arena plan

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Months of fierce debates on the site of the long-awaited arena came to a head at an extraordinary council meeting on Monday, with 265 public statements submitted.

“An out of town arena will end up destroying the cohesion of Bristol city centre as an all round attractive place to be,” argued Geoff Collard from the public gallery, summing up the sentiments of many who wrote in.

“What’s next?” He questioned: “Relocate the Colston Hall to Cribbs Causeway because its city centre site is worth lots of money as office space?”

‘What’s next?” Relocate the Colston Hall to Cribbs Causeway?’

Ali Robertson, former director of the Tobacco Factory Theatres (owned by former mayor George Ferguson) and a South Bristol resident, added his voice to “the chorus dismayed by the prospect of stopping the central arena plans and attempting to get a bland mixed-use development off the ground in its place”.

He slammed the economic case for the alternative Temple Island plans revealed by Legal and General two weeks ago, arguing “all we can say with certainty is that they look really ugly and uninspiring so far” and urging the mayor to listen to the “voice of the masses”.

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Read more: Revealed: the alternative vision for Arena Island

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While the lion’s share of statements, including some from Labour councillors, were strongly supportive of an arena by Temple Meads, the views represented in the public gallery were not unanimous.

In a statement supporting the mayor’s approach, Desmond Brown, director of Growing Futures CIC and chair of Bristol’s Commission for Race Equality, said: “I am speaking up for disadvantaged communities across Bristol, both black and white, who have missed out on Bristol’s economic prosperity over the years.

“I’m sure an evening at a Little Mix concert can be very cathartic, but as the Runymead report highlighted: what disadvantaged communities need are jobs and affordable houses.”

Another pro-Filton arena voice, Ben Lilford, argued that “Bristol is more than its centre”.

“Basing the arena outside the centre sends a strong signal to the margins of Bristol,” he said. “The legacy of Bristol needs to be bigger than the achievements of the individuals within it, it needs to be built upon the heart and values of the community that make it.”

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Read more: Extraordinary council meeting to discuss future of Arena Island

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The motion, proposed by the leader of the Lib Dems and seconded by the Green group leader stated: “This council believes that the best site for Bristol’s Arena, for the benefit of Bristol as a whole, is Temple Island in the centre of Bristol and that the decision-taker should be guided by the vote at this meeting.”

Proposing the motion, Anthony Negus argued that what was needed was a “real grasp of what value means, rather than the profit and loss information provided”.

He added: “We are talking about Bristol as a whole, its confidence, its trust.”

Marg Hickman, Labour councillor for Lawrence Hill, slammed the opposition councillors for what she called political opportunism on the matter.

But John Goulandris, a Tory councillor for Stoke Bishop, argued that “selecting a site for arena should not be about party politics – it’s all about location, location, location”.

He implored the mayor not to “squander this opportunity at Temple Island and kill the dream of a Bristol Arena”.

Ahead of the vote on the motion, Green leader Eleanor Combley made the case for an arena at Temple Island, rather than gambling on a private sector offer and “pretty picture of alternatives”.

She concluded: “In short, Arena Island is the only place where this city could have an arena, with the jobs and all the cultural, social and economic benefits it brings, within the next several years.”

Rees: ‘I would much prefer my legacy to be jobs, inclusive growth and homes for people who live here’

In a lengthy speech, the mayor had his say, setting out the questions he faces in making the decision that focus on the affordability of delivering it and whether or not it is the best use of the land.

“We get one shot to make sure this piece of land in the middle of the city works best for all the citizens of Bristol,” said Rees.

“We have criteria for a successful city: decent jobs, affordable homes, an inclusive economy, financial competence in the local authority and sustainable public services and sustainability.

“We need everyone to take a deep breath – the success of our city does not stand or fall on this single entertainment venue.

“I would much prefer my legacy to be jobs, inclusive growth and homes for people who live here.”

He also criticised arguments that focus on “foreign investment” in a negative light, saying that this does not paint a good picture of the city on the global stage.

When the final vote came, 50 of the councillors voted in support of the statement that the best site for Bristol’s arena is in the city centre, with eight abstentions.

But the decision being made at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting is on the use of Arena Island – and the recommendation is for the mayor to scrap the arena plans for the site.

Read more: Who’s who in the Bristol Arena story?