‘Bristol’s centre of gravity is shifting towards South Glos’

The confirmation that Gloucestershire are planning to leave their historic ground in Ashley Down and move to a new purpose-built cricket stadium in South Glos is just the latest chapter in a noticeable shift in Bristol’s centre of gravity.

Bristol’s John Lewis and ice rink were both ahead of the trend. John Lewis once occupied the building on Haymarket which is now Primark before moving to Cribbs Causeway in 1998, while the city centre ice rink closed in 2012 with a new rink recently opening in Cribbs.

Clifton is now the site of the former Bristol Zoo, which has a new home, Bristol Zoo Project, in South Glos. Cabot Circus is now the former site of Showcase Cinema De Lux, with cinemagoers’ choices now reduced to multiplexes including Vue in Cribbs.

And of course there is Bristol Arena, or more accurately the lack of an arena, which according to its backers had a “shovel-ready” site next to Temple Meads before being scrapped by mayor Marvin Rees.

Instead of a city centre site, YTL – who lavished hospitality on Rees prior to his decision to pull the plug on an arena on Arena Island – promise they will build an all-singing all-dancing venue in the Brabazon hangars in Filton.

The latest estimated opening date for the proposed YTL Arena Bristol is late 2025 to early 2026, but expect this to be pushed back; if it even happens at all.

Gloucestershire’s statement says that “a prospective new stadia (sic) would have club-leading standards of environmental sustainability, and a greatly improved seated capacity, providing greater matchday experiences at cricket matches and, in turn, would provide much better facilities for members, supporters and visitors, with dedicated areas for their use, less reliance on temporary infrastructure and high quality sustainable transport options”.

These transport options are key to enable people still living in Bristol to travel to the growing number of attractions in South Glos.

The Wave is a wonderful attraction in Easter Compton – yes, in South Glos – that does not even have an option of travelling to it by bus on its website.

Bristol’s centre of gravity may be shifting towards South Glos but its travel options are not keeping up with this change.

Bristol is still a great city. Our city centre is rapidly developing but for it to retain its vibrancy and appeal to all ages, we can’t just have crazy golf-themed bars and bowling alleys open only to over-18s, and we must retain the prized cultural assets that we still have.

On the northern fringes of Bristol, the rate of development is striking. Every blade of grass in the southern-most areas of South Glos is seemingly being built on as new neighbourhoods rapidly take shape.

Gloucestershire moving to South Glos is the right decision for a cricket club who if they want to be ambitious, must have world-class facilities which the County Ground in its current state cannot offer.

But it is yet another kick in the teeth for Bristol.

This is an opinion piece by Martin Booth, the Editor of Bristol24/7

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read next:

• Gloucestershire confirm plans to leave County Ground
• Bristol councillors overwhelmingly in support of city centre arena
  
• South Glos council leader’s MP bid
• Campaigners accuse Bristol Zoo of misleading the public

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