‘The majority of Knowle residents are desperate to get a rebirth of their shopping centre’

I noticed a reference to Broadwalk Shopping Centre just a couple of days ago.

Full council recently debated and agreed the long term local plan. All parties voted for it, apart from the Lib Dems, who had a local issue in Brislington that made them vote against or abstain.

So there is general agreement that we concentrate on brownfield sites, particularly town centres, that we protect green space and that we put development where it has access to facilities to reduce travel where possible.

For our own ward of Knowle – whereas some wards have long lists of housing development sites – we have one small housing site, which will probably be popular with residents and Broadwalk Shopping Centre.

In Broadwalk, we have a pretty ugly building that went bust six years ago under previous owners. It is a financial and environmental disaster. The shopping centre has been in free fall since and, to some extent, before and there is an inevitable domino affect with business closures triggering more.

Redcatch Development Partnership want to build up to 850 flats and a new shopping street in place of Broadwalk Shopping Centre – image: Redcatch Quarter

Some 90 per cent of surrounding businesses and institutions are very keen for the regeneration to proceed and the majority of residents are very keen to get a rebirth rather than a boarded-up shopping centre.

It is not unusual for immediate neighbours to resist a large new development but the level of misinformation put about has been concerning. For example, local primary schools are not over full.

Many people have read some literature or some media coverage that completely ignores everything apart from flat numbers. The type and occupation is ignored. I have seen genuine, pleased surprise from some residents when they see what has actually been passed at planning.

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Read more: Campaigners demand review into Broadwalk Shopping Centre decision 

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What is even more concerning is the response of some of the political parties. Having voted for the principles of our local plan, we have Green and Lib Dem councillors voting against a regeneration scheme that epitomises exactly what we need.

Labour councillors initially were following their party members against and, after dithering, voted for. The confusion gave the protesters an excuse to call foul but the plan was passed and endorsed by central government. We have the spectacle of some councillors effectively voting to board up our shopping centre because a minority of locals shouted that they did not want it.

A £200m plan with extra facilities and the highest environmental standards is what is needed. There is no reserve plan but we can do tweaks as we go through detailed planning.

Those residents proposing to legally challenge the council planning process, which they are entitled to do, might find it instructive to speak to the majority of Knowle residents who are desperate to get a rebirth of their shopping centre.

Gary Hopkins is a Knowle Community Party councillor for Knowle

Main photo: Charlie Watts

Read next:

• Developers ‘delighted’ at government’s refusal to review shopping centre plans 
• Bristol planning chair urges government to not delay shopping centre redevelopment 
• Fury after plans to knock down shopping centre approved in shock u-turn

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