Great Western Coffee Shop

He criticised members of the council’s scrutiny committee for “erroneously debating a binary choice” between an arena at Temple Meads or Filton, saying if it were that simple, “everyone” would opt for the city centre location.

Within a few weeks George's plans for the arena were fully worked out. The details came mostly from three books which had belonged to RIBA–One Thousand ways to Get Around without a Motor-car, Every Man's Mass Concreting Techniques, and Public Address Systems for Beginners. George used as his study a shed which had once been used for incubators and had a smooth wooden floor, suitable for drawing on. He was closeted there for hours at a time. With his books held open by a stone, and with a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his fist, he would move rapidly to and fro, drawing in line after line and uttering little whimpers of excitement. Gradually the plans grew into a complicated mass of columns and ramps, covering more than half the floor, which the other politicians found completely unintelligible but very impressive. All of them came to look at George's drawings at least once a day. Even the Greens and Tories came, and were at pains not to tread on the chalk marks. Only Marvin held aloof. Though he had never stated as much, people suspected that he had been against the arena from the start. One day, however, he arrived unexpectedly to examine the plans. He walked heavily round the shed, looked closely at every detail of the plans and snuffed at them once or twice, then stood for a little while contemplating them out of the corner of his eye; then suddenly he lifted his leg, urinated over the plans, and walked out without uttering a word.

Why is this in "Across the West"?

Because that is where Chuffed put it.

I shall now don sackcloth & ashes, and return to my cave...........🙂

How about this put the new concert venue at Filton...

Amazing what Marvin can find to spend our money on. It's going to be a most accessible piece of wasteland...

There is a plan to have a coach drop-off point on Albert Road; this is presumably the footbridge which allows people to get from there to the Arena new council estate without getting their feet wet...

So it's official: South Gloucestershire Mayor Marvin Trump has canned the Bristol Arena. No surprise, but still bitterly disappointing. Hey ho; move on to the next disappointment...

He ain't SG mayor, I thought he was Bristols.

So who wants an arena at which events are planned 12 months in advance, and tickets sold 3 months in advance, and then trains replaced by buses 4 weeks in advance ?

Does anyone have any idea what is currently being built on Arena Island? Looks like a bridge, which will presumably be moved into position once complete, but to where? And what for?

Many customers of the Arena would come from the Greater Bristol area. I'd estimate that barely one tenth of them would be close to a suburban station to get to Temple Meads.

A large entertainment venue needs to cater to all inflows of punters. Train, bus, foot, private vehicle.

I'm told that it is a new Pedestrian access footbridge, so at least one new footbridge is being installed in the Bristol area !.

Bristol must be one of the fastest growing cities in the country.

Bristol must be one of the fastest growing cities in the country, and due to its size, and the population of neighbouring authorities there is a need for a local arena.

The problem with going to London, Birmingham, Cardiff and Exeter is that return public transport stops at 10pm none of them are located easily for Bristol traffic.

I hope that any plans for Filton include

• local rail access
• monorail for Mall@Criibs car parks
• central bus station for local and national buses to ensure people can get home

Cant agree with the monorail, non standard and too much to go wrong.
Substitute a standard railway or tramway, and I agree.

According to the ONS, the Greater Thornbury town region had the second fastest population growth in the UK in the period mid-2011 to mid-2016. Curiously, and anachronistically, they refer to this region as you do, as 'Bristol'.

Monorail. Like Alton Towers?

I hope that any plans for Filton include

• local rail access
• monorail for Mall@Criibs car parks
• central bus station for local and national buses to ensure people can get home

...it would be stupid to add thousands of more parking spaces just for an Arena.

I can see that 'Arena' and 'Sports Arena' both contain the word 'arena', but they are not the same thing.

Does anyone have any idea what is currently being built on Arena Island? Looks like a bridge, which will presumably be moved into position once complete, but to where? And what for?

This is very much primarily a sporting venue for the Bristol Flyers, a basketball team.
Concerts and other non-sporting events seem to be an afterthought.

Commuting into Temple Meads this morning I noticed this bridge has gone - any idea where it went?

...The flawed transport plan would have brought 3,500 cars each sell-out night into Temple Meads with nowhere to park. The arena was too small to qualify as world class. And the proximity of the Temple Island arena to the train station was a security liability.

Seems that Bristol's mayor is as paranoid as his HGTTG namesake.

It would appear that we can't have (well in Bristol at least) a large entertainment venue next to a large transport interchange because it's a security liability.

If you place it at 51.5567 north, 2.6329 west it would be conveniently close to Bristol and close to a much smaller public transport access point, where main line trains could stop more before and often big events.

https://www.citymetric.com/skylines/podcast-brizzle-4291

I haven't listened to this yet – I'm posting it here partly to remind myself to do so – but they might have something interesting to say.

Transport to the Filton site from Bristol will be by shuttle bus (£9.00 please) or by car. The car park will cost £16.50, so cheaper than the shuttle bus if you share. A few will be close enough to walk. None will arrive at the event by rail.

Just to prove that point, thee shuttle bus will be from Bond Street (where Megabus coaches pick up / drop off at) rather than Temple Meads, Parkway or Filton Abbey Wood.

There's always Ashton Gate for the big ticket gigs.

Sadly, for all Bristolians who appreciate live music, that means the Spice Girls (80% by volume) can head west in 2019.

Every silver lining has a cloud.

Music for old people... I guess that's what sells nowadays.

Music for people with disposable incomes.

Music for people with disposable incomes.

Music for old people... I guess that's what sells nowadays.

Hasn't that always been the demographic of audiences, the late teens / 20's will be at festivals and the little un's watching groups like Little Mix

Have Massive Attack gigs paved the way for an arena in Filton?
Malaysian investment firm YTL says it is pleased the gigs were "such a success"
When Massive Attack announced they would be playing two shows at a custom-built venue in Filton many people asked whether it would act as a test run for an arena.

First proposed 15 years ago, the road to an arena for Bristol has been long and arduous to say the least.

A row over where an arena would be built intensified in 2018, when plans for an arena at Temple Island were thrown out, leading the way for a privately-developed arena funded by Malaysian investment firm YTL in the Brabazon hangar on Filton Airfield

While YTL is yet to announce any official plans, it launched its own arena website and the team behind the project say they are hoping to be able to share proposals in the coming months.

Today (March 3), YTL Developments told Bristol Live how pleased it is the Massive Attack gigs were "such a success".

A spokesperson added: "It gives us confidence that, when the planned new rail and metrobus links are in place, a 16,000 capacity arena would certainly be able to handle the numbers."

However the thought of an arena at this location - on the border of Bristol and South Gloucestershire - has historically not sat well with critics, who say it should be in the city centre or nowhere.

Part of their reasoning is an arena on the outskirts of the city may not be economically beneficial to the city centre.

Some fear concert-goers would drive to a gig and stay only for a few hours before driving home, buying a Costa or McDonald’s on the way out of the city.

And this leads to the other main issue for critics of a Filton arena - how would people get to events on the edge of the city?

There are no obvious transport hubs. Only a few buses go past the hangars on Gloucester Road North. Patchway station is a little more than a mile away, but how easy is it to get a train there?

So when Massive Attack announced they would be playing on the airfield next to the Brabazon hangar, people were quick to predict long traffic delays and issues with the shuttle bus service organisers had arranged.

Some perhaps even thought those delays would be a sure fire signal there should not be an arena in Filton.

But reports of people getting stuck in traffic for hours on their way to and from the gigs never surfaced. Nor did tales of people stranded at bus stops because there were not enough shuttle buses to cater for the demand.

Instead gig-goers were quick to take praise the transport and parking organisation - although there were mixed reviews about the gig itself and issues surrounding card machines and long queues for the toilets and bar.

Now that’s not to say the transport organisation was seamless. There have been mixed reports about how long people had to queue to get out of the car park. Taxi drop-off and pick-up seemed to be the biggest source of complaints.

Not only had Uber drivers charging a premium but they also couldn’t find their way into the venue to collect their passengers.

But for the most part people seem to have been impressed by what they saw - no major traffic issues and a good shuttle service from the venue to the city centre.

So what does this mean for arena plans at the Brabazon hangar?
On one hand it was a semi-successful test run which proved transport solutions could be a problem easily solved.

That’s not to mention transport schemes already planned by Bristol and South Gloucestershire councils for the area, which will happen regardless of whether an arena is built at the site.

This includes a Temple Meads to Brabazon station rail link and a new metrobus route which will go directly through the new Brabazon neighbourhood.

YTL Developments, which owns the former airfield site, said it was pleased to see 14,000 fans "arrived and departed smoothly" for Massive Attack.

"It gives us confidence that when the planned new rail and metrobus links are in place a 16,000 capacity arena would certainly be able to handle the numbers," they added.

However this was a one-time event at a custom-built venue on the airfield. Being able to organise transport for one weekend does not mean every other event would take place without a glitch.

Not to mention that thousands of new homes are planned for just a stone’s throw away from the arena on the other side of the railway line.

How would this affect buses, taxis and cars bringing concert-goers to an arena? Maybe it won't? Who knows.

But it will be interesting to see is if YTL and Bristol City Council use this weekend as an example for why an arena should be built in Filton.

The Massive Attack concert was in a purpose-built temporary shed rather than a disused hangar. As for transport links, First did put on a special bus service but I don't think that's quite what YTL had in mind.

The last part of the article is the most telling. It is one thing holding a concert in an empty hangar on a disused airfield, but entirely another to have regular events so close to 5,000 homes miles from the city centre. YTL have said they will build the Arenal at no cost to the council, but expect somewhere between £50 million and £100 million to be spent by the councils on improved transport links. Bristol City Council will lose the income from the Arenal too, which if done properly (ie, not by Bristol City Council) would have been substantial.

There is a rumour circulating that YTL are faced with a bill running into hundreds of millions to decontaminate the site. I have no idea if that is accurate, but if it is too toxic for housing, how safe would it be for events. (For the record, I was not the only pilot to have "eased springs" behind the clubhouse before flying, but I don't think that would make much difference.)

With other events, such as the balloon fiesta and the Tokyo thing, the additional bus services have been put on at the cost of some of the regular buses.

The Tokyo thing is an annual music event in Eastville park. It was en route to that a few years ago that about three train loads of students got on one train at Clifton Down then complained that it was dangerous before getting out and walking along the tracks. There is a very regular shuttle from Temple Meads, which seemed to be served by the buses normally plying the route to my home.

Bristol’s proposed YTL Arena has named Grimshaw Architects and Manica Architecture as the design team appointed to deliver the project.

The planned 16,000-capacity venue, which Malaysian investment firm YTL envisioned at the Brabazon hanger site, would rival a city centre arena.

Although plans for the project are still at a very early stage, YTL is committed to building an arena in the city by autumn 2022.

Grimshaw’s managing partner Keith Brewis said, according to Bristol Live: “We want to create something that’s a unique experience. The space speaks to me in two ways – on the one hand there is the physicality and the scale of it.

“We have the opportunity to bring that space back to life, and give the general public many different modes to come and see this.”

Manica Architecture recently designed the Chase Center in San Francisco, the future home of the NBA basketball franchise the Golden State Warriors, as well as the 65,000-capacity Las Vegas NFL Stadium, the future home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Last September, Bristol City Council ditched plans to develop a new arena in the city centre after Mayor Marvin Rees backed a different proposal for a mixed-use development on the Temple Island site. The council had already invested some £12m (€13.3m/$15.3m) into clearing the Temple Island site for a major arena but Rees ultimately backed a different proposal for a mixed-use development.

Andrew Billingham, managing director of YTL Arena Operations, said the larger space outside the city centre would mean “you could attract some of the biggest shows to Bristol”

Ashton Gate’s 4,000-capacity sports and convention centre would be the permanent home of Bristol Flyers basketball team as well as being able to host a number of other indoor sports, as well as being a venue for live music and theatre.
...
As well as the arena that is carefully not being called an arena, the redeveloped Ashton Gate site will contain a four-star hotel, larger shop, museum and car park.

Improved transport links to south Bristol will also be a key component of the plans, with Griffiths clearly frustrated with the current metrobus system.

He said: “We have a bus stop called Ashton Gate but sadly it does not stop at the stadium. I’m working on that. If you have a metrobus stop called Ashton Gate, it should stop at Ashton Gate.”

I want to pay tribute to YTL Developments, the developer of the 400-acre airfield site. Its proposals will lead to the building of a new arena on the border between Bristol and South Gloucestershire, which will be funded without a penny of taxpayers’ money. YTL’s forecasts predict that the project will create 500 jobs, attract 1.4 million visitors per year and add around £1.5 billion to our local economy.

In reusing the existing Brabazon hangar, instead of building a brand-new arena from scratch, the proposals will save 18,600 tonnes of carbon emissions—the equivalent of 11,200 return flights to New York, so I am told. The innovative designs will mean that the Brabazon arena will be able to host touring bands, concerts and sport events in a single venue. Importantly, the arena will boast excellent transport links, including a brand-new railway station at North Filton, a regular MetroBus service and convenient walking and cycling routes. This project is a fantastic opportunity, and I urge Bristol City councillors to get on with granting the planning permission, because delays will only cause costs to increase. The Labour council’s plans to spend £150 million of taxpayers’ money on an arena at Temple Meads in the middle of Bristol were ill-fated, but there is now a great opportunity at the Brabazon hangar site to have a better facility with better transport links at zero cost to the taxpayer. I suggest that the councillors seize that opportunity with both hands.

New plans for Bristol Arena: in... Southville!!!!
And transport plans, or at least concerns:
https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/sport-news-and-features/ashton-gate-sports-convention-centre-set-to-be-game-changer/

But unluckily no mention of the possibility of reopening Ashton Gate station on the Portishead line...

Filton Arena would have 'significant adverse impact' on Bristol motorway network

Highways England object to 17,000-seat arena near M4, M5 and M32

The Government agency running Bristol’s motorways has objected to plans for an arena at Filton Airfield because it would have a ‘significant adverse impact’ on four motorway junctions nearby.

Highways England, the Government’s motorways agency, has formally objected to the application to turn the Brabazon Hangar into a 17,000-seater arena and told Bristol’s planners the application should be refused until and unless the issues can be sorted out.

What that would mean would be the subject of detailed negotiations between the applicants YTL, the planners and highways experts, but the objection appears to point to fears that a major arena in that location would cause traffic gridlock on the region’s motorways.

[...continues]

Meanwhile...
Source: Bristol Post (https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/arena-m4-m5-m32-filton-3847787)

Source: Jack Lopresti, MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, Hansard 13 Feb 2020 (https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-02-13/debates/D9EDEDFE-1305-4F7B-85E2-5DEC1BE1674C/FebruaryAdjournment)

YTL Arena Bristol approved by Bristol City Council

Plans to transform the Brabazon hangars at Filton into a world-class music venue have been approved by Bristol City Council.

After three-and-a-half hours the council’s planning committee approved the plans for an arena at Filton Airfield.

It will be the third largest arena in the UK after London O2 and Manchester's M.E.N arenas, hosting seats for 17,000.

The Malaysian investment firm behind the Filton Arena plans YTL, aims to open the doors to the public in early 2023.

The project's Managing Director, Andrew Billingham, has said the complex will create more than 500 new jobs and generate £1.5 billion locally over 25 years.

The plans also included a Temple Meads to Brabazon station rail link and a new metrobus route.

[...continues]

YTL Arena Plans Take Off

We are thrilled to announce that the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has made the decision not to call in the application for YTL Arena Complex, Bristol.

The Secretary of State was happy with the decision made by Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council, and saw no reason to further examine our application.

[...continues] (https://www.ytlarenabristol.co.uk/news/ytl-arena-plans-take-off)

Indeed:

Source: YTL

They must be rubbing their hands with glee, as well as sanitiser. At least it will get built, and I'll be able to drive there if I want to go.

Yep, and rather than a pigs ear of a municipal arena (or more likely an empty plot for another ten years), we'll get a load of fancy Zaha Hadid-designed flats next to Temple Meads, making the whole area much nicer.

Well, the signalling plan for the new station (HENBURY) was produced two years ago, so at least some preparation is underway...... :P

For comparison, does Portishead have a signalling plan?

Half hourly service from Severn Beach to Yate via Bristol Parkway and/or linked half hourly service on the Portishead line

Bristol Travel to Work CMSP.

New North facing chord Severn Beach to Henbury line.
Remodelling of Holesmouth Junction.
Enhancement Filton Diamond.
Westerleigh Junction enhancement.
New platform at Severn Beach.
Doubling of sections of the Portishead line with signalling enhancements.
Rolling stock provision.
Timetable change.
Passenger and platform capacity at Bristol Temple Meads

Marvin Rees appeared on screen just before headliner Carly Rae Jepsen took to the main stage on the Downs to reveal the city is bidding to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 at the site of the new YTL Arena in Filton.

Organisers have decided the event can’t be hosted in last year’s winning country, Ukraine, as per tradition, so have turned to the UK – which bucked its usual losing trend by coming in second.

Amusing that they actually believe they could get this built withing the timescales for 2023
The way it is all going it won't even get to the first piece being built before then

Fully expect the arena at Ashton Gate to be built before this does

The arenal is to host Eurovision! Possibly... Let's hope it's built on time!
https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/bristols-bid-host-eurovision-2023/

The shortlist of UK cities that could host next year's Eurovision Song Contest has been revealed, with seven locations in the running.

Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield will vie to stage the event in May.

Twenty cities expressed an interest, the BBC said, and those not making the shortlist include London and Belfast.

What a surprise, a venue not yet constructed didn't make the shortlist.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62496803

What a surprise, a venue not yet constructed didn't make the shortlist.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62496803

There are five MPs in Liverpool.

Garston and Halewood Constituency - Maria Eagle MP, Labour Party - Unit House, Speke Boulevard, Liverpool, L24 9HZ. Tel: 0151 448 1167.
Riverside Constituency - Kim Johnson, Labour Party. Tel: 0151 709 4120 - kim.johnson.mp@parliament.uk
Walton Constituency - Dan Carden, Labour Party - 66 Priory Road, Anfield, Liverpool, L4 2RZ. Tel: 0151 284 1160 - dan.carden.mp@parliament.uk
Wavertree Constituency - Paula Barker, Labour Party. Tel: 0151 724 5767 - paula.barker.mp@parliament.uk
West Derby Constituency - Ian Byrne, Labour Party. Tel: 0151 222 2345 - ian.byrne.mp@parliament.uk

I haven't checked the other places but the idea that Liverpool would have a marginal Conservative MP was surprising to me. In fact:
https://liverpool.gov.uk/council/councillors-and-committees/mps/

Good point. There are 7 Glasgow MPs, all SNP. Sheffield remains red wall, having had all 5 MPs Labour since Nick Clegg's defenestration. It's 8 labour and one token Tory for Birmingham, 100% Labour for Newcastle and Leeds. Add to the fact that the government has absolutely no role in this particular beauty contest, and it looks as though support from  marginal Conservative MP is about the same as the number of trains running to Portishead tomorrow.

A recent freedom of information request has now revealed that the council spent £50 on making a video for the bid and £20.42 on travel expenses.

It's important not to take Eurovision Song Contest too seriously. And BCC certainly didn't take it too seriously.  :D
https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/council-spent-70-42-on-failed-bid-to-bring-eurovision-to-bristol/