News story

6th November 2003

Big Local Opposition to Severnvale Stadium Plan

A survey of the views of local residents led by Northavon MP Steve Webb has revealed high levels of local opposition to proposals for a 30,000 seater stadium and 1,600 houses to be built on marsh land between Easter Compton, Pilning and Severn Beach. The MP joined members of the Almondsbury Lib Dem Focus Team and other local residents calling at homes in Easter Compton and Pilning recently and has now had responses from over 200 local people.

More than 85% of those replying said that they were opposed in principle to the proposed development. Easter Compton resident Sally Garbett, who helped to co-ordinate the survey, said: “A stadium and large housing development would swamp our village communities. Our villages have already changed unacceptably in recent years and the traffic and pollution that a stadium would bring would destroy their identities. We would simply be swamped”.

Many residents said that they were worried that on match days people would park in Easter Compton and walk to the stadium, creating parking and traffic problems, as well as the potential for hooliganism and disorder.

Northavon MP Steve Webb said that he had been struck by the strength of feeling expressed by local residents. “The people of Easter Compton already feel under siege from traffic, being in close proximity to Junction 17 and the Mall, and are expecting things to get worse when the new Zoo is opened. They simply do not believe the assurances of the developers that substantial additional traffic can be kept out of Easter Compton if development on this scale goes ahead.”

The results of the survey, to which replies are still being received, are now being analysed. Almondsbury resident Stephen Mackie, a member of the Lib Dem Focus Team who helped to organise the survey, said that a report would now be prepared and sent to South Gloucestershire Council in good time to influence the Council’s thinking. He added: “Our consultation shows very clearly the level of opposition to these proposals among local people. If the developer’s “consultation” does not reflect this opposition, this will give cause for doubt as to how effective they have been in gauging local opinion.”

If you live in Northavon and want to contribute to the debate, click here to email me your views.