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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Bristol Rovers supermarket plans: Impact 'not considered' | Bristol Rovers supermarket plans: Impact 'not considered' |
| (1 day later) | |
| A report into the impact of a new supermarket in Bristol was not properly considered by council planners, a judicial review has heard. | A report into the impact of a new supermarket in Bristol was not properly considered by council planners, a judicial review has heard. |
| Bristol Rovers Football Club wants to sell its Memorial Stadium to Sainsbury's to fund a £40m new ground. | Bristol Rovers Football Club wants to sell its Memorial Stadium to Sainsbury's to fund a £40m new ground. |
| But campaigners have argued in court the council misrepresented a report that outlined a £7.7m impact on nearby shops by 2017. | But campaigners have argued in court the council misrepresented a report that outlined a £7.7m impact on nearby shops by 2017. |
| Bristol City Council said figures were "clear to see". | Bristol City Council said figures were "clear to see". |
| 'Bleak effect' | 'Bleak effect' |
| The hearing, held in front of a High Court judge, concerned whether the council had followed correct process in granting the supermarket planning permission. | The hearing, held in front of a High Court judge, concerned whether the council had followed correct process in granting the supermarket planning permission. |
| The council is obligated to take into account the impact on the "vitality and viability" of the town centre and Bristol City Council commissioned independent company GVA to carry out a retail assessment. | The council is obligated to take into account the impact on the "vitality and viability" of the town centre and Bristol City Council commissioned independent company GVA to carry out a retail assessment. |
| Campaigners TRASHorfield claim the report revealed a "bleak effect" on Gloucester Road town centre of which councillors were not given the full picture. | |
| The report stated: "In our view existing stores across the whole of the Gloucester Road Town Centre could lose a combined total of £7.7m of retail expenditure which would reduce the turnover of the centre by 12%. | The report stated: "In our view existing stores across the whole of the Gloucester Road Town Centre could lose a combined total of £7.7m of retail expenditure which would reduce the turnover of the centre by 12%. |
| "The majority of this impact will fall on the convenience goods sector which would lose up to 19% of its 2017 turnover levels." | "The majority of this impact will fall on the convenience goods sector which would lose up to 19% of its 2017 turnover levels." |
| But Daniel Kolinsky, representing TRASHorfield, said the key concerns and caveats within the GVA report were not reflected. | But Daniel Kolinsky, representing TRASHorfield, said the key concerns and caveats within the GVA report were not reflected. |
| "The officer [for Bristol City Council] says that the health of Gloucester Road town centre is good and will continue to be good," he said. | "The officer [for Bristol City Council] says that the health of Gloucester Road town centre is good and will continue to be good," he said. |
| "Where do GVA say that? The answer I say, is nowhere." | "Where do GVA say that? The answer I say, is nowhere." |
| He also described a loss of footfall and "linked trips" on Gloucester Road if the supermarket was built. | He also described a loss of footfall and "linked trips" on Gloucester Road if the supermarket was built. |
| 'Crystal clear' | 'Crystal clear' |
| However, James Findlay, representing Bristol City Council, said the £7.7m figure was clearly referenced and had "anyone wanted to look at it, they could have obtained" these details. | However, James Findlay, representing Bristol City Council, said the £7.7m figure was clearly referenced and had "anyone wanted to look at it, they could have obtained" these details. |
| He went on to say the GVA report author had attended a planning committee meeting and "if any councillor was burning to ask the officer a question, he could have done so." | He went on to say the GVA report author had attended a planning committee meeting and "if any councillor was burning to ask the officer a question, he could have done so." |
| Mr Findlay added: "GVAs concerns for Gloucester road - lower growth, possible store closures and decreased footfall - are all properly and clearly drawn to the reader's attention". | Mr Findlay added: "GVAs concerns for Gloucester road - lower growth, possible store closures and decreased footfall - are all properly and clearly drawn to the reader's attention". |
| A loss of market share "comes across crystal clear," he said. | A loss of market share "comes across crystal clear," he said. |
| Saira Kabir Sheikh, representing Bristol Rovers, said the planning officer, armed with "every report, letter and email" written on the subject, had rightly decided what should go into the report. | Saira Kabir Sheikh, representing Bristol Rovers, said the planning officer, armed with "every report, letter and email" written on the subject, had rightly decided what should go into the report. |
| "He concluded that on balance it [Sainsbury's] would not result in significant harm," she said. | "He concluded that on balance it [Sainsbury's] would not result in significant harm," she said. |
| She also highlighted that the planning officer had weighed-up the "wider benefits" her clients believed the Sainsbury's and a new football stadium would bring to the area - including jobs, affordable housing and sporting facilities. | She also highlighted that the planning officer had weighed-up the "wider benefits" her clients believed the Sainsbury's and a new football stadium would bring to the area - including jobs, affordable housing and sporting facilities. |
| Justice Hickinbottom told the court he would announce his decision next Thursday. | Justice Hickinbottom told the court he would announce his decision next Thursday. |