Bristol City Council leaders have pledged their support for a new railway station at Ashton Gate. Campaigners and stadium bosses have long called for the old station to reopen to help sort the notorious traffic and transport problems on match days.
The need became even more pressing in October when the planning committee approved a new £100million sporting quarter, including a 3,626-seat basketball arena, hotel, flats and convention centre, along with a 510-home estate called Longmoor Village on greenbelt land in Ashton Vale. Previous council plans for 133 homes next to the Alderman Moore Allotments, granted permission in 2018, left space for a potential new train station, which has been pencilled in, but not definitely included, in future proposals for the reopened line to Portishead, which the Government finally signed off two months ago following months of delays.
Now the city council has reaffirmed its backing for the reopening of Ashton Gate station. Labour group leader Cllr Steve Pearce told a council meeting on Tuesday, January 10: “Like many I was pleased to see Ashton Gate sporting quarter get the green light – another new indoor arena and sorely needed homes on brownfield land that will turn that corner of BS3 into the main sporting destination in the South West, bringing with it jobs and investment.”
Read more: What next for Ashton Gate Sporting Quarter and Longmoor greenbelt housing plans
He asked: “While it will be some time off being built out, is a new Ashton Gate station a priority for the council and for Weca (West of England Combined Authority)?” Labour cabinet member for transport Cllr Don Alexander replied: “We are obviously ambitious that there should be a station down there.
“At the moment we have Portway park and ride station which we hope will be opening in the next few weeks. It’s built but just needs some technical sign-offs.
“We have the Ashley Down station for Rovers fans and others which we hope to begin building in March but there are some challenges during the construction period and also to finalise the finances with Weca. We’ve also got Henbury and North Filton, so we have quite a lot on but I would share your ambition.”
In a written reply to the meeting, called member forum, Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said: “Work on another new station, at Ashley Down is due to commence on site in March, subject to the approval of funding by the West of England joint committee at the end of January. Ashley Down forms part of the MetroWest phase two project which will also deliver new stations at North Filton, for the Brabazon development and arena, and Henbury.
“These new stations are scheduled to open in 2026. We continue to work through the combined authority on a future rail vision for the West of England and will look to develop options for potential new stations at St Anne’s, Lockleaze and Ashton Gate.”
The Ashton Gate station is included in Weca’s Joint Local Transport Plan and in its 10-year Rail Delivery Plan for 2020-30 as a potential prospect, although it is understood that no work is currently taking place on this.
Read next:
Plans approved for new basketball arena at Ashton Gate and 510 homes on green belt
Bristol train stations: The six locations being considered for new railway links
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