The local councillors in Knowle have sparked fury among residents after they warned that the main Broadwalk Shopping Centre would almost certainly close if plans to demolish it for a new ‘Redcatch Quarter’ development with more than 800 flats is refused.
The Knowle Community Party councillors Gary Hopkins and Chris Davies circulated a letter to people who have been involved in campaigning against the developers’ plans, warning them the ‘real cost of opposition is damage to our community and loss of local shopping facilities for all’.
Those opposing the plans, which look set to be decided by councillors on February 1, said the councillors were being ‘patronising’ and accused them of ‘fighting everyone into submission’ over the controversial plans.
Read next: Fight against 'Redcatch Quarter' replacing Broadwalk Shopping Centre steps up
The future of the 50-year-old shopping centre has been in doubt for years, with structural problems with the multi-storey car park along with some big names stores gradually pulling out of the centre.
Before the pandemic, developers won planning permission to renovate the centre, and build around 440 new flats in the surrounding buildings, including the car park. But new owners came in and said with the state of the economy and Covid, the original plans were no longer viable, so they came up with a new plan.
That is for more the entire site to be levelled, including the Broadwalk shopping centre itself, and for more than 800 new flats and a new pedestrianised ‘high street’ with a new shopping and leisure area called ‘Redcatch Quarter’.
The plans have been controversial, with residents backing the idea that something should be done with the site, but saying that the plans for 12-storey tower blocks overlooking Redcatch Park were too much, and the area, its schools, doctors and other services, would struggle to cope with the influx of so many new residents.
Knowle’s local councillors, Gary Hopkins and Chris Davies were Liberal Democrats, but left the party after the May 2021 local council elections and formed their own party, the Knowle Community Party, that December.
They have backed the development, saying it is a welcome investment in Knowle. With decision day at City Hall looming, the pair have written to many of those who have spoken out in opposition to the plans.
In the letter delivered to homes in the area, the two councillors said: “On February 1, apart from a delay, there are two possible outcomes. We fully understand that some people would prefer a redevelopment that looks different and is smaller. And it is easy to sign a petition calling for that, but it is highly irresponsible for those organising the opposition to pretend that such an alternative is possible to deliver.
“When we opposed the mayor closing Jubilee (swimming pool in Knowle), we had the positive alternative to offer - what do these protesters have? The sums for a smaller scheme do not add up and they know it.
“Council officers know that halving the height of the buildings would cancel the plans completely and have confirmed that with the low level of affordable homes ‘tax’. The real choice is set out below and we believe that even the ten per cent opposition figure found by the Friends of Redcatch Park survey would reduce if they knew the real cost of opposition is damage to our community and loss of local shopping facilities for all,” they added.
The councillors outlined what they claim would happen if the outline plans are approved on February 1 - with demolition of the existing buildings including the shopping centre itself starting in around two years time, and between two and three years after that, new businesses and residents moving in to the new Redcatch Quarter.
And the councillors also claimed what would happen if the plans were refused on February 1 is: “Likely further exodus of inside shops, centre going back into administration, gradual closure of (the) centre, or possibly speeded up by car park becoming dangerous and requiring demolition, and a possible future housing application,” they added.
The letter and its comments about those opposing the plans have not gone down well with the residents who have been campaigning about the Redcatch Quarter. Helen Evans-Morris, from the Broadwalk Redevelopment Community Group, said: “It's really disappointing to see our councillors continue their campaign against anyone who dares have a negative opinion about the proposed development.
“The idea that Knowle has to make such a binary decision of either yes or no is ridiculous,” she added. “What's the point of the planning process if you're not allowed to have your own nuanced opinion? People are entitled to draw their own conclusions and the idea that we are all being brainwashed in some way is completely patronising.
“I was under the impression Gary and Chris had been elected to represent the opinions of their ward, not actively fight everyone into submission,” she added.
Read more: Bristol has a new political party after two councillors quit theirs to start one up
Zac Barker and Anna Fry are from the Knowle Lib Dems - the party Cllrs Hopkins and Davies left in December 2021.
“We were deeply concerned to learn of the content of the letter sent out to residents of Knowle by local Councillors Chris Davies and Gary Hopkins,” they said. “The letter was a missed opportunity for them to address concerns about the Redcatch Quarter Development that have been expressed by many residents.
“Instead, the local Councillors chose to take a tone with their residents which was patronising, misleading and worryingly adversarial. We advise them to consider that this approach is as unconstructive as it is unethical. We also call for Councillors Chris Davies and Gary Hopkins to publicly apologise to residents for upset they may have caused through this letter,” they added.
Read next - ‘Redcatch Quarter’, the story so far:
July 2018 - First plans unveiled for 400 new homes and revamped Broadwalk shopping centre
March 2019 - Councillors give permission to 400 new homes plan
Sep 2019 - Wilko confirms it’s leaving Broadwalk
Dec 2019 - Knowle could become Bristol's next 'hotbed of regeneration' say property experts
July 2021 - What people want for future of 'run-down' Bristol shopping centre
Jan 2022 - Broadwalk to be renamed ‘Redcatch Quarter’, announce developers
Jan 2022 - New plans to demolish Broadwalk entirely and build 800 flats unveiled
May 2022 - South Bristol MP warns of shortage of schools and GPs with 12,000 new homes
June 2022 - Developers tweak plans for ‘Redcatch Quarter’ after consultation
July 2022 - The battle for the soul of Knowle is just getting started
Sep 2022 - Only a small fraction of 850 new homes in South Bristol will be 'affordable'
Sep 2022 - 'Fearful' traders join fight against new 'Redcatch Quarter'
Jan 2023 - Broadwalk or Redcatch Quarter - huge plans divide the Knowle community
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