New train station at Ashton Gate?

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporter

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: “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.”

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

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