Council approves Broadmead Expansion

bristol | miscellaneous | news report Friday December 20, 2002 00:25 by Bristolian news desk localnews4us at yahoo dot co dot uk

Tonight our New Labour Council gave the go ahead for outline planning permission for property developers Land securities for tghe Broadmead expansion.

Despite some truly excellent and well researched and passionate contributions from St.Pauls residents at tonight's planning meeting the council ignored them all in favour of Land Securities scheme which will bring pollution and traffic chaos to St.Pauls.A packed public gallery listened as opponents of the scheme won all the arguments and Land Securities suited executives could only squirm as the total inadequacy of their much vaunted 'consultation' was revealed for all to see. One Land Securities hot and bothered executive said' the scheme is intended to increase the hierarchy in Bristol' to widespread laughter. It was revealed that only 5% of the housing will be affordable and 95% apartments for yuppies - contrary to all guidelines which recommend 30% affordable housing. But for the Labour Party the deal with Land Securities is the only show in town and they forced it through with a one line whip. The complete contempt New Labour has for St.Pauls was revealed when leader and deputy leader - Diane Bunyan and Helen Holland - swanned into the chamber to vote at 6.45 - so not having heard any oif the almost two hours of speeches from residents against the scheme. Gutless Ashley councillor Helga Benson abstained from the vote in a vain attempt to save her seat in next Mays local elections. Her betrayal of the people of St, Pauls will doubtless get its just desserts when residents go to the polls on May 1st next year.In the meantime it may be down to widespread direct action to halt the scheme and the unholy alliance of New Labour and Big Business.BRING IT ON BRISTOLIANS!