HERE WE GO.
*** Is this the first of two potential attempts to delay, derail and disrupt? Just like in previous Memorial Stadium planning applications the legal and regulatory route is explored. ***
*** (Appears on the planing portal at the very last moment. Straight after key announcements are made.)***
BUILDING CONTROL ENFORCEMENT COMPLAINT FORM.
Address of alleged breach
Memorial Stadium, Filton Avenue, Bristol BS7 0AQ
Description of what has happened in as much detail as possible:
Dear Sir,
With regard to planning application 23/03826/F, Replacement of the current South and South West Stands.
The planning portal shows that a Contaminated Land Desk Study has been carried out on behalf of Bristol Rovers Football club which appears very detailed, and the conclusions clear and to the point, but this Hydrock report does state that the findings of the report should be updated after they have receipt of the Atkins (2007) report.
I believe the Atkins report was completed after a serious of bore holes samples had been collected from various positions around the stadium, this work being carried out in preparation for the redevelopment of the whole stadium as approved in 2006 (06/03850/F).
You may be aware the stadium playing field ‘plateau’ was created in 1920/21 by removing soil and limestone from the North and Eastern sides of what was a slope at the time,to the Western and Southern slopes.
The recommendation in the Hydrock report is for further work to be undertaken following the ground investigation works carried out up to September 2013, including the Atkins report, as there is still a need to confirm the ground conditions onsite which will involve further discussions with ‘regulatory bodies and the warranty provider’.
Bearing in mind the 'made ground' is of loose material and that there are recorded aquifers in the areas of the ground I would suggest the survey/report should be completed urgently, and certainly before the stand is completed and brought into use.
Whilst other areas close to the stadium are shown in the Hydrock report, highlighting changes in geology and landscape and indicating ‘Worked Ground’ and ‘Made Ground’where necessary, and of course highlighting contaminated and industrial land, this information is not apparent for the stadium site itself, a detail which may influence construction details associated with the new stand build.
As far as I’m aware no large-scale building(s) has been constructed at the South side and South Western corner of the Stadium site where the made ground is at its deepest, and it is only during recent years that small scale ‘temporary stands’ have appeared.
To summarise, the work to investigate the ground conditions for the new stand at the Memorial stadium appears not completed according to the report, a situation which should, in my opinion, be rectified before the stand is occupied by any significant number of people.
Regards
How long has the breach been occurring?
Since May this year, though no Geological report appeared on the planning portal until the new planning application appeared in October.