Bristol Rovers receive largely positive response to planning application for new big screen

Bristol Rovers received almost 100 public comments responding to the application for planning permission to install a new large LED screen at the Memorial Stadium on the roof of the South West Stand next to their new South Stand, with the vast majority supporting the proposal.

Bristol Live reported last month that Rovers had applied for planning permission to Bristol City Council to install a new screen, having put the old one up for sale in May 2023 ahead of the South Stand redevelopment.

The 3,414 capacity stand has improved the match day experience for supporters from Mem and Gas are looking to improve this by installing an LED display which can be used as a scoreboard, show team line-ups, match highlights and for advertising purposes .

Although some opposed the proposal, a significant majority of public comments were in support of the number at the time of writing, with 73 comments in support, 14 objections, and four neutral verdicts, with one comment stating not the final verdict but the comments. clearly written in favor of the claim.

Government guidelines state that most planning applications should be decided within eight weeks, meaning a council verdict should be imminent with the application form submitted on April 22. However, there have been numerous examples in the past year of Bristol City Council going overboard. this period. Ultimately, however, initial public comments in response to the application have been mainly positive, with 80% of submissions so far supporting the proposal.

Many supporters have pointed out in their comments that such a screen is extremely common in modern stadiums and that most other Football League clubs have some sort of LED screen that is used as a scoreboard. Last season, Rovers sometimes had to use pitchside LED billboards to display the score line and time played, which would occasionally be obstructed for some fans in attendance by photographers.

One supporter wrote: “I support this as the facilities at Memorial Stadium need constant improvement. It appears to have minimal impact on neighbors and the improved facilities will bring more economic benefits to North Bristol,” with another saying: “What a great idea for the people of Bristol, I would fully support this project which will benefit people all over area!” A third even insisted that such a development was “essential in a modern land” and would “greatly improve the land”.

Many comments in support referred to the idea that installing a large screen would not affect nearby neighbors in BS7, with one saying, “it will not interfere with any of the neighbors around the land” and another noting that “it will have no impact on surrounding properties.”

Among the comments opposing the proposal, the most common concerns were how the screen would impact light pollution and how big the screen would be and how it would look from behind. with some suggestion that it would be an “eye injury”.

The documents do not say how big the screen would be, with the previous one measuring 8m x 4m, which was highlighted by many against the proposal with a comment saying: “This screen will add to the size of the new build. sit, blocking out more light and hurting your eyes.

“The plans don’t mention the size, they don’t mention what the back of the screen will look like for the residents. The newly built stands are already notable for being painted blue – which doesn’t even match the club’s branding. the colors. This screen cannot be approved until more information is provided to show what the screen will look like for residents.”

Another individual objecting to the application wrote: “Installing a new LED screen comes with several concerns that should be addressed. Firstly, light pollution is already a concern in Bristol. A new LED screen will only add to this, having an additional impact Nightlife The large structure that will hold the LED screen will be an eyesore, impacting the already pampered landscape of the area.

“The LED size and height will disturb flying wildlife. I am sure the club will plan to implement measures to prevent wildlife nesting on the structure – this will further add to the wildlife damage in the area.”

Regarding the neutral verdicts, one comment was repeated in two separate statements stating that in order to gain their support there would need to be a “written agreement regarding the intended use of the display – that it be used no more of 30 minutes before and after the match, and off (emitting no light or sound) outside these times.”

In addition, they want to see “the closure of previous retrospective planning permission commitments and conditions for the new stand: in particular, the planting of trees to replace those demolished during construction (not yet planted); complete removal of waste/rubbish from the strip of wooded area behind the south stand; implementing a transport strategy that encourages less car use on match days.”

A second neutral party listed concerns including “that the club is clearly renovating the whole stadium but no full plan has been seen or discussed in detail”, insisting that “a full plan should be put forward for planning and consultation for the whole project, not just piece by piece, in the hope that they can slowly increase the impact on the urban area without people noticing.”

The third also pointed to the lack of clarity about what the back structure will look like, essentially from the view of neighboring residents, but also added: “I’m pleased that the stadium is improving its facilities and wants to be a wonderful place to come. and watch football, but development must follow a fair process.”

In their letter to the council as part of the planning permission, Rovers’ planning agents said: “There is a lack of technological infrastructure in the stadium – a large format LED screen for the stadium will enhance the supporter experience, providing an effective way to increase of supporters. employment during matches.

“It can also be used to deliver key messages to supporters. The new screen will be located above the south-west stand on a support platform which will act as a roof for the stand and which will also provide a new TV camera position.

“As such, the new structure will be located between the West Stand, which includes a mix of seating and terraces with a row of hospitality boxes, and the newly constructed South Stand. The LED screen will increase the overall height of the southwest stand. , but the stand is located more than 35 meters from the nearest residential properties and the screen will be an inconspicuous element in the overall view of the stadium.”

The club’s hierarchy have publicly revealed their intentions to expand the Mem to a capacity of around 16,000 by renovating the East Stand and Thatcher’s End now that the South Stand has been completed. In an interview with local media at the end of last season, chairman Hussain AlSaeed said at the time he hoped plans for the next stage of the stadium’s redevelopment would be completed in around two weeks from then (April 20) but insisted that it will be some time before those plans are presented to the public.