Jamie Carstairs: He's at it again!

A pressure group is calling for the "true value" of the Memorial Stadium in Bristol to be appreciated and not just regarded as a piece of real estate.

The group called The Friends of the Memorial Ground (FOMG) says the site in Horfield is one of the most "poignant and effective war memorials in the country" and this should be taken into account when its future is decided.

They would like to see at least part of the site retained as a war memorial and for sports use in memory of those who lost their lives fighting for their country.

Jamie Carstairs, chair of FOMG, spoke of an example where retirement homes had been built on a cricket ground. The homes were built around the pitch so the game could continue to be played.

He was not suggesting that retirement homes should be built at the 'Mem' but showed how the ground's heritage and significance as a war memorial could be retained in a "21st century way".

Bristol Rovers, which owns the ground, has high hopes of going ahead with a new home at Stoke Gifford now that the club is under new ownership.

This means the 'Mem' will probably be sold or auctioned sometime in the future and the new owners would have to win planning permission for its future use.

The pressure group says the city council has added the ground to its Local List which means that its sports heritage and role as a war memorial should be taken into account when plans are put forward for redevelopment.

The ground has also been declared as an Asset of Community Value which further strengthens the case for preserving its heritage.

Mr Carstairs said: "Wael Al-Qadi, the very wealthy current owner of Bristol Rovers is also custodian of the Mem. He has said the Rovers stadium at UWE is definitely going to be built and that financing it is not a problem. This is excellent news for Rovers. Wael reiterated that the new stadium provision is not dependent on the sale proceeds from the Memorial Stadium. So the local community, with Wael and Rovers, could conceivably afford to seek a respectful future for the ground. Wael also said that the Mem would be sold/auctioned, after Rovers have moved to their new stadium at UWE – a move expected in about two or three years time. It remains to be seen if the Memorial Ground's owners (now – and in the future) appreciate its true value, a value far beyond the simple price of land."

Bristol's Remembrance Sunday event will be held at the Memorial Ground on November 13 in the centenary year of the Battle of the Somme when many sportsmen were killed. The venue was chosen because the Cenotaph is currently closed due to major roadworks on the Centre.

Mr Carstairs said: "It cannot be said enough - Bristol's Memorial Ground happens to be one of the most poignant and effective war memorials in the country."

He added he realises that it is up to the owners of the site to decide what should be done with it - the pressure group can only put forward its views.

The Post approached the club to respond but no one was available for comment.


http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/the-me...9714806-detail/story.html#Z8bfvE9rxoLzKKjp.99

 

'What is it Carstairs?" I dont know Spode"

Hey, do you know what ? Why doesn't Mr Carstairs just come out and say that he does not want any kind of change at all from what is there at present , just leave everything as the status quo because that is the way this guy comes across. The supermarket got the cold shoulder and now it seems that The Rovers have the resources to move off without the need of the grocer he is worried about what will come in its place. Suburbs change over the years, I think everyone accepts that and I think whatever development takes place on the site the memorial to the memory of those brave sportsman of yester year will be treated with the upmost respect and sympathy.

 

Can I suggest that it is turned into a cemetary with Mr Carstairs being the first person intered dead or alive. He and his sort have delayed the new ground Rovers need with their meddling, why don't they just mind their own business instead of sticking their noses into every one else's. The old board included in the plans a suitable memorial and with the Gates being kept but that wasn't enough. I wonder how he would feel if he applied for planning permission for an extension to his house and the Rovers put up a lot of useless arguments to stop the work proceeding

 

I bet he dont even turn up on 13th November!