Post by Finnish Gas on May 29, 2015 7:35:16 GMT
Bristol mayor: "Sainsbury's were never interested in building a new store at the Memorial Stadium"
By Ian Onions | Posted: May 29, 2015
Bristol Mayor George Ferguson has accused Sainsbury's of never having any intention of building a new store at Bristol Rovers' ground in Horfield - or for that matter at City's home at Ashton Gate.
In a hardhitting broadside against the company, he accused Sainsbury's of being "devious" and doing everything they could to renege on their contract with Bristol Rovers which is crucial to the club's hopes of going ahead with a new home at Stoke Gifford.
The football club has been embroiled in a lengthy and costly legal dispute with the supermarket chain over allegedly failing to honour its contract to buy the Memorial Stadium and thereby providing the funds for the new UWE Stadium.
A court case has now finished in the High Court in London and the judge's decision is expected to be announced within the next few weeks.
Mr Ferguson told the Post: "The decision is in the lap of the judge who needs time to consider it because it is a complicated case.
"It might appear to be black and white in the contract but Sainsbury's have been devious in the way in which they have dealt with it.
"It's quite clear to me that Sainsbury's never wanted to build at Ashton Gate or the Memorial Stadium - their main agenda was to stop any competition.
"I think Sainsbury's have been disingenuous and dishonourable; they have done everything they can to renege on a clear contract.
"There were months and months of delays and they did nothing to get the planning permission they say they needed to build the new store.
Therefore, from the judge's point of view, it is complicated.
"I imagine that at the end of the day, there will be some sort of compromise."
He said that despite Sainsbury's behaviour and the fact that the contract was broken, there was eventually likely to be a financial shortfall for the club, even after taking into account the alternative value of the site for residential use and whatever compensation the judge decided."
He said that as a council, they had to be very careful about who and how they lent money to.
Local authorities such as Bristol City Council are governed by legal restrictions which prevents them lending money to private companies.
Mr Ferguson added that they also had to take into account that they would have to borrow the money themselves in order to lend it which would be a cost to the taxpayer.
He said: "I think it is tremendous that both City and Rovers have won promotion and I think the rebuilding of City's stadium is an excellent scheme.
"Anyone who thinks that what City is doing at Ashton Gate is second best should really take a look at what is happening down there - it is tremendous.
"I shall do all I can within my powers to support both clubs as much as I can.
"I would also say that the proposed UWE Stadium for Rovers is an excellent scheme. It is elegant and a sensible and economic design."
City agreed to sell Ashton Gate to Sainsbury's as part of plans to build a new stadium at Ashton Vale but these hopes died after a lengthy legal wrangle over the land.
The club switched to rebuilding Ashton Gate and the work is now well under way with the third phase of the project starting next month when demolition begins on the Williams' Stand. Work on rebuilding the South Stand and refurbishing the Dolman Stand are now at advanced stages.
Both Rovers and City won promotion from their respective divisions this season. City will now play in the Championship while Rovers return to the Football League.
A spokesman for Sainsbury's said: "The case has now ended and we are looking forward to the judge's verdict in the coming weeks."
Read more: www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-mayor-Sainsbury-s-interested-building-new/story-26591227-detail/story.html