From Bristol24-7 – www.bristol247.com
Land next to Bristol's Temple Meads railway station could be transformed into an upmarket shopping centre similar to Birmingham's Bullring.
Known as Plot 6 and now used as a car park, the area could include luxury shops and restaurants as well as a multi-storey car park, Bristol24-7 has learned.
The plan is understand to have the support of key figures at Bristol City Council, particularly as it could breathe much-needed new life into the nearby Old Market area of the city. However, some councillors fear a largescale retail development could hit the city's retail heart of Cabot Circus and Broadmead, which are less than a mile away.
“I can see this essentially killing off large parts of the city and dragging us down into the realms of yet another depressed clone town,” a source told Bristol24-7.
The plan would also sound the death knell for the long-hoped for integrated transport hub (ITH) at Temple Meads, which is a key part of a wider green transport plan for the city. It plans to join up rail, bus and water taxi services – improving public transport links between Temple Meads and the rest of the city and so encouraging commuters and visitors out of their cars.
However, it is understand that the new rapid transport bus routes being promoted by the city council will not include a stop at Temple Meads station. Passengers will be forced to walk to and from a stop outside the KPMG building in Redcliffe Way – taking them across one of the city's busiest roundabouts.
