The Memorial Stadium, the home of English League Two fourth-tier football club Bristol Rovers, could be granted protection under new measures proposed by a pressure group.
According to the Bristol Post newspaper, ‘The Friends of the Memorial Ground’ (FOMG) said the site is one of the most “poignant and effective war memorials in the country”.
The club, now under new ownership, is hoping to move to a new stadium in the Stoke Gifford area of the city, with plans in place to begin construction should it get the go-ahead from local authorities.
The FOMG said that if the project does go ahead and the stadium is sold, its new owners should appreciate its “true value” and retain it as a war memorial in a “21st century way”.
The city council is seemingly behind the proposal, having added the stadium to its ‘Local List’, which ensures that its heritage and role as a war memorial must be taken into account with future development plans. The Memorial Stadium has also been declared as an ‘Asset of Community Value’.
Jamie Carstairs, chair of the FOMG, said: “Wael Al-Qadi, the very wealthy current owner of Bristol Rovers is also custodian of the Mem (Memorial stadium). 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.”
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