£10 million loss is just prediction

THE problem with any assessment of the impact of a new Sainsbury’s store at Ashton Gate is that it is just that.

No one can be certain, no one can really predict how people will react and no one can put a definite figure on the possible loss of trade to existing shops.

Consultants GVA have looked at the issue and made a prediction.

One that suggests the new Sainsbury’s store and the shops in Bedminster could no exist together.

But how credible is the claim that local shops there would lose up to £10 million a year?

After all each of these shops is already trading in a busy, competitive area. One in which there are other supermarkets of which the current Sainsbury’s is one.

The people who walk to the shops in North Street and East Street are pretty unlikely to walk to Ashton Gate.

The new Sainsbury’s will be bigger but will it really suck the life-blood out of Bedminster’s shopping streets?

The danger however is that city council planners use this as a reason for turning down the Sainsbury’s scheme and with it destroy any hopes of Bristol City receiving enough money from the sale of the site to build a new stadium at Ashton Vale.