From Bristol 24-7 www.bristol247.com
Supporters of Bristol Rovers’ plans to sell its Memorial Stadium for a supermarket development are to visit Downing Street to hand in a petition backing the project.
Prime Minister David Cameron will receive the 12,000-signature petition next Wednesday by fans, club chairman Nick Higgs and Bristol North West MP Charlotte Leslie. 
It calls on the TRASHorfield group to drop its legal proceedings against the plans – which the club say are essential if it is to afford a move to a new stadium at UWE’s Frenchay campus.
Ms Leslie has intensified her attack on TRASHorfield, which launched proceedings to have a judicial review into Bristol City Council’s approval of the development plans last year.
She hit out at the “vandalism” of a group that is “mainly acting on the ideology of a few people who hate the idea of supermarkets”.
And in a new twist, the Conservative MP has now said that the supermarket development would help improve the business case for the proposed Henbury Loop Line rail link in the north of the city.
She said: “This issue is crucial for the city of Bristol – we have already seen how Bristol City had similar problems with their stadium plans – and we must not be held to ransom by small interest groups which is why we want the Prime Minister to know all about the efforts by fans and local people to safeguard this great project.
“We have shown clearly that thousands of people understand the massive benefits this stadium project will bring, not just for Rovers but by extension for things like public transport and the community.
“We know that a new stadium for Rovers, for example, will enhance greatly the business case for a Henbury Loop Line as part of the Bristol MetroWest.
“This is the true voice of the people who are fed up with small interest groups holding back our great city.
“We now know that TRASHorfield does not represent all the traders, and is mainly acting on the ideology of a few people who hate the idea of supermarkets.
“We also know that if TRASHorfield really had traffic and the environment at heart, they would stop their vandalism of the stadium, a major factor that could win us the business case for a Henbury Loop line, with reopened stations at Ashley Hill and hopefully Horfield. Nearly 13,000 people can’t be wrong, and I hope and pray that we see justice at the judicial review.”
The judicial review is due to take place on March 13.
A survey conducted by TRASHorfield showed support from more than 6,000 people. The group says it has now raised more than £16,000 in support of their campaign. The group has complained about the campaign being waged against it by Ms Leslie, which it claims is motivated by a desire to “smear TRASHorfield in order to push a much wider political agenda”.
