Plan for 12,000-capacity arena on car boot site

A petition has been set-up to transform the Gloucester Carboot and Market site into a 365-day entertainment facility.

A petition has been launched to transform the Gloucester Carboot and Market site into a 12,500-capacity arena for standing concerts and events.

Car boot sale organiser Reginald Daldry came up with the plan, which would see the new venue at Hempsted Meadow open 365 days a year.

More than 800 people have registered their support online for the facility, which is just off the A430.

The site is currently used for car boot sales and market which take place every Wednesday and Sunday, but are often affected by bad weather.

The three-acre site is prone to flooding and can only be used during good weather.

Mr Daldry said they often have to cancel the markets for that reason.

He says his proposal include a fully covered arena with a solar panel roof and 1,200 parking spaces, and would bring economic growth to Gloucester.

He said: "We could do sports events, wedding and craft fairs so it saves people having to travel to Bristol or Birmingham.

"The people of the city want it."

Reginald Daldry has a bold vision for the car boot site at Hempsted Meadow

Gloucester City Council told the BBC: "We have not received a formal planning application of this nature for this site.

"If one is received, we will review it as we would with all planning applications.

"We are about to undertake a process to put the site on the open market to agree a new lease, and will ensure this is done in a transparent and robust manner.”