City Coun. Justin Swandel answers questions from residents at an open house about the proposed Blue Bombers stadium. (CBC)

Angry Fort Richmond residents swarmed their city councillor for hours Thursday night and grilled him about plans for the new Winnipeg Blue Bombers stadium.

Many people demanded Coun. Justin Swandel put a stop to the plan, which has raised concerns about traffic congestion and noise pollution.

The stadium is being built on an eight-hectare site at the University of Manitoba campus by Winnipeg businessman David Asper's development company, Creswin Properties Ltd.

Residents in the area have said they are being left in the dark about the project, and are constantly being given vague answers and told plans are in flux. There have also been complaints about Swandel's lack of attendance at past open houses.

So when residents got him on Thursday, they cornered him and let loose.

"Why would you shoe horn it into an area that doesn't want it?" someone hollered.

"If they're going to go through with this travesty, they're going to have to make sure it's done right," charged another.

"Once its built, you've got 30,000 people coming and there's nothing you can do about it. It's finished," a woman roared. "We don't want the stadium."

Swandel tried to get a word in but was often cut off.

"Actually, I think it's a good deal for the city of Winnipeg and . . .," he said.

"Oh, is it a good deal for us? Why is this being put in a residential area? I want an answer to that," demanded a resident.

"OK, well the answer is it's being put at the University of Manitoba," Swandel said.

In the end, many residents said they were just as frustrated and uninformed as they were going into the meeting.

Despite the attack, Swandel said he thinks his council seat is secure in the upcoming Oct. 27 election.

Design changes concerning

Last week, at an open house, Crewsin officials said parking for 5,000 vehicles would be available.

However, the stadium will have 33,000 fixed seats but will be able to accommodate 40,000 for major events like the Grey Cup.

The design for the facility has also not been finalized, which worries some people.

There have been rumblings that a noise-reducing canopy and other features that were included in preliminary drawings might be removed to cut back on construction costs.