By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: Bath and North East Somerset Council used AI to read the more than 5,500 comments it received from the public about plans to build a stadium in the centre of Bath.
Bath Rugby wants to build an 18,000 seat permanent stadium built at their pitch on the Recreation Ground, near Pulteney Bridge. The council is due to consider the major planning application on Wednesday (September 17) — although it has been told by the government not to approve it without “special authorisation.”
5,590 comments were received from the public about the plans, ranging from a few words long to paragraphs and paragraphs.
But many of those comments will never be read by anyone — or at least not by a human. Instead of planning officers at the council reading and summarising people’s views, the council used an AI tool.
The planning officer’s 121 page report into the planning application — which will go before the planning committee next week — said: “Given the very large number of representations submitted via the council’s on-line comments form, these have been reviewed and summarised by Microsoft Copilot.
“This is an artificial intelligence tool that was instructed to identify reasons for objection/support. The programme reviewed all comments received since the application was submitted. The topics below are derived from those generated by Copilot and subsequently refined by the case officer based on a review of a sample of comments. Representations sent directly to the case officer (i.e. not via the on-line comments form) have been read individually and also summarised by Microsoft Copilot.”
The report then listed the reasons for objections, which was edited by the planning case officer from the AI generated text. It is not the number of comments for or against a planning application which has weight before the planning committee, but the valid planning considerations that those comments raise.
But the sheer volume of comments speaks volumes. Of the 5,590 comments, 5,086 were in support of the stadium being built. 368 objections to the project were lodged and 136 people left uncategorised comments. The full text of all comments left remains publicly available on the council’s planning portal.
Among the people who left comments on the council’s planning portal was supporter Paul Cuckoo. He called the plans: “a vital development to support the future of Bath Rugby in Bath city centre.” He said: “The alternative is a stadium outside the city, which will decimate the revenue generated in the city centre on match days.”
Greg Rhymes commented: “It’s criminal that a world renowned sports club such as Bath that brings joy to thousands of locals has had to fight so long to get a stadium fit for purpose. It will not only enhance the match day experience it could offer a multi purpose venue for so many in both sport and business. It’s an absolute no brainer.”
Meanwhile objector David Bates commented: “This is a Unesco World Heritage City […] I believe. Why should a commercial company be allowed build a permanent stadium in the centre of this city, therefore ruining the beauty of the buildings and destroy a wonderful green park space? For visitors it will not add but subtract from the beauty of the city.”
About 30 Bathonians opposed to the scheme —including “Kes” and “I, Daniel Blake” director Ken Loach — held a protest against the plans on Johnston Street on Friday September 5. Mr Loach said: “Bath Recreation Ground was a gift to the people of Bath in 1956 and it should be an open green space forever, and that it was for the leisure for all the people of Bath and visitors for all the sports equally.
“And now we find that one wealthy club owned by one very wealthy man has a lease and is now looking to build a permanent large stadium here. […] A mini Wembeley Stadium in the middle of these Georgian Houses is a travesty.”
A spokesperson for Bath Rugby said: “The Stadium for Bath project will deliver a new, world-class 18,000 capacity venue with increased capacity to host events and regeneration of the riverside, generating a wide range of positive, long-term economic and social benefits for the city and local communities.”
He added: “The proposals will act as a catalyst for creating a destination for visitors and residents which revitalises the riverside and encourages sporting participation within the wider Recreation Ground and across the city, and which co-habits respectfully with near neighbours, the city and its architecture.”
The council’s planning committee will meet at 10am in the council chamber in Bath Guildhall on September 17 to consider whether to give its backing to the plan. Council planning officer’s 121 page-long report into the plans concluded that the proposals are in overall accordance with the council’s development plans but stopped short of recommending planning permission be approved, in light the government letter saying the council needed “specific authorisation.”
The intervention is to allow the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government to consider whether the plans should be referred to them to decide instead. The committee remains free to turn the planning application down.
Bath Voice and Local Democracy Reporters
The journalists are funded by the BBC as part of its latest Charter commitment, but are employed by regional news organisations. A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including Bath Voice. These organisations range from television and radio stations to online media companies and established regional newspaper groups. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities, second-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
Bath Voice Monthly Newspaper is distributed free to thousands of homes and some supermarkets – distributed from the first of the month. Harry Mottram is the News Editor
Email him at news@bathvoice.co.uk Bath website: https://bathvoice.co.uk/news/
Bath Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/bdtf2kep Also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bath_voice And Bluesky @bathvoicenews.bsky.social And also on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/harrymottram6/
Read the newspaper online at :https://issuu.com/bathvoice
To advertise to thousands of Bathonians call Shaun on 07540 383870 or email him on sales@bathvoice.co.uk