By Harry Mottram: Anyone listening in the Guildhall or online to the deliberations by the planning committee chaired by Cllr Tim Ball and others on the planning application by Bath Rugby to build a stadium on the Rec might have thought this was a mundane meeting. The opposite was true as despite the muted tones and polite differences, passions have run deep. On one side Bath Rugby keen to build a stadium fit for the 21st century and professional rugby union and on the other the Friends of the Recreation Ground and Green Group councillors who see the issue as being one of a public park that was given to the city being built on by a private company. And the verdict from the committee was to vote 8-1 in favour council’s planning committee voted 8-1 to the plans this afternoon – although planning permission has not yet been granted yet as the Government’s secretary for local government will have the final say as it needs ‘special authorisation.’
Cllr John Leach (Walcot, Liberal Democrat) was the only dissenting voice on the committee who felt the down sides of noise, disruption and loss of green space outweighed the benefits. But Cllr Toby Simon, Bathwick said it would be “good for Bath” and perhaps rather imaginatively Cllr Eleanor Jackson (Westfield, Labour) suggesting the Georgians would be excited by the plans – although no Georgians were available for comment.
Apart from the councillors on the committee there were speakers for and against. Bath Rugby CEO Tarquin McDonald said the new stadium would mean they could have a professional women’s team and even host future Women’s Rugby World Cup matches. Mark Reynolds for the local residents said they were not against the principle of the new stadium but not to the detriment of those who live nearby.
Councillors who are not on the committee also voiced their views. Cllr Manda Rigby of Bathwick though it was an “inappropriate development” and wanted conditions applied to limit noise and transport chaos. And possibly the most persistant critic of the plans Joanna Wright, B&NES Councillor said afterwards: “With this decision the council has given financial preference to a foreign owned business over the environmental, commercial and heritage interests Bath as a whole. Their job is to stand up for Bath and its residents over generations and not let it be exploited by an offshore business.”
Perhaps Cllr Ian Halsall (Oldfield Park, Liberal Democrat) summed up the mood of the majority on the committee when he said: “Bath is rugby, as it is the Roman Baths, as it is the Royal Crescent. It has been there years as a use and I just think we should cement that use for good.”
Not a view held by film director Ken Loach (and local resident) who told Bath Voice: “The promises to preserve the recreation ground from development have been broken repeatedly by the council. The stadium demanded by Bath Rugby, owned by Bahamas resident millionaire Bruce Craig, will have an enormous impact on the local ecology and environment as well as the unique heritage setting of the city. It sets a very dangerous precedent for community green spaces being grabbed and developed for the benefit of the ultra-wealthy.”
Responding to the decision of the planning committee Tarquin McDonald, Bath Rugby Chief Executive, said: “This decision is a landmark moment for Bath Rugby and the city. It enables us to move forward with delivering a stadium that will transform the matchday experience for fans, provide world-class facilities for women’s rugby and schools, and create a venue with year-round community use. Importantly, the design regenerates the riverside, protects views of our beautiful city, and incorporates significant sustainability measures.
“We would like to thank the Council, statutory consultees, stakeholders, and the thousands of supporters and residents who engaged with us throughout this process. We have been humbled by the overwhelming weight of support for redevelopment. This has been a true team effort, and we are proud to turn the page on this next chapter in Bath Rugby’s long history at The Rec.”
As has been the case all along, the issue has been very divisive in the city – and the views of both sides have filled the email inbox at Bath Voice for some time. Will the Secretary of State for Local Government Steve Reed OBE endorse the vote of 8-1 by the planning committee or will he make changes? The received wisdom is he will – but when that decision is made – we’ll just have to wait.
The main image shows the moment councillors voted in favour of the plans.
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
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