[View from North Parade]
No big surprise l think, B&NES planning committee have just voted in favour of planning proposals for a permanent and redesigned stadium on the Rec.
Though their recommendation will now be forwarded to the Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government, who may decide to ‘call in’ the application. If that happens, we’ll be paying for a public inquiry.
I have spent most of today listening to the debate and hearing from two neat rows of members of the public – one individually arguing for and one against.
Those living nearby of course are worried about noise and disruption from rugby fans and those attending other events that are likely to be happening in the new stadium.
There’s the argument of the loss of a view of green hills with the heightened stand roofs, though these have been remodelled and slant at either end, which does break things up.
On the plus side, there’s lots of talk of being the ‘beating heart of the city’ – which is true if you like rugby, l suppose. Then there’s the ‘Bath Rugby’ effect on the city’s prosperity in terms of overnights, food and high street shopping.
Others thought the current stadium was an eyesore and – if for no other reason – that the city needed to provide a new home for our champion rugby team.
I could go on. Needless to say, there will be lots of talk about ‘conditions’ surrounding noise and travel plans.
Let’s see what the Minister thinks of it all.
PS. Make what you will of the following release from some of those who don’t want to see a new permanent stadium. It’s come in this afternoon from Jay Risbridger of the Save Our Rec campaign.
“Bath residents and people throughout the world, who care about Bath’s unique heritage, are appalled by the Council’s decision to grant permission to build a stadium on the Bath recreation ground.
This decision will have a negative impact on every aspect of the city’s heritage, environment and economy. A modern stadium permanently located on the recreation ground only serves the interests of the offshore-registered company that made the application.
This stadium has nothing to do with the playing of rugby in Bath, which we all support; it is simply the bureaucratic misappropriation of immensely important and valuable land that belongs to the people of Bath.
It beggars belief that anyone thinks that plonking a stadium in the green heart of a heritage city will not wreck its heritage status and undermine tourism which is the foundation of the local economy.
The press release claims that the support for a stadium by the liberal democrat controlled council is completely contra to its own planning, transport, and heritage aims for the city. The decision has been pushed through at undue speed, with minimal public scrutiny or debate.
The final decision on the planning application will now go to the Secretary of State. You can make your views known by sending a letter to him with this link https://actionnetwork.org/letters/save-our-rec-write-to-the-secretary-of-state”
The release continues: “The stadium will have a massive impact on the views and skyline of the city. The view of the Abbey and the central heritage core of the city will be completely obliterated by the stadium when viewed from the south, and from the city, it will overwhelm the view across to the southern hills.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) UK committee has warned of “significant and permanent harm to the city’s heritage, including views.”
Phillip Faulkner Corbett from Friends of Bath Recreation Ground said: “Bath has a unique setting that, along with its buildings, is the lifeblood of the city’s heritage. Instead, today we heard from the members of the B&NES planning committee, who voted 9 to 1 to approve the stadium, that rugby is the beating heart of Bath.
This shameful attitude means this UNESCO world heritage site will be lost to the demands of a privately owned stadium.”
Promises have been made by successive councils to maintain the recreation ground in perpetuity as an open space for the people of Bath; these promises have been continually broken. Bath residents and visitors no longer have free access to the land, and the wishes of one sport and a secretive private trust now dominate its use.
Ken Loach local resident, said: “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.”
Other views are welcome.
Expect the rugby fans are hoping the Minister is also a Rugby Fan.