Application is submitted

Bath Rugby have applied to be allowed to keep the East Stand in place at the Rec over the Summer. The current, temporary planning permission granted by Bath and North East Somerset Council includes a condition that it must be dismantled and removed during the post season to adhere to a previous charitable scheme the legal landlords - Bath Recreation Ltd operated under. The relevant element was that the Rec should be an “open space”. However, after a series of court hearings, an amended charitable scheme ratified by the First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber - Charity) in December 2016 meant that is no longer a requirement. The rugby club have now submitted a planning application to remove that condition and Somerset Live understands Bath Rec Ltd are minded to agree with the idea. In a statement, Bath Rugby said: “For the past three years the club has been under the existing temporary obligation to dismantle the stand for a period of eight to ten weeks over the summer months. “Since the granting of this temporary planning permission significant work has been undertaken to realise the vision for a new permanent stadium at the Rec. “This is in accordance with the aspirations of the council set out in both the Core Strategy and Placemaking Plan respectively. “In addition, Bath Rugby’s landlord, Bath Recreation Ltd has also confirmed that there are no legal or operational conditions which require the East Stand to be removed. “If the planning amendment is approved, it will mean that the East Stand will remain in place this summer.” As well as seating, the East Stand includes, toilets, bars and floodlights, which all usually need to be taken down and put back up. The capacity for next season would remain the same. For many years cricket was played on the Rec in the Summer, including annual cricket festivals and Somerset CC matches. The last time they played a match on the Rec was a T20 game in 2011. Bath Rugby currently pay rent for nine months of the year to Bath Rec Ltd. There would be an agreed cost for the three months of the postseason, meaning more income for the charity to invest in the Rec and other projects across the city. As previously reported, they have already taken over the management of The Orchard in Weston and The Glasshouse Playing Fields in Combe Down. Bath Rugby are working on designs for a new, permanent 18,000-capacity stadium on the Rec. If they were to get approval later this year work would start part-way through next season and the aim is for the stadium to be completed and open by September 2021. To view and comment on the planning application, visit the council’s planning portal.