Bath is no place for a stadium of this size

“Mike_the_Taxi, I think as many others seem intent on doing, you've set up a false opposition. The viability of the Recreation Ground Trust, a body created to protect the interests of the beneficiaries of the Recreation Ground, is not really a financial question.

But if you wish to continue presenting the Trust as reliant on income from the rugby club you won't find me trying to change that. However, there are other revenue options that would not bring it so clearly into conflict with its raison dêtre as current interests do, once an alternative site without crippling restrictions is purchased by bath Rugby to secure a better commercial future for the club.”

“Major, just how is, as you seem to be suggesting, Bath Rugby moving from the Recreation Ground, going to improve the viability of The Recreation Ground Trust, when Bath Rugby are the by far the biggest source of income for the trust.
And you are right, I haven't bothered to read so many of your posts/comments, because there is very rarely anything of substance in them.”

“Mike_the_Taxi, your comments here make a number of unfounded (and to use your own word "denigrating") assumptions that I just can't be bothered to refute.

However, your : "you have yet to come up with proposals of your own, for achieving that viability." clearly shows you have not read all my previous contributions on this subject. Some of which have pointed to a solution for a better brighter future for Bath Rugby Club and its supporters - a successful future which can only be achieved by consigning its time at the Rec., and the site's severe limitations, to its illustrious sporting history.”

“On Friday 23rd November 2012 I stopped and looked at the River Avon from North Parade Bridge.
The river Avon was swollen to the degree that the footpath from North Parade Bridge to Pultney Bridge was underwater and unusable and was threatening to invade the recreation ground.
Bath rugby was getting ready to play rugby with a large crowd of many thousands. Nobody noticed that the exits or fire exits that lead onto the river bank where underwater and if the ground was evacuated many people would have been lead into the darkness and into the fast flowing cold river Avon with very serious consequences.
With the crowd safety being compromised the game should not have proceeded, but it did.
I am old enough to remember what happened at the Bradford stadium in 1985. I could see the dangers that where present on the 23rd November. I spoke to a camera man regarding the danger as he was the only person I could find. I do not think anyone had the backbone to cancel the game.
I don't believe the recreation ground is safe for a stadium of this size”

“Major, you continue to denigrate comments on this site, from people who support the Recreation Ground Trustees proposals for maintaining the viability of the Trust, but, you have yet to come up with proposals of your own, for achieving that viability.
You give the impression that you are a devil's advocate, arguing for the sake of it.
I'm not sure which part of the democratic process you disagree with, but, until the next elections take place, we are stuck with the administration we have.
The trustees, both in the current administration, and the last, are nominated by their party,
but have, consistently, proposed the same solution to the resolution of the Recreation Ground Trust viability problem.
Now, you may disagree with the current administration, much as, I'm sure, many Liberal Democrat voters disagree with the way their national party are condoning policies that they didn't vote for, but, until the next elections come around, both local and national, we have to put up with those decisions; that's the way Democracy works.
In the current situation, you were given the chance to voice your objections to the Trust's proposals, however much you disagree with them. If you didn't partake, you put yourself in the position of many thousands of people who didn't vote in recent elections, that of complaining without having taken part in the process.”

“@xxxxx

Does: "All I'm asking is that, rather than weasel words and sly innuendo, those making these attacks should make clear and specific allegations. And accept the consequences." include yourself?

I think it's a reasonable question as you've turned Mr McGarrigle's interpretation of "underhand plot" into the much more emotive and sinister "dishonest acts".

Or perhaps you were hoping this particular "sly innuendo" would be one that went unnoticed?”

“bath1946, thanks for your reply.

But are the instances you list 'dishonest' acts? Or merely things to which you object?

If they are the former - as Mr McGarrigle seemed to suggest in his letter - then why haven't those who oppose Bath Rugby taken B&NES, the Trustees, or even the Charity Commission to court? Or is it that the interpretation they put on events is simply a tad fanciful?

Either way there comes a point when all of us have to 'put up or shut up'. The letters page most weeks contains missives on this topic from disenchanted souls alleging all sorts of skullduggery, not to say corruption. All I'm asking is that, rather than weasel words and sly innuendo, those making these attacks should make clear and specific allegations. And accept the consequences.”

“widcombem, off the top of my head and ignoring compatibility with 1922 covenant:

- 75 year lease protected by "commercial confidentiality" at £6,500 per annum.

- "Consultation" not requiring email nor post code addresses permitting votes by non-constituents or multiple voting from different browsers or computers.

- Refusal by the Trustees to divulge the submission to the Charity Commissioners and refusal to answer questions on progress at subsequent open meetings.

- Refusal to divulge intended plans for the stadium and the Leisure Centre, although, contrary to previous assurances, the plans will incorporate retail units underneath three sides of the stadium..

- Land swap with Lambridge not detailed within the "consultation".

- Postponement of environmental issues until the planning stage.

- No financial details.

-”

“I think that you will find that most World Heritage cities have stadia - checking a few 'local' sites; Berne - Stadt de Suisse (capacity 32k), Carcassonne - Stadt d'Albert Domec (10k), Florence - Stadio Artemio Franchi (47k), Granada - Estadio Nuevo Los Camenes (22k), Krakow - Stadion Miejski (33k), Angers - Jean-Boulin Stadium (18k) to name but a few.”

“"underhand", Mr McGarrigle? That implies a level of corruption or wrongdoing, surely? My dictionary certainly lists the word's synonyms as being 'deceitful', 'sneaky' and 'dishonest'.

In which case I'm sure you won't mind spelling out by whom was this dastardly criminal act perpetrated, when and where. And be specific, please. Are you saying that bribes were paid? Bungs? Or what?

Because if so I'm sure you'll agree that those you accuse deserve the opportunity to rebut the allegations. And if successful, to presumably then sue for redress.”