Rugby fans object to Recreation Ground town green bid as people in Weston look to protect field
A 4,800-strong pressure group has lodged an objection to an application to make The Rec into an official town green.
The Real Friends of the Rec, which is backing Bath Rugby’s plans for a new sports arena, says the application by Bathwick resident Jack Sparrow should fall at the first hurdle.
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Mr Sparrow has submitted the application in an attempt to derail the rugby club’s expansion plans at its historic home.
RFoTR chairman Peter Downey says in a letter to Bath and North East Somerset Council that the land does not meet the criteria for a town green because there has not been free and open access to all of it for the last 20 years.
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He points to a case in North Yorkshire last year, where an application failed, and adds: “We are also concerned about the consequences of making the Rec a Town/Village Green. I believe that one of these consequences would be to make all the current activities on the Rec, including the leisure centre, unlawful - with major negative impacts on the citizens of Bath. In addition the Rec Trust and B&NES Council could be left with a large financial liability which would end up with the council taxpayers of B&NES.”
Meanwhile, people in Weston are aiming to apply for town or village green status for land now likely to be earmarked for housing there.
Councillors this week agreed that a field behind Purlewent Drive should be included in land allocated for housing over the next decade and a half in the B&NES Core Strategy.
Residents say the field has been used for more than 50 years by local residents for dog-walking, jogging, hiking, kite flying and sledging.
The application for town/village green status will need to include statements from local residents confirming that the field has been used for recreational purposes for the last 20 years.
The residents say they need to get their application in quickly to avoid it being killed off by the Government’s Growth and Infrastructure Bill, which will rule out the status for land already allocated for development even on a draft blueprint. The Bill is expected to become law in the next few weeks.
Organisers have asked for expressions of support via westontowngreen@gmail.com.
29 Comments
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by lamail
Friday, March 08 2013, 7:28PM
“Ah”
by Ilovespaniels
Friday, March 08 2013, 12:54PM
“lamail - there are two stories here but the rec has taken over. Your quote refers to the Weston fields earmarked for building houses ;)”
by lamail
Friday, March 08 2013, 10:59AM
“Dog walking/jogging/hiking/kite flying/sledging.I cant say I have noticed anybody doing any of those things on the rec and there are lots of much better places to do all of those nearby.Hiking? sledging? really?”
by bath1946
Thursday, March 07 2013, 11:42PM
“Mike, Ashton Vale required the appointment of an inspector which would not have been necessary if the determinant was simply one of unfettered access.”
by trikidiki
Thursday, March 07 2013, 10:09PM
“If you were not referring to Lambridge as a "10-minute" walk, pray tell us where you were referring to as I do not see any other viable option that would be a 10-minute walk from the town centre.
"Other "rip-off merchants" around the Rec is an interesting topic but it's a diversionary one...".
I believe this was brought up by Saltfordboy who seemed to be using it as an argument for BRFC to move out of the city, I was merely commenting on his statement.
"wives (not a sexist tag) shopped/lunched in Bath because male partners attended rugby at the Rec "
Yes the little ladies toddle off and do their shopping while we watch manly sport. The implication was that they choose to do so on match days as opposed to any other day, bearing in mind the 150 mile round trip, it seems like a lot of hassle to suffer the "crowds and congestion".
Never mind as long as my tea is on the table when I get home.”
by MajorFlack
Thursday, March 07 2013, 4:16PM
“Loathed as I am to answer jibes, trikidiki, I have to say context is crucial and the quotes you've used need to be read as direct responses to other comments given at the time.
But regardless of this, and despite your implications, I've never stated that Lambridge at 1.5 miles was a 10 minute walk from the city centre nor suggested that BRFC relocate their games and 18,000 spectators at Lambridge.
I stand by my conclusion that the Lambridge site is not, by any reasonable measure, a public amenity comparable in any way to the Recreation Ground or any part of it. As a swap it's clearly not like-for like or a fair one. Some might even say it's a rip-off.
Other "rip-off merchants" around the Rec is an interesting topic but it's a diversionary one given the subject here is about Mr Sparrow's town green application and it's effects upon the club and wider community.
You're also no doubt aware of how my comment about inconvenience to rugby fans was in response to one of your own in which you suggested wives (not a sexist tag) shopped/lunched in Bath because male partners attended rugby at the Rec (sexist in its implication that the actions of the females were following, or led by, the males' attendance at games).”
by Mike_the_Taxi
Thursday, March 07 2013, 12:56PM
“The difference with the Ashton Vale application was that it [i]was[/i] actually a field with unfettered access.”
by bath1946
Thursday, March 07 2013, 12:22PM
“trikidiki, yes. The last time i looked there were 17 supporting Mr.Sparrow's application and 7 opposed. Ashton Vale i have always quoted as an example of the complexity of such applications, and this is one of many stumbling blocks, some of which are being considered by the Commission's reviewer, but he will not have the final word.”
by Wilts_Driver
Thursday, March 07 2013, 11:25AM
“You only have to look at Bristol City's application to build a stadium at Ashton Vale, to see how village green status can be a real stumbling block to development.”
by trikidiki
Thursday, March 07 2013, 11:20AM
“bath1946: By the same token then, we can take any complaints from FOBRA to be only from one person, not the thousands they claim to represent in their member groups (despite the fact they failed to canvas those group's members opinion before making their statements)
Saltfordboy: Do you not think the "rip-off merchants" will follow the club if they did move out of town? After all, according to MajorFlack when he was decrying Lambridge as a fair land swap in December quoted:
"The nearest amenities are in Larkhall square - public toilets, one café, one public house".
Hardly going to cater for 18,000 hungry and thirsty rugby fans.
In the same message he also claimed Lambridge was:
"'out of town', 1.5 miles give or take a few yards"
yet last week he quoted:
"rugby fans want to contribute to the city economy. In that they might, but only if there's no inconvenience whatsoever (say a 10 minute walk) to them"
I wish I could walk as fast as him. Amazing how the figures are manipulated to meet the current argument. I guess that might explain why the general readership of this paper, citizens of Bath mostly I would guess, choose to rate you all so badly.
P.S The horse burgers were much cheaper and the meat balls were the dogs b******S.”