Bath Rugby vows to press on with new stadium plans despite tribunal blow

Bath Rugby said today it was pressing on with its plans for a "world-class" stadium at The Rec - which it will now have to squeeze into its existing footprint at The Rec. Anger was growing today at a decision by a little-known judicial panel which puts a further stumbling block in the way of the club's dream of a new arena. The 5,000-strong pressure group the Real Friends of the Rec said it was "incredulous" at a ruling from a three-person tribunal panel that vetoes the idea of giving the club a slightly bigger share of the Recreation Ground. There was also fury on Twitter at the move, which has dismayed the trustees charged with the responsibility of clearing a way through the bureaucratic maze surrounding use of the land. But the club was remaining philosophical about the future, and has been looking at options that involve only its current slice of land. Chief executive Nick Blofeld said: "Whilst this decision is unhelpful, we remain committed to securing the long-term future of the Rec, not only as a permanent home for Bath Rugby, but also as a real asset to the city. We are continuing with our proposals to provide a world-class sporting, community and cultural venue at the Rec, as overwhelmingly supported by the people in and around Bath. We will be proceeding with our planning application for redevelopment on our existing site." Fans' anger is particularly focussed on the tribunal's decision to rule on an aspect which had not been a significant part of a three-day public hearing in the city in January.

@neilfissler Rugby brings in many people to visit @WeLoveBath , and TV coverage is a great advert for the city. pic.twitter.com/wg7ihqQQZN

— Edward Bradley (@EdwardB_UK) March 27, 2014

So frustrated with the lack of passion and imagination the petty few have for something that we desperately need. @bathrugby@WeLoveBath

— Rich Wyatt (@RJWyatt) March 27, 2014

Shocking that Bath's Nimby's have got their way over The Rec. Want shooting for spoiling the enjoyment of thousands. #rugbyunited#rugby

— NM Fissler (@neilfissler) March 27, 2014

@LeeCurran_media@WeLoveBath@Paulwiltshire since when was Bath made a living museum? Growth for the club is needed over and above nimbyism

— Taffy (@Taffy_KCCO) March 27, 2014

@Paulwiltshire@WeLoveBath the entrepreneurial spirit Bath was built on is sadly lacking in any Rec planning. The city needs rugby

— Brick it Pro (@BrickitPro) March 27, 2014

@Paulwiltshire@WeLoveBath the nimby community of bath strike again! #havesomevisionpeople

— Lizzie James (@lizziejimbo) March 27, 2014

@votedave@Paulwiltshire What is it with this country and our backward approach to sports grounds! First Ashton Vale, then Rovers, now this!

— Dave Vernalls (@dvernalls) March 27, 2014

@Paulwiltshire what will it take for some people in our city to realise the importance of a well-designed sustainable @bathrugby venue

— Ian Pocock (@ianpocock) March 27, 2014

A group of local residents had raised a series of objections to proposals from the Charity Commission aimed at squaring the rugby club's future use - and future expansion - with the land's charitable status. Today the Real Friends group said: "The Committee of the Real Friends of the Rec are incredulous by this decision. Committee members attended the tribunal hearing throughout, and at no time was the Charity Commission's scheme to provide a larger footprint for the rugby club questioned. This, we believe, was never in the tribunal's remit to deliberate on, and their decision needs some urgent justification. "A major opportunity to provide the Rec Trust with a regular and secure stream of funding looks to be lost, and along with it the opportunity to develop facilities in the area of the beneficiaries of the Rec Trust for a range of amateur sports. "The catalyst to all the benefits of a modern, up to date and improved Recreation Ground, Bath Rugby will have been let down by this decision. We must hope they continue to show incredible patience if, as we hope the Rec Trust, goes to appeal against the tribunal. We hope that they will show the determination to create a 21st Century arena for the world-class rugby to which we all aspire." The key decision by the tribunal - a statutory body which is the lowest rung of an appeals process regarding commission decisions - was that Bath Rugby can only be allowed to use its current allocation of land, including its temporary East Stand, for any future stadium. The ruling - by a panel headed by tribunal judge Peter Hinchcliffe, a barrister who has also been a financial ombudsman - says of a deal between the Rec Trust and the club: "Any such agreement shall only be concluded on a basis that continues to permit the playing of other sports and the carrying out of other recreational activities on the Recreation Ground. Therefore the trustees shall ensure that the land made available under any agreement with Bath Rugby for the site of the East Stand and for any other use that restricts free public access to, or the use of, any part of the Recreation Ground as open space, shall not exceed in surface size the maximum extent of any grant that has been approved by the commission for the erection of the East Stand on a temporary basis since 2002. All such land shall be returned to open space and made available to the charity for its own purposes for a least three consecutive months in the summer of each year in a condition that permits the playing of other sports for the full three-month period." The rugby club wants to build a 16,000-capacity stadium at its historic home, although it is understood that its architects have already been working on ideas for a development within the existing footprint. The Rec Trust meets on April 9 to discuss its next move, with the possibility of an appeal to the next tier of the process. The commission said it was pleased the main thrust of its plans had been accepted. Chief legal adviser Kenneth Dibble said: "The commission has been involved with this charity for a prolonged period – since the High Court decided that it was a charity in 2002. The history of the trust has been complex and there is huge local interest in the future of the Rec which represents an important recreational facility for the people of Bath and its locality. We are pleased that the tribunal found favour with our approach in making this scheme and we are optimistic that the trustees will now be able to move forward and enhance the use of this valuable asset for the benefit of the community. The commission acknowledges the important role played in these proceedings in the tribunal by those who brought the appeal." The full decision of the tribunal can found at www.charity.tribunals.gov.uk/decisions.htm.

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