New era for Rec - report

A new era of certainty is about to dawn for Bath's RecreationGround, according to an official report.

The three councillors responsible for the running of the citycentre green lung meet next week to discuss progress on moves toallow Bath Rugby to create a new stadium at its historic home.

The land has charitable status because of the way in which it wasgiven to the city in 1956 but the Charity Commission has recentlysignalled it would be happy with the rugby club expanding andimproving its outdated ground.

A report to the Board of Trustees of the Recreation Ground, whichmeets next Wednesday, says that with a bit of give and take, ascheme that meets the demands of charity law can be thrashed out.

It says: "The trust board firmly believes that they now stand onthe threshold of a new era for the Recreation Ground. With goodwillon all sides, they believe they can secure a future for The Recwhich will both enable the trustees to fulfil their obligations muchmore effectively and offer both our main tenants a level of securitywhich will be beneficial to them. It will of course demand someconcession and accommodation from all parties."

The other key tenant apart from the rugby club is Bath and NorthEast Somerset Council, which controls the city's sports and leisurecentre.

The report stresses that for the rugby club to be allowed tolease extra land at the site to enable its new 15,000-seater stadiumto be built, arrangements must be made to increase the amount ofcharitable activity there.

It says: "The commission will expect this to include increasedrelevant charity use of Bath Rugby facilities during the rugbyseason. Such use must be charitable activity which is related tosport and recreation."

This could mean the club hosting more amateur games or matcheswhich raise money for charity.

The report says there is nothing to stop a new leisure centrebeing built on land overseen by the trustees once the existingfacility, which is run for the council by Aquaterra, reaches the endof its life.

The rugby club wants to create the new stadium to meet thedemands of the sport's authorities.

But use of The Rec is governed by a covenant dating back to 1956which says no one sport should dominate the land.

A major public consulation exercise carried out on behalf of thetrustees revealed overwhelming support for the club's continuedpresence at The Rec.

The Chronicle launched the Keep Rugby At The Rec campaign to backthe club and its supporters amid concern that the city could losetop flight rugby altogether.

Club officials had become increasingly frustrated at theuncertainty and bureaucracy clouding their use of the Rec, despite a75-year lease.

The meeting is at 1pm at the Guildhall.