Bath Rugby

September/October 2006

For more regular updates on Rec development please look on our homepage. Information and articles from the Bath Chronicle's dedicated campaign can be viewed via http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/

As many of you are aware, the Rec is now under the auspices of the Charity Commission.  There are three trustees due to conduct an executive review to clarify the legal position over the leases pertaining to us and other users of the Rec.

Bath Rugby hold a lease of the ground which still has 63 years left to run.  The lease covers land which includes the footprint of the old “Flowerpot” Stand, but in recent years the East Stand has grown in size to meet the ground capacity requirements of Premiership Rugby and the Club has leased the land for this on a series of short-term agreements.  The latest agreement will run until the end of the season.

The Charity Commission requires that a Strategic Review be conducted and the Council has agreed that it will provide the funding for this work.  The review is about to start and aims to completely the end of 2006.  It will consider all possible futures and the results will be based very much on the results of a comprehensive consultation process, which will also involve the wider community of Bath.

From Bath Rugby’s view the ‘footprint’ in the main lease is too restrictive for a suitable development for the Club.  We accept that our facilities need to improve for our long-suffering, but extremely loyal, supporters.  We now face the daunting prospect of renegotiating the East Stand on an annual basis.  Our intention is to stay and play on part of the Rec but other options are naturally being considered as part of a contingency plan.  We cannot manage an effective development programme without a clear directive from the Trustees supported by the Charity Commission.

We need more space for an arena and are keen to ensure that the development serves the wider sporting and entertainment interests of the city.  The Charity Commission will not meet us face to face to discuss and aspect pertaining to the Recreation Ground and yet they are seemingly influenced by letters etc. from a vociferous minority who are not representative of the citizens of Bath.  Although we will have an input in the official review, the urgency of the problems we face necessitates an immediate collective response.  As well as supporting the review, there will be a campaign to highlight the situation and to ensure that the Charity Commission is aware of all the facts and people’s opinions.

We have no intention of leaving Bath unless forced to do so!  Bath Rugby Supporters’ Club and ERE, the unofficial supporters’ website, have organised a petition giving people the opportunity to demonstrate support for Bath Rugby to develop their facilities on the Recreation Ground.

Thank you for your support.

Bob Calleja
Chief Executive