Bath Chronicle – 19 August 2005
Get on with Rec plan as soon as possible –
Letter from Rob Ziegler
As a regular daily subscriber to you paper for many years, I have notice the same few anti-rugby-on-the-Rec people mange to get on to your letters pages time and time again.
I have no problem with regular contributors in general, but there seems to be a monopoly by some in telling us what the citizens of Bath think, as though we have elected them as our representatives on the future of the Rec.
Some of them deny the right of others to even voice an opinion because they do not live in Bath, they only work, or visit and spend money in Bath.
Well, I live in Bath, am very proud of our city and, if allowed, would like to give my opinion.
I am in favour of preserving any green space in the city and am in total agreement with the sentiments of the benefactor regarding use of the Rec.
Opponents to Bath Rugby on the Rec have come up with a wide range of alternatives over the years, from building a concert hall, an indoor bowls facility, a concrete car park, to razing it to the ground.
When I think about the future of the Rec I consider the following.
1. Bath Rugby in the city centre boosts commercial revenue, especially during the low season.. Small independent retailers are vulnerable to tourist slumps cause by factors such as 9/11, foot-and-mouth, and the bus gate. Anything that helps prevent Bath being totally taken over by chains and multi-nationals is essential to preserving the character of the city.
2. Rugby on the Rec always makes Bath look good in TV coverage and provides regular national and international advertising for tourism. Outside commentators say it is the best ground setting in the country.
3. Mr. Brownsword is often vilified by your anti-rugby correspondents as a profiteer of the Rec. They conveniently choose to ignore that his motives were to save the club at a time of crisis, with no prospect of ever recouping the millions he has invested. The club is a responsible lessee of the Rec and makes significant contributions to its upkeep. He should be applauded for preserving an important facet of our city’s heritage.
4. Bath Rugby is heavily involved in the local community with emphasis on influencing youth. Rugby still has a culture of decency and provides a structure and role-models to help young people to respect others. That is of incalculable benefit to our society and it would be a sorrier place if Bath Rugby was ripped out of the heart of the city.
5. If Bath Rugby was forced to an out-of-town stadium, it is my opinion that city centre trade and traffic would suffer. In my experience, out-of-town stadia are soulless places that people drive to because public transport is inadequate. As a result, supporters arrive and leave over a short period of time, causing traffic jams for miles around. Conversely, crowds dissipate in all directions from the Rec mainly on foot and can spend longer in the centre before and after a match.
6. If the Georgian developers had had their way they would have built right through the Rec. The only reason that Johnstone Street, which overlooks the rugby clubhouse, is only a cul-de-sac, is because the banks went bust. Presumably, the benefactor who bequeathed the land had no problems with sports stadia on the Rec while he was alive. Even the stand that took a direct hit in the blitz was rebuilt.
A sensitively designed, horseshoe-shaped stand to replace the existing stands would be a major benefit to the city. This should provide sufficient green space and facilities to satisfy the covenant and enable Bath Rugby to remain at the Rec where it belongs.
As a citizen and taxpayer of Bath (important to some) I vote that we get on with it as soon as possible.
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