Row as Tory hopeful calls for Bath Rugby investment in leisure facilities

Comments (7)

Newly-chosen Tory hopeful Ben Howlett has called for Bath Rugby to be forced by a planning agreement to plough money into improving leisure facilities in the city.

But the Prospective Conservative Parliamentary candidate has been accused of ‘lazy campaigning’ by the politician in charge of The Rec.

Mr Howlett was speaking after the club put its first designs for a 16,500-capacity arena on display ahead of a planning application which will transform its historic home, and be wholly funded by owner Bruce Craig.

He said Bath and North East Somerset Council should ask for funding from the club as part of any planning permission agreement, possibly though a Community Infrastructure Levy arrangement.

He said: “Bath’s leisure facilities are a vital community asset. Residents I met at the exhibition want to know why the Lib Dem council is not calling on Bath Rugby to invest money into facilities across the city. This could end up being yet another example of a missed opportunity. I will be fighting for the best deal for Bath residents and calling on the council to request additional investment.”

BNES is currently looking at how best to improve facilities such as the ageing Bath Sports and Leisure Centre.

Recreation Ground Trust chairman Councillor David Dixon – who is also BNES deputy leader – said Mr Howlett needed to do his homework.

“The council is currently working through its leisure strategy and has some very exciting plans for the future being developed. The plans at present are commercially sensitive to ensure the best level of investment for leisure facilities in our area. This person should really should gen up on this issue as it has rumbled on for over 11 years. He has missed all the points in the 2007 strategic review and clearly does not understand the differing roles between the Rec Trust and the council.

“If the Tory candidate for Bath is going to be parachuted in from London to stand for them, the least he could do is attempt to understand the complex issues surrounding the Recreation Ground. As yet the trust has received no communication from him.

“This is a very lazy campaign tactic.”

The council said it was too early to discuss the club’s potential contribution, as an application had not yet been put in.

“At this stage, there is no expectation upon Bath Rugby to contribute to wider leisure facilities as there appears to be no proposal to remove or place extra demand on existing ones. The nature and extent of any planning agreements associated with development at the Rec will depend upon the precise nature and scope of any planning application. Once a planning application is considered by the council, this information will be made available to the public.”

Bath Rugby declined to comment.

Row as Tory hopeful calls for Bath Rugby investment in leisure facilities