A temporary stand at Bath Rugby’s Recreation Ground is set to remain in place during the summer months despite complaints from locals that the structure is an eyesore.
The stadium’s East Stand is usually brought down during the off-season, providing locals with an unobstructed view of the city in the summer months.
The dismantling of the stand is mandated by a rule introduced by Bath & North East Somerset Council, but the local authority has approved a proposal for it to remain in place this year.
Bath Rugby reached the Premiership final last season, and its last home match was not until June 1. The late finish meant that the stand would only have been removed for around nine weeks before being needed again for next season.
The BBC has reported that there were more than 50 objections to proposals for the stand to remain in place, but the council has nevertheless ruled that the structure does not need to be dismantled.
“It just seems bonkers to be taking down a stand to reassemble it just for a few weeks,” said council chairman Ian Halsall.
Bath Rugby is planning on using the stand for summer events such as the Bath Rugby Summer Scrum, Bath Carnival, and university graduations.
Tim Burden, the club’s planning consultant, added: “There are also environmental benefits in terms of removing the significant construction traffic movements and noise which occur during the construction phases.”
Bath Rugby is hoping to build a new 18,000-capacity stadium and submitted a planning application for the project to Bath & North East Somerset Council back in September.
The plans for the new stadium were first discussed in 2017 but the project was put on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
