Green Party councillors are warning that Bath Rugby’s plans to build a stadium in the city centre will threaten a beloved veteran tree nearby.
Green councillors Saskia Heijltjes and Joanna Wright in front of the copper beech | Photo © B&NES Green Group
Bath Rugby is planning to build an 18,000-seater stadium at its home on the Recreation Ground in the centre of Bath.
But Green councillors in the city, who previously warned the scheme would “cause misery for residents”, are warning that the plans could damage the large copper beech next to the stadium.
The tree is recognised as a “notable tree” in the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory.
Although it is not one of the ten trees that would be removed to make way for the stadium, foundations and a drain could now be built into its root zone, which the council’s arboriculture officer warned was “unacceptable”.
Meanwhile, the north stand would be so close that it would actually be under the canopy.
Joanna Wright, Green councillor for Lambridge, said: “Trees are vital for life, but more than this veteran and ancient trees have spent generations growing in communities where they are loved and treasured.
“The present planning application for Bath Rugby Club’s stadium has failed to address the real threat to this important local tree and ensure that the site of this new stadium is built to ensure its survival.
“This is exactly what’s broken in our political and planning system. We treat living ecosystems as if they’re disposable, when in reality they are essential.”
The Greens have warned it is a clear violation of British standards on root protection. A previous application to build a garage had once been rejected due to concerns over root disturbance of the tree.
The Greens said that national outrage over the felling of important trees, such as the Sycamore Gap tree by Hadrian’s Wall to the oak outside Enfield’s Toby Carvery, shows how important the issue is.
Last year, the Green group on Bath & North East Somerset Council brought a motion before the council to recognise “rights of nature”, but it was voted down 39-5.
Ms Wright said: “We are in an emergency. Protecting ancient trees and ecosystems should be the baseline, not the battleground. We need to stop pretending that nature is a luxury we can negotiate with.
“It’s our life support system — and we’re tearing it down, branch by branch.”
Building a permanent stadium for Bath Rugby on the Recreation Ground is hugely controversial in Bath. Bath Rugby currently spends about a million pounds a year on temporary stands that they have to assemble and disassemble.
Locals celebrate the return of their view each year when the stands are removed, but Bath Rugby CEO Tarquin McDonald has warned: “If we were not able to redevelop it, it calls into question our ability to stay here long term.
“That would be tragic for the city and the club.”
Updated plans, submitted in December, have lowered the heights of the west and east stands, redesigned their facades, and introduced a curved roof in order to allow more views of the city and the surrounding hills.
The plans also introduce “enhanced landscaping” along the river and “re-engineered and enhanced seating” in the stadium itself.
Filmmaker Ken Loach, who lives in Bath, is one of the more than 5,500 people who have lodged comments on the planning application for the stadium. The Kes and I, Daniel Blake director said it would be a “carbuncle” on Bath, warning: “Visitors come to see the Roman Baths and Georgian architecture, not to look at a modern sports stadium – you can see those without travelling very far.”
A spokesperson for Bath Rugby said: “We are aware of the comments made by the two members of the Green Party in relation to the copper beech tree referenced in the article which are factually incorrect.
“Our stadium design proposals will protect this tree. We continue to work with B&NES officers throughout the ongoing formal planning process.”
This story has been updated to include a comment from Bath Rugby.
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
