Plans to regularly close a riverside footpath in Bath during Bath Rugby matches have been paused following disputes over the eviction of boaters living nearby. Bath and North East Somerset Council had intended to temporarily block access to the path adjacent to the Recreation Ground on match days starting this September. However, this proposal is now suspended while the council reviews the evidence and governance supporting the closure.
The timing of the closure plan drew criticism as it coincided with eviction orders for houseboat residents moored along the same stretch. The council cited safety concerns due to hazardous river conditions in bad weather as the reason for the evictions, insisting the path closure and eviction are unrelated.
Despite these assurances, scepticism remains among councillors and boater communities. When the council initiated a Land Registry application to formalize ownership of the riverside land, 11 backbench councillors challenged the decision, citing a “lack of transparency” and referred it to a scrutiny committee for closer examination.
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At the committee meeting on July 15, Saskia Heijltjes (Green Party, Lambridge) who led the cross-party call-in, revealed that a council officer confirmed the match day footpath closure plan had been paused for further review involving proper evidence, consultation, and governance. She questioned why the land registration proceeded without such scrutiny, especially as it coincides with a £1.85 million feasibility study for a radial flood gate and the pending £70 million redevelopment of Bath Rugby’s stadium, all while boat dwellers face eviction notices.
Deputy council leader Sarah Warren (Liberal Democrat, Bathavon North) explained that the land registration was recommended by a temporarily engaged staff member overseeing river and mooring management. She emphasized that no specific project is currently planned on the site but future ecological or flood prevention initiatives may arise, each requiring separate approval.
The call-in raised concerns about the impact on boaters, but the council’s chief legal officer dismissed these objections as “primarily misconceived,” stating the scrutiny panel was only to assess the clarity of references to future projects.
Despite tensions and reminders from committee chair Andy Wait (Liberal Democrat, Keynsham East) to refrain from discussing broader boater issues, the committee voted to reject the call-in.
Boaters were ordered to vacate the river stretch in May and face legal action if they remain past September. Percy Walton, a resident boater on the Pulteney stretch for four years, expressed his intention to stay and fight the eviction, describing the council’s approach as discriminatory and at odds with his community’s future.