The riverside footpath between Bath’s Recreation Ground rugby stadium and the River Avon is set to close temporarily on match days, coinciding with the recent eviction of houseboats from the same stretch of river.
Last month, Bath and North East Somerset Council declared the section of the River Avon adjoining the Recreation Ground unsafe during bad weather and ordered all houseboats moored there to leave by September, warning of legal action for non-compliance.
Now, Green Party councillor Saskia Heijltjes (Lambridge) has revealed plans by the council to close the footpath alongside the river on days when Bath Rugby plays at home. This path is a vital access route for boat dwellers to reach their boats. However, the council insists that the temporary closures and the eviction of houseboats are unrelated matters.
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Manda Rigby, the council’s cabinet member for communications and community, stated: “A match day towpath closure in the interests of public safety is currently under consideration. This is not connected with the council’s removal of unauthorised boats.”
An official order permitting temporary closure of the footpath from 12:30 PM to 8:00 PM on match days was published in April, with council officers informing local Greens that the measure is expected to take effect in September.
Green group leader Joanna Wright expressed concern over the timing: “The footpath closure coincides with the council’s eviction of boat residents from the same riverside stretch. No evidence has been provided to assure safe access for boaters during evictions amidst match day closures.”
Councillor Heijltjes commented: “People risk losing their homes while simultaneously losing access to them on match days due to a private sports club’s needs. This situation is unacceptable.”
She emphasized the broad public use of the path, noting it serves residents, leisure center visitors, and tourists alike. “Closing a public right of way for matchday operations demands clear legal justification and consideration for all affected, especially those facing housing precarity. We seek transparency, not obstruction.”
Houseboat residents dispute the council’s safety claims, asserting that the Pulteney stretch is as safe as other river moorings. Long-time resident Percy Walton plans to legally challenge his eviction, suspecting the moves are linked to redevelopment plans, including a proposed permanent rugby stadium. He stated, “I believe the boats don’t fit the future plans, and it feels discriminatory against us.”