MOSELEY ROAD BATHS REPAIR £23 MILLION

17-12-2007

The Stirrer can reveal that a secret Council report into the future of the Edwardian baths at Moseley Road in Balsall Heath sets out two options for repair – one costing £20 million, the other £23 million.

Consultants were commissioned to explore the possibility of saving the ornate building which is one of only three Grade II* swimming pools remaining in the country.

Although their findings were due to be made public in the autumn, they are now being held back until Birmingham City Council has created a “sports masterplan” next year in partnership with Sport England.

We recently put in a Freedom Of Information request and challenged the city’s Cabinet Member for Leisure Ray Hassall to share the information with the public who paid for it (see link here ).

So far he’s refused, but we’ve nevertheless obtained details of the key conclusions.  And here they are.

Option 1 – Maintain the traditional two pools on the site, at a cost of £20 million (part funded by Heritage Lottery Grant).  The drawback to this option is that, in common with most swimming pools, it would be loss making.

Option 2 – Keep open the larger, more decorative pool, but install a protective steel cover in the smaller second pool, and cover it over.  The space currently used by the second pool could then be used for offices or a gym.  This would cost £23 million but would have the advantage of breaking even over 25 years.  Again this would be reliant on Lottery funding.

Now that we have the information, informed debate can begin.