BLACK COUNTRY SWIMMERS NEED A BATH

30-07-2007

While Birmingham puzzles over the possibility of an Olympic pool, swimmers in some parts of the Black Country would be grateful to have any kind of facility at all.

West Bromwch, for example, is a town with a population of 136,000 where there’s nowhere to a go for a dip.

The celebrated Gala baths in Edward Street haven’t been open for years and were recently earmarked for demolition.

Then there’s Wolverhampton, where the recent closure of Compton baths was bad enough - but now users who were directed to the city’s Central pool as an alternative are finding it difficult to get in.

That’s because the swimming club which previously used Compton has also switched to Central, and has booked a session which was previously open to the public for use by their own members (link)

As for the Gala Baths future, Sandwell's Cabinet member for regeneration Bob Badham insists a replacement is on its way - eventually - as part of a new leisure centre close to the High Street.

At the same time, the precise details of when it will be built and how it will be paid for remain vague.

"A swimming pool is included in the future West Bromwich leisure facility” Badham said.

"Options for the size of, and facilities that will be in, the new centre are being looked at and proposals will be decided by Cabinet this summer.

"We are as keen as everyone else to get this exciting and ambitious multi-million pound project off the ground.

"Officers are working hard behind the scenes to move forward what is a complex and detailed scheme as quickly as possible.

"Obviously a project of this magnitude requires a significant amount of external investment, and we are exploring the funding opportunities available to us and this will be the subject of a second report.

"Sport England is one avenue where we may submit a bid for funding.

"The Gala Baths building is due for demolition in the near future and will be used as a temporary car park while comprehensive redevelopment proposals are drawn up for the wider area."

Are municipal Swimming Pools still relevant in the 21st Century? And does the West Midlands have enough of them?