Businessmen in bid to take over Wirral's Byrne Avenue Baths

Feb 3 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

Byrne Avenue Baths

He said: “We have tremendous interest from the local community with various groups indicating that they would like pool time or that they would like to rent space in the building.”

Before its closure Byrne Avenue Baths was run and operated by the Byrne Avenue Recreational Trust (BART), which leased the building from Wirral Council.

The council handed the running of the building to the trust in 1996, due to maintenance costs, but has still been providing £20,000 a year.

Wirral Council began repossession proceedings last June before including the building in its Community Asset Transfer – opening the door for community groups to take over.

The group behind the bid say discussions are underway with a number of funding sources from Lottery, BIFFA, NWDA and local businesses “but much more is needed”.

A Byrne Avenue website has been set up at www.savebyrneavenue.org.uk