Plans for much-loved baths given reprieve

Nov 10 2010 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

BUSINESSMEN behind plans to re-open a much-loved Wirral swimming baths have been given a second chance to get funding in place by the council.

Byrne Avenue swimming baths closed suddenly 18 months ago and has been left empty ever since.

Since then a group of businessmen has been seeking to revamp the popular pool under the council’s community asset transfer programme.

Yet a report to the council’s cabinet appeared to write-off this attempt and recommended the site be put on the open market – possibly to be sold for housing.

Over the last 18 months, Byrne Avenue Community Trust (BACT) has been locked in negotiations with the council to convince them of its plans to bring the closed Rock Ferry leisure centre back to life.

But the council’s cabinet has now backed the efforts of BACT and has earmarked £350,000 if they can obtain match-funding to carry out the work. They have been given a deadline of March 31 2011 to get the funding in place and present the council with a credible business plan.

Deputy leader of the council, Simon Holbrook, said: “We are prepared to set aside within the community fund a sum of money – if you like with BACT’s name on it, should you be able to put together the kind of business plan and funding evidence that will convince our officers.”

BACT member Ben Harrison, who spoke at the cabinet meeting, said new potential funding sources had become available and urged the councillors to reconsider.

He told the councillors: “This is a great example of Mr Cameron’s Big Society, getting people to run things in their community.

“We are 100% confident we can refurbish the baths and at least break even.”

After the meeting he said their decision to support BACT’s efforts was “very positive” and said: “We thank the council for looking at this in a different light.”

BACT supporter Graham Williamson, who first learned to swim at the pool in 1943, welcomed the decision and said: “There is a lot of nostalgia for these baths.”

Local councillor Chris Meaden said she was pleased the council had listened to the appeal from BACT to give them more time, and added: “The previous administration, which I was a part of, created the community fund which is vital to any funding package to secure the future of Byrne Avenue.”