You speak out over demolition plan of old baths

READERS have heard that the City Council is edging closer to demolishing the former Fairfax Street swimming baths, though work may still be years away.

- By CLAIRE ELLIOTT

The site costs £400,000 a year to maintain, with an additional £514,000 needed just to submit the listed building application before demolition can begin.

The baths share heating and other services with the adjoining Elephant leisure centre, which will remain open. Council leaders say they hope to find a new use for the site.

Cllr Jim O’Boyle said the process has been “riddled with challenges.” After The Wave and a new 50m pool opened in 2016, no clear plan was made for the baths. “We technically closed the swimming pool in late 2019 but opened it for one day so the public could have one last splash-around,” he said.

O’Boyle added: “We had a certain amount of love for the baths so we wanted to try and do something with the building but didn’t have the necessary expertise. We enlisted Rainier to help. It’s been a much bigger task than anyone envisaged. I had hoped we would find someone, but it's been a false hope, which is a shame.”