Category Archives: Community Pools

Happy 150th Birthday Woodcock Street

By Steve | August 31, 2010

Woodcock Street Baths in Gosta Green first opened in August 1860 and there’s been public swimming at the location ever since. Steve Beauchampé reports on the history of Birmingham’s oldest operational swimming pool complex on the occasion of its 150th birthday.

Also posted in Birmingham | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Online Sparkhill Consultation

By Rachel | May 17, 2010

Further to last week’s consultation events, there is now an online survey on facilities at Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre. You can take the online survey here.

It’s very disappointing that the public seem to have no say in who should manage the facility, especially as this will have an impact on one of the most important assets that local leisure services have: the staff. I spoke with a local council leisure employee only yesterday who doesn’t know whether or not they’ll be in a job in two months time. If the Council are serious about providing high quality health and fitness facilities they need to put such concerns at the heart of the plans. This narrow-minded approach certainly doesn’t bode well for developing other leisure sites around the city…

Also posted in Swimming Groups | Tagged , | Comments closed

Sparkhill Consultation

By Rachel | May 10, 2010

As part of the Council’s ongoing plans for replacing Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre they have called a series of consultations for this week.  So far it appears that consultations have not had any mention of how the building should be financed and managed, something which campaigners over in Sparkhill believe is absolutely fundamental to [...]

Posted in Community Pools | Tagged , , , , , | Comments closed

Bulldozers head to Coseley Baths

By Rachel | February 11, 2010

We’re really saddened to report that the bulldozers have begun work on demolishing the community pool in Coseley, despite the demolition work actually costing more than the money required to save the building!

Posted in Community Pools | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Sparkhill Residents Reject PFI Swimming Pool Proposals

By admin | February 4, 2010

A public meeting of Sparkhill residents last night unanimously rejected proposals for a PFI-funded swimming pool on the Moseley School site in Springfield Road to replace the former pool on Stratford Road, which closed in July 2008 after 77 years of service owing to major structural defects.

Also posted in Birmingham, Campaign, Meetings, Politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments closed

United against PFI scheme

By Rachel | February 1, 2010

At the Friends of Moseley Road Baths meeting with Cllr Mullaney on 21st January we discussed options for funding swimming provision in Hall Green Constituency. Three options have been put on the table for the urgent work required to ensure that Sparkhill has swimming facilities. Two of these involve building new swimming facilities on the current site, with costs estimated at £10m and £13m respectively. A third involves a PFI pool at Moseley School as part of their new sports and leisure facilities which has been costed at £3m.

Also posted in Birmingham, Building, Meetings, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Moseley Shoals

By Rachel | January 12, 2010

Founded in April 2000 the Gay Swim Group, Moseley Shoals, has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the biggest gay sports clubs in the UK.

Also posted in Swimming Groups | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Victoria Baths

By Rachel | November 27, 2009

Every so often a newsletter pops through my door from the lovely people at Manchester’s gorgeous Victoria Baths. The building, winner of the BBC’s 2003 ‘Restoration’ programme is a real jewel in the crown of British municipal architecture, and it’s always fantastic and inspiring to receive updates on their work.

Also posted in Arts, Project plugs | Comments closed

Coseley Baths Campaign

By Jen | November 24, 2009

Last Sunday around 200 local residents and pool users turned out at Coseley near Wolverhampton in the wind and rain, determined to stop the councils plans to demolish their pool.

Also posted in Events | Comments closed

Support Coseley Baths Campaign

By admin | November 15, 2009

There will be a protest outside Coseley Baths on Sunday 22nd November at 11am. The pool is due to be demolished – another community pool gone. The address for the Baths is Peartree Lane Coseley – postcode is WV14 8HA, there are 3 Peartree lanes in the Black Country so make sure you go to [...]

Also posted in Events | Comments closed