Friends of Moseley Road Baths

Lifeguard training for the Shoals

FoMRB — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:18:04 +0000

The Moseley Shoals are of course happy to be back in the pool – and have found a way of lessening their costs: they are doing their own lifeguarding for their sessions. At present they only have four people they can call on so they have arranged a week’s course at the Baths, starting Monday 21st May, 9am to 5pm. This is a course to make you a fully trained, employable lifeguard. They have spare places on this course.

If you want to train and can subsequently also offer to lifeguard occasionally for the Shoal sessions then the training is free.

If you just want to train and not lifeguard for them, they will ask for a contribution of half the cost, £250.

Contact can be made via Shoals’ website www.moseleyshoals.org.uk or phone 0121 346 1522.
If you know of anyone who may be interested, please pass this on to them.

Surroundings

FoMRB — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:04:54 +0000

As part of our oral history project we’ve received a link to an online version of a sound installation created at Moseley Road Baths back in 2000 by Bobby Bird. Have a listen to the soundscape and view pictures here: http://bobbybirds.wordpress.com/about/surroundings-moseley-rd-swimming-baths/

Aquatone Classes re-start

FoMRB — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:33:33 +0000

Moseley Road Baths – Aquatone classes from May 2012

Tuesdays 11.30 to 12.30

Adults – all welcome

Thursdays 11.30 to 12.30

Adults 50+

Labour take control of Birmingham City Council

FoMRB — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:59:28 +0000

Yesterday the Labour Party took overall control of Birmingham City Council and now hold every seat in the Sparkbrook Ward where the Baths is situated. Back in March we put some questions to Cllr Kennedy, Chair of Hall Green Constituency and one of the councillors for the ward. To date we have had no response. As the new council settles into the new roles, we’ll be hoping to meet and discuss how we can build on the success of last month’s reopening and ensure the long term future of the building as a swimming facility.

These questions are as yet unanswered:

What publicity and/or events will the Constituency undertake to mark the re-opening of the Moseley Road Baths? We would be happy to play our part in promoting and helping to organise the re-opening.
Does the constituency retain a commitment to both school and community swimming at Moseley Road Baths, both in the short and in the long term?
How will the day-to-day operation of the Baths be affected by the plans, as announced by your colleague Martin Straker-Welds, to pass responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the building to the Corporate Centre?
How will such a move impact on the HLF bid for the baths, which the Labour group have stated that they support?

Extension of free ‘Be Active’ swim sessions

FoMRB — Fri, 04 May 2012 09:24:48 +0000

Mon 09.00 to 11.00hrs
Tue 09.00 to 11.00hrs and 14.00 to 16.00hrs
Wed 09.00 to 11.00hrs and 13.45 to 15.45 hrs
Thurs 09.00 to 11.00hrs
Fri 19.30 to 20.30hrs
Sat 13.00 to 15.00hrs extended from 14.30hrs
Sun 07.00hrs to 08.00hrs

‘Be Active’ session times

FoMRB — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:04:27 +0000

The ‘Be Active’ scheme allows Birmingham residents in certain postcodes to take exercise sessions for free at allotted times. For full details of the scheme see the Council website. If you are signed up to the scheme you will be able to swim for free at the following times:

Mon 09.00 to 11.00hrs
Tue 09.00 to 11.00hrs and 14.00 to 16.00hrs
Wed 09.00 to 11.00hrs and 13.45 to 15.45 hrs
Thurs 09.00 to 11.00hrs
Fri 19.30 to 20.30hrs
Sat 13.00 to 14.30hrs

Please note that these are subject to change – if in doubt then ask at the pool…

It’s good to be back…

FoMRB — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:12:12 +0000

Here are a few comments we’ve received from people who have been swimming at the Baths since they reopened on Monday:

‘I’ve been this morning! It was absolutely blissful, having not been swimming in a swimming pool since it shut. It was 8.15am and everyone was talking about how brilliant it was that they were open again. There were swimmers stopping mid-lane to shake hands and say ‘good to be back’. The staff were really cheerful about it too. I was pleased to find I can still do my mile without feeling tired, the metal ‘beams’ above were beautifully painted and the sun was shining onto the water. Fantastic! Making resolution to go every week.’

‘At 09.30hrs the kids from King David arrived and there were screams and shouts of delight have to say it was great to hear the kids getting excited about being able to get back into the pool’

Let us know your experience of being back in the swim!

Moseley Road Baths is OPEN

FoMRB — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:14:35 +0000

We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that today, after 1 year, 3 months and 24 days, Moseley Road Baths finally reopened its doors to the public for swimming. The closure in December 2010 was due to last just six weeks whilst a lintel above the fire exit in Pool 2 was replaced. However, as fault after fault was found the reopening was put back time and time again until the situation became almost farcical. Many of us were beginning to think that today’s reopening would never happen.

We want to say a huge thank you to all of our supporters, local schools and volunteers who have kept the pool in the spotlight during its closure. I think that we’ve sent a very strong message to Birmingham City Council that this is a much loved community building which we value as a swimming pool above all else. We’re not prepared to let it go the same way as so many other pools across the city.

Congratulations to local school pupil Harry Higgins (pictured) who was the first person to take a dive into the pool! The building has been deep-cleaned, repainted and polished up ready for the public. The timetable stays much the same as before, but we’ll post up details soon. In the meantime you can contact the pool on 0121 464 0150. Can’t wait to get down there myself!

Baths set to reopen on 16th April!

FoMRB — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:02:42 +0000

We have received a further update from Cllr Mullaney stating that the Baths is due to reopen on 16th April. We’re REALLY excited to see Pool 2 full of water – how inviting! However, with less than a week until the building opens its doors we have still had no answer from Hall Green Constituency Councillors to our letter which asked how the reopening would be publicised and whether or not school have been told of the reopening. We’ll be pushing them to ensure that they go all out to get swimmers back!

Here is Cllr Mullaney’s update:

I visited Moseley Road baths this morning and can confirm that the staff are working towards re-opening the baths at 12noon on Monday 16th April.

I attach two photos that I took this morning. As you will see the pool is now fully re-filled and this morning the staff started the process of heating up the pool.

Having dipped my hand in the pool, I can assure you the water is cold. Re-heating should take a few days. We should have a definite confirmation of the 12noon opening tomorrow afternoon. The staff want to see how much they can manage to raise the temperature of the pool in 24 hours and then they will be confident of the exact time of opening.

Baths to reopen 16th-20th April!

FoMRB — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:35:32 +0000

This is the latest from Cllr Mullaney. Stick a date in your diary. Unfortunately we’ve STILL had no reply to our questions to Hall Green Constituency Councillors – so we have no idea if they have any plans to formally publicise the reopening (despite a verbal, and probably un-minuted agreement at the Hall Green Constituency meeting). So, PLEASE spread the news to let fellow swimmers know!

I attended a contractors meeting today to get an update on work to get Moseley Road baths re-opened. We are on target to re-open the pool to the public in the week beginning 16th April.

I attach two photos showing the interior of the Pool 2 this morning. As you can see from the photos, the scaffolding is almost completely down. It will be completely removed by tomorrow.

The process of refilling pool 2 will begin over the weekend – can I thank the staff of Moseley Road baths who will be doing this, especially during Easter weekend.

By next Wednesday we will have a firm date for when pool 2 will open. It will be sometime between 16th and 20th April.