Scartho Baths set to close in two years
SCARTHO Baths will close.
That was the statement made by Councillor Mick Burnett, North East Lincolnshire Council’s portfolio holder for tourism and culture, to a room packed full of disappointed residents at a public meeting this weekend.
-
FINDING OUT: A public meeting was held with deputy council leader Mick Burnett to discuss the closure of Scartho Road Swimming Pool at Scartho Library, St Giles Avenue, Grimsby.
The fate of the swimming pool in Scartho Road was discussed at the gathering at Scartho Learning Centre and Library, where Councillor Burnett, the deputy leader of the council, said: “We have made the decision and the pool will close in around two years’ time.
“The land may well be sold for housing but no decision has been made.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
“It is not about a land grab and we have done lots of consultation with users.
“The pool is 50-years-old and it is tired.
“The outside of the building is deteriorating and we can’t do a lot of the repairs to the inside of the pool.
“It is made of concrete and the tiles are falling off.
“If we were to drain the pool entirely there would be a risk of collapse, because the water is helping keep it up.
“There will be a new pool built as part of a £7.5-million project at Grimsby Leisure centre.
“It will be a 25-metre pool with a new gym complex which will have 60 pieces of equipment.
“We cannot fund a 50-metre pool like some people want because the running costs are just too much.”
The meeting was arranged for residents to express their feelings about the issue – and many said they wanted more public consultation on the review, claiming a new pool is not needed.
As reported on the front page of the Grimsby Telegraph in January, the plans to revamp leisure facilities in the area were revealed – three years after they were first mooted.
A new stand-alone centre would be built in front of the existing Grimsby Leisure Centre, in Cromwell Road, allowing customers to continue using the current facilities without being affected by the work. Although there will be a new 25-metre pool, the facility will not have a steam room, sauna or diving board facilities.
At the meeting, Alan Barratt, of Waltham Road, Scartho, said: “This is a big decision that affects thousands of people.
“I feel that there has been no public consultation around the matter and the decision has been made.
“Where are the engineer reports condemning the building? Everyone should be given the chance to have their say but this just hasn’t happened.
“If we are going to have a new pool why don’t we build one and make it a centre of excellence including a 50-metre pool and all the other facilities?
“This would bring more people into the area and provide something great.
“Nobody wants the pool to be where the leisure centre is. It is just the wrong location for a lot of people.”
Fellow resident Stuart Jaffray, of Scartho Road, added: “I live a few houses down from the pool and I want to see it stay where it is.
“It is really busy and is always full – especially after the Olympic Games.
“If they must do something it has to be making the existing one bigger. If it is not broke and people still use it then why try to fix it? There is some work that needs doing to it but it could easily be fixed.”
What do you think?
Share your thoughts by e-mailing viewpoint@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk or by commenting on this article.
Comments
by grimoldie
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 5:50AM
“hmm_mmm
Are you so blind you can not see what is going on all around you?
The NELC are systematically destroying everything of value in this town and it's neighboring resort.
Here's a list of sites which are a joy to behold.(not)
The Winter gardens site. ****** car park with an awful Muriel rakes in a few coffers for the hard up council though.
Darley's/leaking boot hotel another waste piece of ground.
Birds eye old site another waste land.
Soon to be announced.
Scatho baths,Wilko's and chapmans down cleethorpes.
Lindsey School the list goes on.
They are ripping the heart out of us are we are just standing by and allowing it.
WAKE UP,OPEN YOUR EYES AND SMELL THE COFFEE, ***.
Darleys hotel”
by In_staffroom
Monday, October 22 2012, 6:50PM
“I can't find any recent articles about the progress being made to save this priceless facility from the unthinking thugs at NELC. What is going on?”
by TalkingSense9
Monday, October 22 2012, 5:11PM
“Nadine.. I agree.. Although I think you mean quiet! Baths should be saved and revamped. Perfect location. Well used. I certainly wouldn't go to the proposed new site. Louth is nearby and so much better and cheaper! N E Lincs take note!”
by NortyNadine
Monday, October 22 2012, 3:15PM
“why has this gone quite?”
by MalcomsMate
Saturday, October 06 2012, 10:54AM
“This should not be allowed to fade from the front page.”
by sidswordfish
Thursday, September 27 2012, 10:05PM
“UNDERSTANDING POLITICAL SPEAK.
Statement: "This is not a land grab"
Meaning: "This is a land grab"
QUESTION.
1. Where are the figures to show that a smaller and less popular 'New Build' at 7.5 million, would cost less than refurbishment and modernisation of Scartho Baths?
2. Where are the figures for income and expenditure on Scartho Baths, and if they are running at a loss, why has nothing been done to rectify this, other than taking a decision to close the baths in two years time?
3. What makes them think they can run a new pool any more successfully?”
by Grimbarian
Thursday, September 27 2012, 6:39PM
“All of hmm_mmm's comments are personal attacks against Alan Barratt, mainly (and rather strangely) because he hasn't released a photo of himself. Several of the group's members have had their photos published in the Grimsby Telegraph and the website creator appeared on Look North.
I think hmm_mmm has some sort of connection to the council (maybe even being a councillor). Why else would they appear to have a personal vendetta against those people who are against the closure of Scartho Baths and are trying to do something to stop it from happening?”
by GYCitizen1979
Thursday, September 27 2012, 5:56PM
“hmm_mmm - would be rerally good if the GT stopped all your TROLL remarks, if you have nothing constructive to say can you not go to another forum that welcomes TROLL comments like yours, look it up online, an internet TROLL descibes you to a tee”
by hmm_mmm
Thursday, September 27 2012, 2:14PM
“Why, when we live in a democracy with elected representatives do some think that they have to be personally addressed and DEMAND answers to their own questions.
Let those elected get on with doing what we elected them to do instead of wasting time on keyboard warriors who would never be elected under any circumstance.
"……..and urges that this closure be reconsidered and the council helped to develop a bigger and better swimming centre which can provide better swimming training for the south bank of the Humber whose nearest 50-metre pool is in Sheffield.
Alan Barratt - Save Scartho Baths Group member"
Who is Alan and we haven't seen his picture yet or the group. Does he live by that tree that money grows on?
Harvest the tree Alan because central government have announced more cutbacks on the less well off and yet THE BATHS GROUP CALL FOR THE COUNCIL TO BE HELPED TO DEVELOP A BIGGER AND BETTER SWIMMING CENTRE. Many are going to need help to eat and/or heat this winter Alun.
Stuff and nonsense.”
by ImmArthur
Thursday, September 27 2012, 1:46PM
“Strategic comment to ensure most of the Scartho Baths articles are in the faces of NELC councillors. Perhaps they'll get the strength of our messages.
Arthur, Immingham”