Campaigners make a noise over baths closure
More than 100 campaigners seeking to keep the Victoria Leisure Centre open marched through Nottingham today. [Saturday].
The Save the Victoria Baths Campaign organised the demonstration over the Sneinton facility.
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Campaigners march save Victoria baths
Supporters object to Nottingham City Council's plans to redevelop the existing leisure centre by building a new, smaller swimming pool.
They are also concerned at the council's decision to bring the demolition of the leisure centre forward by one year, so the existing facility will close at the end of March, even though planning permission has not yet been approved.
Today, a noisy protest made its way from Old Market Square to the Victoria Leisure Centre in Sneinton. Some of the demonstrators were wearing swimming hats and goggles.
Brendan O'Mara, 32, from Sneinton, said: "They want to move forward closing the swimming pool and that is in contravention of stated plans. It was done without consultation.
"The swimming baths are fine as they are, they just need refurbishment. The new facilities would be smaller and would not have the Turkish bath facilities."
Many of those on the march objected to the redevelopment of the existing facility, but also said they are concerned the city council will not deliver the new building.
Stephen James, 51, from Mapperley, said: "The council has not got planning permission. They have given an undertaking but it is not worth the paper it is written on."
But the city council has strongly rejected the claim.
In an article for the Evening Post last week, the city council's portfolio holder for culture Coun David Trimble said: " I can confirm that we will keep the existing facility open until April 1; have money in the budget to build a new facility; have committed to build a new facility in line with the choice made by the majority of local residents and expect the new facility to open in 2012."
Initially, a consultation on the future of the building, undertaken by the city council, produced a majority in favour of refurbishing the existing building. Subsequently, the council went into local schools and made presentations to the children. When their views were counted the results were reversed and there was a majority in favour of the rebuild.
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by Nick, Wiltshire
Sunday, February 07 2010, 7:32PM
“I no longer live in the Sneinton area, but having worked close to The VLC for over fifteen years, I have been following the current debate with interest.
By assuming the title of Mr Sensible, The Real World, your correspondent is asking us to take on trust this self -accreditation. Holding such an opinion is important only in the respect of how it affects the way he treats those who do not share his point of view.
What is more important is that Mr Sensible is asking us to take on trust the conduct of The City Council as well. This will not do.
The Council has been less than transparent in its dealings with the people of Sneinton. Admittedly this is my opinion but one commonly held; yet it is challengeable by a council prepared to lay out all the facts in public. For reasons best know to itself the Council refuses to do so. Perhaps matters have gone beyond this stage and there is need for a more legalistic approach, where interested parties including Councillor Trimble answer probing questions under oath rather than offering opinions from polemical news columns.”
by Someone, Somewhere
Sunday, February 07 2010, 2:08PM
“Scratties, blah blah blah, whatever. *Yawn*
Please.
Change the record. You're boring.”
by billy, Living in this Labour generated hell hole.
Sunday, February 07 2010, 1:37PM
“Does anybody know if you can catch AIDS from a toilet seat?”
by MadBadger, The Sett
Sunday, February 07 2010, 1:29PM
“Billy, outside toilets are not a good idea.
I think you'll find that the chimney sweep will give you cholera.”
by billy, Living in this Labour generated hell hole.
Sunday, February 07 2010, 1:23PM
“I think most of sneinton do now have baths, which is a shame.
The purpose of building houses without washing facilities was a way for the superior classes to keep such sc um under our control, back in the days when we were able to beat them for not cleaning our chimley properly was a golden era, and I for one think it should be re-introduced.
We should start by building more back to back houses with outside cra ppers (shared by ten families) for the lower classes, that is why I am in favour of keeping sneniton baths in working order for when these days return, which I think will be when Cameron gets in. I know its harsh but scratties are like Iraqis they need controlling.”