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Save Kentish Town Baths achieved a major victory for their campaign with Camden Council looking for major funds to restore the baths and reversing a decision to sacrifice the learner pool.  Philip Oakley from the campaign said "It's brilliant - a real change of attitude and approach from last year".  

Save Kentish Town Baths report the news in detail: 

Subject to approval on 11 October, the Council is looking to invest a major package of funds to restore Kentish Town Baths and retain BOTH main adult pools AS WELL AS the learner pool.

This is a major improvement on the plan put forward in February by the previous Council and a major victory for our campaign. Whereas the previous plan sacrificed the learners’ pool, this one saves this community asset – that’s great news for the 20-plus schools that use the Baths currently plus the regular Aquababies and Splashbabies classes.

So many of us reacted with surprise at the previous Council’s attempt to sell off the learner pool – surely teaching babies and toddlers water skills is the number one reason to have swimming centres! – that I’m sure you will share my delight at this news.

This new plan is a real commitment to the future of the Baths. The details of the plans for the Baths will be sorted out via discussion with local residents, schools and users of the facility very soon. I will let you know when I have more details but you might want to take a look at the Council’s press release here:

I am also hoping to initiate a "Kentish Town Baths Supporters’ Group" to be an ongoing forum for discussing how best to preserve the character and purpose of the Baths. Again, I will have more news soon, but do drop me a line if you would be willing to be involved in this.

When this project is completed, I hope and increasingly believe that Kentish Town Baths will be a proud addition to London’s working heritage, continuing to offer affordable leisure to all of Camden’s residents long into the future.

Philip Oakley, Save Kentish Town Baths