Save Poplar Baths 
POPLAR BATHS At a meeting of the Poplar Baths Campaign at the Salvation Army in Grundy St, Poplar on Saturday 20th March, Graeme Peacock from Tower Hamlets Council agreed with the local people present that the state of Poplar Baths was a tragedy.
Mr Peacock reported that he had been told by Sport England that there was no possibility of funding for Poplar Baths through the Olympic bid, as there was to be a new aquadrome at Stratford.
This had been raised in the context of the mayor's plan for the increase in housing in the East of London and the impact on the Council's sports strategy. He said that the Council has decided that as there will be 4 public swimming pools in the borough with the new pool at Mile End, there would be no public funding for Poplar Baths. Tower Hamlets Council were therefore putting the site of Poplar Baths on the disposal list - but they were being very prescriptive about what could be developed there.
They are insisting on a mixed residential and leisure facility where the residential income funds the sports facilities - including the restored swimming pool. He confirmed that the pool hall is listed by English Heritage and therefore cannot be demolished as part of the development.
The Council have put together a specification including the size of pool, arrangements for community access, pricing and safeguards about protecting the pool for the local community. There was also the possibility of the development including some of the spare space at the adjacent fire station.
More information including the Council's proposals on the Poplar Baths Campaign's website http://www.poplarbaths.com
photos:photo©balthazar serreau
In March this year, the
London Borough of Tower Hamlets gave the Poplar Baths Steering Group of local residents, the
Environment Trust and
Swan Housing Association six months exclusivity to further develop proposals for
Poplar Baths.
The team submitted a business plan at the beginning of September, which
can be downloaded from here
The Tower Hamlets cabinet will make a decision on 07 November on whether to
transfer the building to the group, or sell it on the open market (or come
up with a compromise).
The scheme involves bringing the "first class" part of the baths building back into use as a leisure centre with non chlorine pool, and redeveloping the "second class" part of the building with housing and commercial space to pay for it. The scheme has the
support of the 20th Century Society and input from English Heritage. ...more ---> ...
| Poplar Baths | 20 September 2007; 1:02:57 AM |# | | Discuss |
You are invited to participate in a community planning weekend about the redevelopment of Poplar Baths.
DOWNLOAD THE POSTER PDFThe scheme is being put together by the Poplar Baths Steering Group, SPLASH, The Environment Trust and Swan Housing Association in partnership with Tower Hamlets Council.
We are bringing together a team of architects, cost consultants, engineers, leisure specialists, planners and project managers to work with local people. Together we'll put flesh on the outline plan that will see the Baths reopen for community benefit.
Poplar Baths closed for public swimming in 1988, but local residents have campaigned ever since for its reopening. Thanks to the efforts of the Poplar Baths Steering Group, the Council have accepted that any redevelopment of the site must include a swimming pool for public use, together with other elements that will subsidise the swimming facilities and make them permanently sustainable. The Council are willing to consider a development on the site that seeks no payment other than providing the swimming pool.
...more ---> ...| Poplar Baths | 19 July 2005; 5:07:20 PM |# | | Discuss |
Lil Collins, Chair of Poplar Baths Steering Group, welcomes the involvement of The Environment Trust in plans to revive Poplar Baths. Poplar Baths closed for public swimming in 1988, but local residents have campaigned ever since then for its reopening.
The Poplar Baths Steering Group expressed their confidence in the Council's 'outlined' specification for the Baths which gave the size of pool, arrangements for community access, pricing and safeguards about protecting the pool for the local community. However no written and binding specifications have yet been published. Lil Collins said, "What has happened to the specification for any development of the Baths that Tower Hamlets Council promised at our meeting in March 2004?", she went on to say, "Around here we've got so many schools within walking distance - we really need a local pool". There is a meeting of Poplar Baths Steering Committee at 10.00am on 26th February at Salvation Army, Grundy St, Poplar.
...more ---> ...| Poplar Baths | 10 February 2005; 11:44:54 AM |# | | Discuss |
At a meeting of the Poplar Baths Campaign at the Salvation Army Hall in Grundy St, Poplar on Saturday 20th March, Graeme Peacock, head of Tower Hamlets Council Property and Facilities Management, agreed with the local people present that the state of Poplar Baths was a tragedy. The site is going up for sale but the council is trying to secure swimming on the site for the future.
Tower Hamlets propose permission may be granted for up to 15 storeys of flats on top of Poplar Baths to pay for a refurbished swimming pool. To read more click
.. here ... ...more ---> ...| Poplar Baths | 29 March 2004; 11:21:27 AM |# | | Discuss |
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