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was inspired to visit your campaign website having gone to see Marshall Street baths on open house day a couple of weeks ago. I am both a keen swimmer and a keen supporter of historic buildings.

I was surprised not to find on the site a reference to Hornsey Road baths (unless I missed it somehow). This is the beautiful historic baths in Islington in which I used to swim until it was shut down more than a decade ago. It must be turn of the century and was very lovely inside (although I confess my memory of the detail is fading). It still stands there unused but not demolished, and there are lots of people in Islington who would love to see it open again. I am not aware of any organised campaign, however, which may explain why it is not listed on your site.

Inspired to bring this to your attention I did a Google search on the baths and came up with the following, which you may find of interest.

1. A photo showing how stylish the baths are from the outside (no inside pictures online but I assure you it's good!). This is a local landmark for obvious reasons:

LINK

2. Some planning documents showing that the future of the baths site was discussed by Islington Council as recently as August, and that developers are being invited to bid. As far as I can work out from a quick skim, the council hopes that a development will include a pool, but does not insist. It also does not mention any preference for preserving the existing interior:

LINK

3. Local MP Jeremy Corbyn praising the baths in the House of Commons and suggesting that they need to be reopened, linking this to the coming Olympics (need to scroll down):

LINK

4. Press release from Islington Council Labour group supporting the reopening of the baths, but again not suggesting that the existing interior must be retained (need to scroll down):

LINK

I wonder if you are aware of the baths and the plans for their future? Given that this appears to be a very live issue, could the campaign offer any support? Do you know of any local activists working in Islington on this, with whom you/we could link up?

One way or another I certainly think that the plight of Hornsey Road baths should be included on your site.

Louise Armer

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Was very excited to see a fabulous print of Hornsey Road Baths in The Kings Head this weekend (was it Stuart Lee?) I've lived in Lancashire since I was 5 but lived in the baths building with my parents Glynn and Marion and sister, Laura in the mid 1960's. My father, Glynn Smith, was manager there, and I have distant memories of playing on the roof garden in a sand pit! My son Tom Armer lives in Crouch End and this weekend we went out for dinner to Banners - next door, in an art shop window was the same print I had just seen in The Kings Head. Must be fate! My sister was born (1963) in either Hornsey Road or Essex Road/Green Man Street baths - must find out which. I'll follow the story of Hornsey Road Baths with interest.

Laura Willoughby

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Laura Willoughby

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Just to up-date you all. This pool has been closed for a very long time and is currently a derlict site.

The Council has agreed to the redevelopment of the site with a number of local partners, and as a result secured a massive package of “Community benefits” for the area as part of the redevelopment.

The site is to be redeveloped for housing, of which 35% will be for low cost sale and affordable rent, good news for those on the Councils waiting list. There will be new under 5’s provision provided by Sure Start, a new public open space, and a possible new home for the Tower Theatre.

Finsbury Park residents will also benefit from over £750,000 which has been secured for improvements to local sports provision - such as a new swimming pool and the council has an aspiration to redevelop the neighbouring Sobell centre in time for the Olympics there is a good possibility here of providing much improved leisure facilities. I do not think it would not be feasable to create a new swimming pool divorced from other leisure facilities, especially as our biggest leisure centre is not far away.

There will also be £480,000 to fund environmental and community improvements in the area and the distinctive and listed 'Swimmer' sign will remian in place.

In addition to the 4 council run swimming pools we are proud to have in our small borough Holloway Schools is has got specialist sports status and will have a new pool for public access. Hoorah.

If you have any questions about Islington's swimming pools do feel free to email on laura.willoughby@islington.gov.uk.

Paperwork can be viewed here: http://www.islington.gov.uk/democracy/documents/getdoc_ext.asp?DocID=35009

Cllr Laura Willoughby Executive Member for Communities Islington Council