London Pools Campaign: Kentish Town Baths

Consultation starts on Kentish Town Baths

webteam — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:25:35 GMT

Consultation about swimming pool refurbishment nowadays means "We are now ready to tell you formally that there will have to be luxury flats and you have to agree to it or you don't get somewhere to swim" ... as usual.

"THE people of Kentish Town will get the chance to have their say on the refurbishment of their historic Victorian baths today (Thursday 19/07/07).

Limbrick Limited Architecture and Design, which has been commissioned to transform Kentish Town baths into a 21st century leisure centre, will present the planning proposals at a meeting at 6.30pm at Kentish Town Library, Kentish Town Road.

The meeting has been organised by Camden Council's planning division to give people an opportunity to ask questions and comment ahead of the architect submitting an application.

It is expected that an application for planning permission will be submitted in September.

Camden Council will then formally consult with residents and the application will be considered by the development control committee.

The £25.3million proposals will see the Grade II listed building refurbished to include two swimming pools, a learner pool, gym and studio space. They also include plans for 10 flats and four town houses. "

(Via Camden Gazette - Have your say on Baths future: .)

Council to splash the cash on Victorian baths

webteam — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 18:50:28 GMT

"MULTI-MILLION pound plans to restore Kentish Town Baths have been given the green light. Council bosses approved the £25.3million scheme for Kentish Town Sports Centre, Prince of Wales Road, Kentish Town, last Wednesday."

(Via Camden Chronicle Council to splash the cash on Victorian baths: .)

Young swimmers left high and dry

webteam — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 19:27:23 GMT

"BUDDING swimmers are being left high and dry by the closure of Kentish Town Baths - as teachers struggle to find suitable alternatives."

(Via Camden Chronicle Young swimmers left high and dry: .)

Another win for 'Save Kentish Town Baths' Campaign

pool@... — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 19:38:04 GMT

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, now a Camden Councillor, who set up the campaign said "It's brilliant - a real change of attitude and approach".

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....

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....

Philip Oakley, Save Kentish Town Baths

Labour performs a backflip over swimming baths

webteam — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 06:42:44 GMT

"TOWN Hall bosses have been accused of desperation after they came up with last-ditch plans to save Kentish Town baths. After months of protest by campaigners determined to save the historic pools in Prince of Wales Road, the council is today expected to p"

(Via Ham and High Express Labour performs a backflip over swimming baths: .)

Here is the most recent council report on the building

Here is the draft floor plan to accompany schemes under consideration

Take a swim at new-look Euston

webteam — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 06:42:24 GMT

"DEVELOPERS bidding to revamp Euston station have plans to put in a swimming pool to make up for the possible closure of Kentish Town swimming baths."

(Via Ham and High Express Take a swim at new-look Euston: .)

Tessa wades into pool row - Culture secretary calls for baths decision

webteam — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 08:45:33 GMT

Howzabout that then - hijacked or what?

"Education secretary Ruth Kelly, back left, teams up with Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes, back centre, and culture secretary Tessa Jowell, at Acland Burghley School
CULTURE secretary Tessa Jowell has told the Town Hall to face up to the “Olympic challenge” and resolve Camden’s swimming baths crisis as soon as possible.

She revealed yesterday (Wednesday) that she had asked for a special briefing on the Prince of Wales Baths in Kentish Town amid fears that the pool could be shut and sold off.

Ms Jowell told the New Journal: “Lots of swimming pools have been poorly maintained and they need to be refurbished. It is part of rising to the Olympic challenge.”
After their election in 2002, Labour councillors pledged to refurbish the pool, but work on the baths has yet to start. Officials estimated last year that repair work would cost a minimum of £17 million, but nobody at the Town Hall has been willing to commit themselves to that amount of spending. "

(Via Camden New Journal - News: .)

Tessa Jowell hears it from the grass roots

webteam — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 19:50:57 GMT

"SWIMMING came top of a wish list yesterday at Acland Burghley School in Kentish Town when its pupils were asked by Tessa Jowell, the Olympics Minister, Ruth Kelly, the Education Secretary, and Dame Kelly Holmes, the Government’s new School Sports Champion, as to which facilities they would most like to have access to.
This might be easier said than done as the school, which both Jowell's children attended, has no pool. Of the two local baths, one is closed and the other is under threat of closure."

Council in need of land for swimming pool gives up site next to leisure centre

webteam — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 21:33:53 GMT

"PLANS for a seven-storey complex on the old travellers' site in Kentish Town have been given the go-ahead.But residents have criticised the decision - saying it is 'inept' and that it adds further to Camden Council's secrecy over the future of the Kentish Town Baths."

(Via Camden Gazette: .)

Pool fans present petition

webteam — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 03:50:54 GMT

"A PETITION to save a historic swimming pool signed by more than 3,000 residents was this week presented to Camden Council."

(Via Camden Chronicle Pool fans present petition: .)

Snake around Kentish Town and be photographed this weekend

webteam — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 10:25:17 GMT

A Kentish Town Baths campaign Photo-Op is going to happen at the baths this coming Sunday 27 November. Meet at 10.30am outside the Baths in Grafton Road. The organisers want to form a long queue snaking right to the end of the road. They're also asking people to bring goggles, armbands, rubber rings, surfboards, canoes, SCUBA gear and whatever other swimming paraphernalia they want to bring to make it a fun picture for the papers as this one's not a full swimwear protest - unless, we suppose, you are dead hard.

After meeting loads of people on Sunday you will be able to met even more the next day as there is a public meeting about Kentish Town Baths on Monday 28th November at 7.00pm at St Patricks School hall, Holmes Rd, Kentish Town NW5.

NOW DO THIS - download the petition and get all your friends, family and colleagues to sign it [CLICK HERE]

Stars add names to fight for pool

webteam — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 18:17:22 GMT

"CELEBRITY backers have boosted the campaign to save Kentish Town baths.
Kentish Town residents broadcaster Jon Snow and actor Roger Lloyd Pack, who played Trigger in Only Fools and Horses and is currently starring in the new Harry Potter film, have both added their names to the list of residents opposing plans that could see the pool closed.
Camden Council wants to refurbish Kentish Town Sports Centre (KTSC), in Grafton Road, but to do that they would either have to sell part of the site to developers - including at least one of the centre's three pools - or close them altogether and open new ones next to the nearby Talacre Community Sports Centre"

(Via Camden Chronicle Stars add names to fight for pool: .)

In the past we have covered the teething-problems and reduced facilities caused by problems with the roof at the Talacre Centre in the period after its opening in 2002

Swimsuit protesters call for guarantee over baths

webteam — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 22:11:37 GMT

"As campaign mounts, leisure boss says: ‘We face costly challenge’

Making a splash: (from left) Brenda Humphreys, Philip Thompson and Omar Faruque Ansari

PROTESTING swimmers stripped down to trunks and swimsuits outside Kentish Town baths on Tuesday as their campaign to save the pool gathered momentum.

Campaigners are demanding that leisure chiefs come clean over plans for the pool in Prince of Wales Road. At the demonstration on Tuesday, younger pool users held up placards urging Camden Council to safeguard the baths’ future.

Pool user Philip Thompson, 23, who is organising a petition protest, said: “We feel we are being kept in the dark. Nobody knows what is going to happen. We want the council to guarantee that the pool will not close. “We are taking this petition door to door in the area, and are asking shops to take it so everyone has the chance to sign.”"

(Via Camden Islington & West End - News Reviews Listings: .)

IF BRENDA IS ON THE CASE THE COUNCILLORS IN CAMDEN HAD BETTER BE VERY AFRAID

'Save our pool' strip protest

webteam — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 08:12:07 GMT

"SWIMMING campaigners stripped off yesterday (Tuesday) to protest against plans that could lead to one of Camden's three pools being closed.
Camden Council wants to refurbish Kentish Town Sports Centre, in Grafton Road, but to do that they would have to sell part of the site to developers - including at least one of the centre's two pools.
Protesters are furious at the proposals and were prepared to brave winter winds wearing nothing more than bikinis and trunks this week to drive home their message. "

(Via Camden Chronicle 'Save our pool' strip protest: .)

Kentish Town campaign springs into action - GET INVOLVED

webteam — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 19:19:38 GMT

Several Camden residents who are concerned about the potential threat to the future of the Kentish Town Baths are putting together a petition to ensure their survival. They are planning to stage a protest outside Kentish Town Baths wearing only swimming costumes while collecting signatures and being photographed by the press today at 1.45pm (Tuesday) (Grafton Road NW5 3LE). They hope to draw attention to the issue and gather support to oppose the possible closure. If you can offer any support do get in touch with them.

If you need any more info, the contact number for Phillip Thompson on 07817 144 595 or the campaign email address is savekentishtownbaths@hotmail.co.uk.