London Pools Campaign: London Borough of Islington

Sobell Consultation begins

webteam — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:37:15 GMT

Well it's the one in north London that everyone has been waiting for for years, the redevelopment of the Sobell. At present it doesn't maximise use of the site and looks as inviting as a nuclear bunker but at last moves are stirring to see a new facility on the site and we are told that it is in the frame for a pool!. click here

Ironmonger Row Baths and Finsbury Leisure Centre Consultation

webteam — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:24:35 GMT

Display-boards with illustrations of the various options are displayed in the lobby of Ironmonger Row Baths. Here is the consultation document [LINK].

"Islington Council, in partnership with EC1 New Deal for Communities (NDC), is very keen to improve the range of leisure, sport and community facilities available at these sites.

Having carried out some initial research with local groups, including schools, sports clubs and tenants' associations, we have worked up some refurbishment ideas for both facilities and the public space around them.

From Friday 9 November to Monday 10 December we are consulting with local people and centre users to find out what they think of these ideas. It is also a chance to find out what kinds of sports, leisure and community facilities people want to see in the area."

(Via Ironmonger Row Baths and Finsbury Leisure Centre Consultation: .)

Ironmonger Row Turkish Baths group is formed

webteam — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 20:12:46 GMT

"The group aims to bring together users of the Ironmonger Row Turkish Baths in Islington, London and to ensure they are aware of any changes planned and to act as a forum for their views."

(Via IMR_Turkish_Baths : Iron Monger Row Turkish Bath: .)

Highbury Pool

webteam — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:28:05 GMT

"Due to power failure the main pool at Highbury will not be open until further notice. We are working to re-open the pool as soon as possible. Please check this website for updates.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Highbury Pool is one of North London's most popular public fitness facilities.
£1.6m has been invested into developing the facilities at Highbury. The refurbishment, complete in January 2007, features an expanded Premier gym with over 100 stations, a stretch area, regular tummy workouts and a cardio-theatre. Two new exercise studios will host a range of classes including yoga, pilates, aerobics, circuit training and body conditioning. A new sauna & steam suite provides an extensive area for relaxation. "

(Via Highbury Pool: .)

Highbury Fields Pool Closed

webteam — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:39:26 GMT

We hear that there was, initially, some difficulty in informing schools of the closure.

"Because of a major problem in the pool drainage system, the main pool at Highbury is likely to be out of action until late July. All other facilities at the site, including the small pool, are open as usual.
Regular users of the main pool at Highbury are being contacted by Aquaterra, who runs the pool on the council's behalf."

(Via Leisure Centres: .)

Hornsey baths - Momento Mori

webteam — Thu, 17 May 2007 08:47:21 GMT

Hornsey Baths on Derelict London

Grainger Homes Hornsey baths page

Hornsey Baths apartments

A personal recollection

Ironmonger Row Baths listed

pool@... — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 23:50:35 GMT

"HANDSOME" Ironmonger Row Baths has made such a splash with the Government it has been made a listed building.

Tessa Jowell MP, secretary for culture, media and sport, has announced her decision to give the Finsbury swimming pool a grade II listing.

She said the baths were "a handsome, well-detailed example of an inter-war public baths", adding: "The building retains a significant proportion of its original plan and a number of internal 1930s fittings, notably the Turkish baths."

Former Islington schools swimming instructor David Hyams applauded the decision - which will ban any future developers from substantially changing the building.

Hornsey Bath update from Islington councillor

webteam — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 07:55:54 GMT

Laura Willoughby (Lib Dem) of Islington Council contributed to the site to update us.

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.

Report exposes filthy pool, Swimming pool a disgrace

webteam — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 02:34:57 GMT

Might have been entitled "Pool cleanliness important as election approaches".

"HEALTH and safety inspectors found rusting changing rooms and stained toilet floors when they inspected one of Islington's most popular swimming pools, the Tribune can reveal. Files unearthed using new Freedom of Information rules show that an inspection found a series of hazards at the Archway Leisure Centre in Macdonald Road this summer.
Leisure operators Aquaterra said that problems unearthed during the investigation in August had been seen to or would be addressed in the next week as a priority.

But Labour councillors say the pool is being mismanaged and attempts by the Liberal Democrat council to throw money at the pool have failed.
The health and safety dossier for the pool revealed:
Rusty changing rooms;
Hazard tape strewn across broken facilities;
Poor cleaning exposed by hair clogging up on the back of pipes;

Leaking soap dispensers;
Dirty floors;
Fire exits blocked by swimming floats;
Brown stains on the toilet floors."

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

Race to list Ironmonger Row?

webteam — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 19:47:32 GMT

Whenever we hear the phrase 'options study' we start to twitch and it's just come up again, this time for an old favourite Ironmonger Row. We gather that Islington are looking at their leisure facilities and assessing the future of their estate and within this are looking at the future of the wonderful Ironmonger Row Baths. This huge, solid building houses a swimming pool, sauna, turkish baths, gym and laundry. All this is in a building that makes most leisure centre structures look like a pup tent from Argos. We have learned that it may presently be being assessed for disposal and we are told that hurried steps are being taken to list the building to offer it some protection.

A letter to English Heritage from the Twentieth Century Society contains the line, "The Ironmonger Row Baths are threatened with demolition - Islington Council and Aquaterra Leisure who manage the Baths intend to dispose of the site for redevelopment. We consider the building to be one of the best examples of its type and era in London, comparable to the architects’ listed baths elsewhere in town."

The pool has some of the best London water we have swum and excellent staff maintaining it but has a location that must have commercial/residential developers salivating.

We also can't believe that Islington Council would be so stupid as to lose this gem. We expect to be told about the high-cost of modernisation, the need to maximise income to build new facilities and very little about the need to maintain vital facilities in an area of the borough with high levels of 'need'. We will, as usual, watch with interest. Watch this space.

You could even try and contact someone at Islington Council - like a director in Leisure