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