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Govanhill Baths Community Trust |
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The campaign to save Govanhill Pool formally began in December January 2001 when Glasgow City Council informed the community and the users that it was to close the baths on March 31st that year. There had been no local consultation and none with the users. A feasibility study was commissioned by the Council after it was clear there was a massive and popular demand to keep the pool open. Community members occupied the pool from March 17th until August 7th that year when, after obtaining a decree to remove the protesters from the pool Sheriff’s Officers accompanied eventually by some 250 police, horses and even a helicopter surveillance removed the protesters and boarded up the pool with steel shutters. It has remained like this since. A web site was maintained at this time which reported on these issues; it can be found here. Here are some pictures that date from the last night of the baths:
The Dossier An account of the issues and arguments can be found in the publication “Sport for Life for Who?” (2001), a Critique of the Glasgow City Council Decision to Close Govanhill Pool (Calder Street Baths) Glasgow's Govanhill Pool: Southside Against Closure which can be found here. The Impact of Closure In the year following the closure of the pool and in the absence of any audit of the effects of its closure the Saveourpool campaign commissioned a study. This was sent to the council, and can be found here. The Current Position We are determined that this historic, essential, recreational and health giving facility is restored and returned to community use. We also want to enlist your support in our developing plans for ensuring that this happens and let you know what we are doing. Since the closure of the baths, a working group has kept a watching brief on developments and explored a number of avenues for keeping it open. Recent developments mean that ideas we have had can now be explored further and hopefully taken forward. It is also to let you know that we will be seeking to work in close collaboration with the Crosshill/Govanhill Community Council and have met with its members at a recent meeting. In their turn, this Council is liaising with Strathbungo/Shawlands and Battlefield/Langside Community Councils. Crosshill/Govanhill Community Council is spearheading an attempt to re-open the baths. The Glasgow City Council has formally declared that the pool is surplus to the requirements of the Culture and Leisure Services Department. Regeneration Services has taken over the building and it seems an indication has been made that the Dixon Community has an interest in the building but makes it clear it is keen to act according to community wishes. However, Historic Scotland has indicated that the B Listing on the building means that the main swimming pool area has to be preserved. This fact is confirmed on its web site (www.historic-scotland.gov.uk) The Govanhill Baths Community Trust The application for charitable Trust status has now been accepted and confirmed. The main purposes are as follows: 1. a. to preserve and conserve, for the public benefit, buildings of historic or architectural interest, in particular Govanhill Baths; and b. to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Govanhill and its environs without distinction of sex, sexuality, political, religious or other opinions by associating the local statutory authorities, voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities or assist in the provision of facilities, in the interest of social welfare for recreation and other leisure-time occupation so that their conditions of life may be improved. In furtherance of these purposes, but not otherwise, the Trustees shall seek; (i) to acquire, maintain and manage the property known as Govanhill Baths; (ii) to create and promote for the public use within that facility a Healthy Living Centre incorporating the present contents and to do so through a variety of sporting, recreational and cultural activities, including swimming, fitness exercise clinics, games, healthy diet promotion and other relevant activities as the Trustees from time to time decide; The expenses of creating and administering the Trust, and any tax payable in relation to the GBCT, shall be met in priority to all other payments and transfers of assets out of the Trust Property Powers2. In the administration of the GBCT, the Trustees shall, in addition to the powers and rights which are conferred by law upon trustees who are acting without remuneration, have the fullest powers with regard to investment, sale, administration and management of the GBCT Property as if they were owners; in particular (but without limiting the scope of the powers which they may exercise under the preceding provision), the Trustees shall have the following powers:- a. to liaise with Historic Scotland and any other relevant preservation group including the Glasgow City Council in order to ensure that the building is preserved as a swimming pool and healthy living complex as set out at (1) above, to pursue sources of funding for: running and management costs for the GBCT, a feasibility study for the restoration redevelopment and running of the facility as set out above (1), a business plan for the facility, architectural and legal services, developing a network of community pools across the UK, the restoration and ongoing maintenance of the whole Govanhill Baths complex as a healthy living centre; b. to carry on any other activities which further any of the GBCT Purposes; c. to take such steps as may be deemed appropriate for the purpose of raising funds over and above those listed at (a) above. d. to accept and pursue grants, donations and legacies of all kinds (and to accept any reasonable conditions attaching to them); The Steering Group A group has been meeting since May 2004 formally and has now formed a Steering Group. It meets on a regular basis on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month unless otherwise indicated. Glasgow City Council Regeneration Services - Frank Sheridan We have met with Frank Sheridan at Glasgow City Council Regeneration Services Department who has indicated that the use of the pool building is a matter that depends on the nature and scope of any expressions of interest that are received. He is clear potential for the restoration of the baths and in January 2005, expressions of interest will be formally called for over and above that from the Dixon Committee. Liaising with others We are liaising closely with the campiagn from Manchester Victoria Baths which last year won the BBC TV Restoration competition and which in total has brought in £3.8 million to the Restoration Fund. Its spokesperson, Gill Wright, came to Glasgow specifically to attend our meeting with the Head of Regeneration Services in April this year. We are also liaising with a range of other pools that are being closed or threatened with closure across the UK. Seeking expressions of interest We are beginning our own process through the Charity/Trust of seeking expressions of financial interest and other support from a wide range of government and non-government agencies including the private sector - in particular, health and sport funding bodies. We are in the process of communicating with those agencies have already expressed interest and were identified in both the EDAW (1) and Archie. Email to
[email protected]or phone 0141 418 2755 or 07779995483
a. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/reports/science/poorhealth20040413.shtml b. http://www.google.com/newsalerts/verify?s=ce6b419dd30cc023&f=1 c. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3503820.stm d. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3540781.stm |
