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Diving into action!:
Top speakers pledge support for pool project
Gill Wright, a key member of the campaign to save Victoria Baths in
Manchester and whose team won the first BBC Resoration programme attended the
Public Meeting on January 25th. She recounted her Manchester experiences to
over 130 people, who crammed into Daisy Street Community Centre. She was
joined by Alan Pert of city architects NORD who unveilled for the first time
impressive computerised 3D images of their proposals.
A representative of the South East NHS also commented on their vision of the
Govanhill project, along with a number of MSPs. These were: Rosie Kane,
Mohammad Sarwar and Robert Brown. The mood was upbeat and positive and in
particular Mohammad Sarwar made it clear that he thought the campaign
was hugely positive and deserved full support. He said that he
would ensure that he brought the local Labour politicians including MSP Frank
McAveaty together in a meeting with the Trust's Board in order to discuss a
way forward for the Trust's plans. Subsequently, a meeting has been
scheduled with local councillors and the local MP.
All the MSPs have made it clear that this is not a political issues and that
all parties must work together on behalf of this community. Other MSPs sent
messages of strong support, but had previous engagements and were thus
unable to attend - these were Patrick Harvie, Rosie Kane and Glenda
White. Further, Nicola Sturgeon also made it clear how strongly she
supports the Trust's work and also sent a message.
Community campaigners also added their voice. The overiding theme from
many contributors from the floor was the for the pool to re-open as a
community facility in an area of great need.
The newly-formed Govanhill Baths Community Trust is behind the project, which
proposes to restore the List B Edwardian building to its former splendour
whilst incorporating impressive modern amenities including a Healthy Living
Centre, centres of excellence for arthritis and asthma, a hydrotherapy
pool, a rooftop garden, and crucially space for youth activities as well
as proposed solar-powered heating!
Despite a 7-month fight to keep them open, Glasgow City Council closed the
Govanhill Baths in 2001. Since then, a survey has revealed that 70% of the
buildingšs regular users now no longer swim at all. Feelings still run high
in the Govanhill area and beyond at the loss of a popular local amenity
in what is acknowledged to be the unhealthiest constituency in the UK.
Pictures of the meeting are now available from here. Extensive
information is available elsewhere on this site.
For further information contact: [email protected]
or contact Andrew Johnson on 0141-423 0771/07779 995483 or Fatima Uygun on
07899 836898.
Latest news articles
Published 26th/27th January 2005
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5034946.html
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5034882.html
Published 14th January 2005
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/31442.html
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5034554.html
The Evening Times also added an editorial (shown at the bottom of the
page) :
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/lo/opinion/7016557.html
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