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When will the baths reopen?
QUITE spontaneously, swimmers and users of the Kentish Town baths are asking: Why is there such a hurry to close them down?
Few can deny the baths are decrepit and need to be rebuilt. But that has been known for more than a year. And while this newspaper has been in favour of a complete revamp of the baths, the question posed by the public needs to be taken seriously.
To plan a refurbishment on the scale the baths require isn’t something that can be done overnight. It must involve architects and planners, builders have to be contacted for start dates to be pencilled in, there is a great deal of preparatory work to be done.
This, presumably, would take several months.
In other words, the baths, much used by a large group of people, could be kept open, say, at least until the summer or, even, early autumn, by which time work could be expected to start.
Then, and only then, say those who have called a protest meeting next week, should the baths close down. Until then, let us use it, they argue.
It’s an attractive argument. To rebut this, the politicians will claim that immediate closure is necessary because of ongoing high maintenance costs. But where is the cost-benefit analysis to back this up? A quick glance at things suggests unholy haste by the politicians to act quickly – and publicly. This may be good for certain reputations. But does it achieve a public good?
Cynics may suggest an element of headline grabbing lay behind the sudden decision to announce its closure early next month.
We note the scheduled year of completion of works is 2010. But are not told at which point in the year, the new baths will be opened, but, cynically, we note that 2010 is also the year of the next local elections.
Too little too late
PLAGUED by neglect and dithering, the former Huntley Street nurses’ homes are to be turned into a block of private flats, with a few low-rented for key workers (see page 8). But scandalously, this decision is 25 years too late – that’s how long this block in Bloomsbury has lain empty.
To add to the scandal, we now learn that English Partnership, a government agency financed by taxpayers, is passing the building to builders Barratts, and will not disclose how much is being paid for it. A brownfield site is being handed over to a private developer. Large profits will be made.
The real losers are the low paid desperate for a home.
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