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Baths stay shut until £23m refit
Roof safety fears force closure
THE saga surrounding the refurbishment of Camden’s favourite swimming pool appeared to come to an abrupt end on Monday when the Town Hall ruled that Kentish Town Baths must stay shut for safety reasons.
Leisure chiefs have blamed last month’s high winds for making the roof unsafe. A panel of glass was loosened and crashed into a pool overnight last week.
The baths had been due to close for their £22.7 million revamp in two weeks but swimmers’ groups wanted them to remain open until contracts had been signed and initial tests completed.
Those hopes were dashed by Lib Dem leisure chief Councillor Flick Rea on Monday when she confirmed that the baths will not re-open before renovation. Swimmers are now unlikely to return to the pools until 2010.
Cllr Rea said: “We have kept this historic building open for as long as we can. However, our first concern must be the health and safety of swimmers, staff and visitors to the centre.
“It is disappointing that people will lose out on their chance to have a final dip in the pools before they are refurbished but we simply cannot take the risk.”
The council had planned free half-term swimming for the final week of operation but the plans have now been abandoned. Tours of the building – mainly to show swimmers its poor condition – have been scrapped.
A council press official said roof inspections had revealed there was a danger of more glass panels falling into the building.
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