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From left: Brenda Humphreys, Philip Thompson and Omar
Faruque Ansari protest at the proposed closure in October
last year
The Prince of Wales Road baths |
Safety experts' concern at pool's underwater hazard
Inspectors criticise baths staff for
failing to repair broken tiles
SWIMMERS at Prince of Wales Baths in Kentish Town are “learning
to be more cautious” about dangerous areas of broken tiles
on a pool floor, according to a worrying new health and safety
report.
Inspectors assessing safety at the pool in Prince of Wales Road
called for more to be done to address potential hazards.
Their latest quarterly report – compiled in November –
was released to the New Journal under the terms of the Freedom
of Information Act on Friday.
Instead of commenting on repairs at the crumbling pool, safety
experts said that swimmers were learning to dodge problem areas.
The report raises concerns about the Grafton Pool – one
of the two main pools at the 100-year-old baths. In the past
swimmers have cut their feet on shattered tiles.
The latest report on Grafton Pool warns: “It continues
to have a problem with deteriorating tiles underwater causing
a hazard to swimmers.”
Inspectors noted that the number of injuries sustained by swimmers
had reduced but added: “This points to customers learning
to be more cautious about certain areas of the pool. It was
of some concern that new staff did not see it as a serious problem.
There were no plans to drain the pool and carry out repairs.”
Other problems highlighted included a cracked glass roof in
the women’s changing rooms and leaks of pool water.
Previous reports released under Freedom of Information rules
revealed how lumps of concrete had fallen from the ceiling into
Willes Pool, the other main pool at the baths.
A council press official said the Town Hall took safety concerns
seriously.
Its Labour cabinet agreed a £14 million project to refurbish
the baths last Wednesday night. Amid cat-calls of “flip-flopping”
from Lib Dem rivals, senior Labour councillors approved new
plans to refurbish the baths. They had previously voiced concerns
about funding the project and began researching the possibility
of building a new pool elsewhere.
The new plan was welcomed by the Victorian Society, which campaigned
for a rescue package to save the grade-II listed building.
Dr Ian Dungavell, the society’s director, said: “We
are delighted. Historic swimming pools do so much to connect
communities to their past and Kentish Town Sports Centre is
still very popular. We wish other councils would follow Camden’s
lead.” |
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