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The baths
may be safe now, but the row still rumbles on
• Contrary to the biased coverage in the past
few editions of the CNJ, the decision on Kentish Town baths
has nothing to do with Lib Dem pressure and everything to do
with our Labour-run council listening to local people.
Labour councillors pledged to refurbish the baths in our
community strategy in 2002 and we are delivering on that pledge.
There was never any plan agreed to close the baths. However,
we were always aware that this would be an expensive project,
and we did not want to put an unjustified burden on council
taxpayers.
Initial indications were that complete modernisation could cost
up to £29 million. This was unacceptable, so we investigated
more cost-effective options. The agreed scheme will involve
substantial repairs and new changing and reception facilities,
while retaining the two large pools and the listed Victorian
frontage. The cost will be substantially lower than that for
the original proposed redevelopment.
The story of the Kentish Town baths, as on other local issues,
simply proves how much Kentish Town needs Labour councillors.
We have succeeded in getting the new Talacre sports centre for
Kentish Town, and keeping it under the direct control of the
council. We put more money into local schools and street improvements,
including the first home zone in the borough. In April, our
modernised Kentish Town library will open, and will now have
additional study space on a new mezzanine floor and improved
disability access.
It would be good to see more recognition of these achievements
in the pages of the CNJ, rather than scaremongering about non-existent
threats to local amenities.
Deirdre Krymer
David Horan
Lucy Anderson
Kentish Town Ward Councillors
• COUNCILLOR Gerry Harrison (Delighted about Baths,
Letters February 16) claims he has been away. ‘Was it behind
the bike sheds where his political associates “softened
him up?”
Some of us have grown to appreciate Gerry as unique among
local politicians. His speaking the truth about the Prince of
Wales baths and his firm advocacy of a sustainable future for
the venerable building will be remembered long after his political
bruising has faded.
Thank you Gerry and long may you be “shamelessly quoted”.
Peter Cuming
Talacre Road NW5
• I have recently started my role as the community sports
coach (swimming), based with the Camden Swiss Cottage Swimming
Club.
I felt that I should comment on the recent articles to do
with swimming in Camden. I know that the Kentish Town facility
has been the major focus of recent articles, but swimming provision
for the community has come into focus and it might seem to readers
that nothing is being done.
One of our aims with Camden Swiss Cottage Swimming Club is to
provide all young children with the opportunity, through locally
based swimming lessons, coaching and competition to progress
in this lifelong physical activity.
My role will be to help plan, organise and deliver a varied,
sustainable programme of swimming sessions to ensure that children
and adults in the area have access to the appropriate level
of teaching/coaching for their needs.
We have excellent pool time at the new Swiss Cottage Sports
Centre to run these programmes.
I am trying to gain funding for schemes to open pathways for
Camden school groups and priority groups to access organised
swimming.
The Swimming Club and the London Borough of Camden’s Sports
Development Unit are also looking to develop mentor swimming
coaching/teaching programmes to entice young swimmers to stay
involved in the sport and to develop their skills further.
Matt Chappel
Community Sports Coach
Camden Swiss Cottage Swimming Club
Kentish Town Sports Centre
• As I recall, Camden’s Labour party manifesto
in 2002 promised to refurbish the Kentish Town Baths.
They didn’t, and instead allowed them to decay seemingly
with the intention of closing it and selling it – not anticipating
the outcry.
Last week, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Camden residents
received an unsolicited pre-recorded telephone message from
the new Labour council leader Raj Chada about the baths.
In his phone message he asserted that “extravagant opposition
politicians” wanted to waste £29 million. But all
I heard from the Lib Dems was their view that residents want
to keep both pools which they said must be achievable for far
less than £29 million – which was Labour’s own
projected cost estimate.
Peter Wesley
Oakeshott Avenue
N6 |
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