ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE’S now former swimming baths will be used as a car park once the building is demolished.
The building, which shut its doors in September despite more than 7,000 people signing a petition to keep it open, will be knocked down after Active Tameside’s decision.
And Tameside Council documents have revealed the use of the land, on Water Street, once the structure is down – at least in the short-term.
Also the belief funds generated will help offset the estimated £964,000 cost.
In an executive decision, it states: “In terms of mitigating the empty building cost liability post-surrender, it is proposed to demolish the building and utilise the cleared site in the short term as a pay and display car park.
“In the medium to long term, the site could be sold to contribute towards town regeneration.”
At a meeting of Tameside Council’s executive cabinet, Cllr Jacqueline North admitted the reaction to the news had to be acknowledged.
But she outlined the reason why Ashton, as well as Adventure Longdendale, had to close, saying: “The council has agreed to accept the surrender of the leases for Ashton Pool and Active Longdendale and the report seeks permission to proceed with demolition of both buildings.
“Leisure trusts like Active Tameside are faced with really unprecedented increases in their energy costs, ageing buildings and government spending cuts.
“Community Leisure UK which represents leisure trusts like Active Tameside have pointed out that since 2010, 400 pools have had to close.
“And if proper and sustained funding is not made available, it’s likely that a further 2,000 will close by the end of the decade.
“I think we must acknowledge the strength of feeling among those that use Ashton Pool and this is evidenced in the petition that has been received.
“The pool is however at the end of its expected lifespan and with maintenance and revenue costs far above Active Tameside’s ability to sustain and the replacement costs for a new pool far out of reach of Tameside’s ability as we look to maintain our core services.”
After Ashton Baths was transferred fully back into the hands of the council, its executive cabinet voted to declare it surplus to requirements and it be knocked down, at a cost of up to £964,000.
They will then look to ‘capitalise’ the land as part of public realm work done in the town.
A report stated: “The current rateable value is £100,000, which will represent an annual rates payable liability to the council of £51,200. The council will become liable for the payment of the business rates after expiry of the initial three months relief.
“In addition, there will be the costs of management, security and maintenance.
“A condition survey undertaken in 2021 which identified £610,000 of backlog maintenance was required and the building condition has significantly deteriorated since then.
“The Ashton leisure centre was constructed more than 50 years ago, it is highly inefficient, and with rising energy costs and inflation, was being run at a considerable financial loss to Active Tameside.
“The council is unable to support the petition received to keep Ashton Swimming Pool open as it has insufficient capital to repair and maintain in a safe condition and insufficient revenue to manage the day to day running costs.”
I would be the first to agree that Local Authorities have suffered very badly under the Tory “Austerity” that we have endured since 2010. However, TMBC set a very bad, and visible example by neglecting the buildings they are responsible for, and then saying they are “beyond repair” when efficient day-to day maintenance would have avoided costly repairs. Good examples of the consequences of this ultimately stupid policy are the £3M it will cost to replace the roof on Stalybridge’s under -used and purposeless “Civic Hall” and a further vast amount to remedy poor maintenance and amateurish repairs undertaken on Ashton Town Hall. Further examples of bad management and utterly ridiculous “policies” are the £6M spent on the last Ashton Market remodelling, as recently as 2016, and the proposed £13M remodelling of said market, with a spectacular “canopy” at a cost of £13M. The closure of Ashton Baths is even more of a disgrace as it served one of Britain’s most deprived areas., unlike the Denton Fitness Centre, which is badly placed for the majority of Tameside residents, especially those who have been so cruelly deprived in Ashton.
Our undemocratic Labour Council operates a form of “Cabinet” Government. What a pity the members of that cabinet exhibit all the symptoms of megalomania!