Across the country swimming pools are being closed down without public consultation by local councils. Pools have been neglected, and poorly maintained by local authorities who claim they are too expensive to run. It’s worth noting that local authorities have no statutory obligation to provide recreational facilities like swimming, so when the axe falls, swimming pools are the first to go.

The problem of neglect, cuts and closures in swimming pools and health facilities is particularly acute in Birmingham. In areas such as, Sparkhill, Balsall Heath, Stechford, Newtown and Harborne, community pools have all been affected. Many of these pools have been so badly neglected that they have literally started falling down. The community of Ladywood has been waiting 20 years for a promised replacement pool. Every pool Birmingham City Council has closed without public consultation, has remained closed. The problem is so acute that schools in Birmingham are having problems fulfilling the national curriculum; that every child should be able to swim 25m by the age of 11.

Protests took place on the day that Birmingham City Council (BCC) set in motion plans to re-open Moseley Road’s Gala Pool and either rebuild or refurbish Sparkhill Pool. However experienced campaigners are calling for the public not to be drawn into complacency. Without a credible explanation we have moved from a situation where we have been told there is no money to do repairs, let alone refurbishments, to one where the council are virtually promising every community pool is safe and will be renewed.

In addition, as homage to the 2012 Olympic games, the city council claims to have enough money to build the Birmingham Aquatic Leisure Centre (BALC), a prestigious new 50m Olympic Size Swimming pool. This is partly to lure athletes to train in the city for only two months, and will cost the council over £60 million. This pool, whilst being suitable for training, would not be suitable for any major tournament (with the exception of diving) as it does not have adequate spectator provision.
Birmingham City Council has a history of spending huge amounts of money on showcase projects in its city centre whilst neglecting the needs of local communities. Many people are now conscious of the fact that none of these showcase projects, particularly the one’s backed with private money, have really ‘trickled down’ any benefits to Birmingham’s communities.

So the question remains, where has all this ‘promised’ money suddenly come from? There are no clear answers coming from the council, and the cynics amongst the campaigners would say that there is no easing off until the plans and money are both secured on the table. By announcing these plans for the pools together, it has detracted from the argument that the Leisure budget cannot cover both the BALC and the community pools. The worst-case scenario is that these promises are simply a way of holding off opposition to the BALC development, with its focus on elitist swimming and massaging local politician’s egos. It is possible that, at the next cabinet meeting in September, the one thing that will go ahead as planned will be the BALC development and community pools will be put on the back burner. At that point planning for BALC will be at a stage considered far too advanced to be opposed.

The other threat to community pools comes in the form of the Council’s plans to farm all pools out to trusts. This is setting off alarm bells for pool users and staff alike.

Conversely, despite provision of poor facilities, people are being told to exercise more and get healthy. In September 2009, Birmingham City Council are going to roll out a £10 million city-wide scheme to offer free swimming, gym and exercise classes to all residents in the city. This groundbreaking initiative, partly funded by the NHS, seeks to encourage longevity through increasing exercise. The irony is, that in certain regions of the city, facilities are so poor, that there will be few places for residents to use their free exercise pass and they will have to stump up considerable money for travel expenses, thus negating the promise of free exercise.

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robograd AT tiscali.co.uk