On a day when the local New Labour Party leaflet the area (more later on that) Kirkby Swimming Pool has been hit by a serious fire. The fire, according to workmen at the scene began at around 9.00am today (29th Feb 2004), the fire has caused extensive damage to the sauna/steam/workout suite and surrounding areas and as yet there is no indication as to what caused the blaze. Other facilities such as the 'suncabs' or sunbeds may also be damaged.
Another Jewel in the Crown destroyed.
The swimming pool was once one of the 'Jewels in the crown' of Kirkby and has itself has served generations of Kirkby people. Many of us will remember a time not so long back when kids here took part in exciting well attended competitive swimming events with the odd kid perhaps harbouring dreams of becoming an Olympic swimmer. The building itself actually has three pools; this included a 33-metre main pool plus a diving pool which had 3 different boards and was used by professional divers at one point for practice. Kirkby Swimming pool also has an excellent baby/teaching pool which is great for toddlers accompanied with adults. Many of us would have taken our first tentative paddle in this pool which also had a café overlooking the area so that parents could perhaps view as kids were given lessons by trained accredited staff. There was also a meeting room suitable for local groups plus the café, which overlooked the toddlers pool, and the actual seated spectators area which looked over the main pool and the diving pool.
What about the Workers?
The staff at Kirkby Swimming Pool were always a good bunch, they had to be on their toes as sometimes kids took the Michael, but they always kept order and the place had a good atmosphere. No-one has asked what is to become of the staff if the pool is closed and merged with Kirkby Stadium in some 'super complex'. The staff may not know themselves what their future is to be if the swimming pool is closed. Will they still be employed by Knowsley Council? This question is one that needs answering. It seems like Knowsley Council want to give up actually controlling local facilities and hand them over to the private sector.
Smoke Damage.
I went over to take a few snaps but the visible damage is mostly inside with just a few boarded up windows plus open windows revealing to passers by that something is wrong. The smell of smoke was still there and at the entrance to the swimming pool the smell of smoke was particularly bad.
Below, the staff car park of Kirkby Swimming Pool today as various workers were busy inside repairing damage.
One of the workmen estimated that the swimming pool would be closed for a few days, but the sauna/steam rooms, popular with many who use the baths, may not be repairable. This is another loss to the community and adds to the pressure on Knowsley Council who have a number of community recreational facilities out of action. Towerhill Community Centre, we will recall, was closed recently because the Council thought the electrics were unsafe. Kirkby Sports Centre and Kirkby Swimming Pool have both been lined up for the chop, and the replacement facility will take up less space than the two other facilities combined. More land to sell off for Knowsley Council. More houses built. More people in need of recreational facilities! Maybe Knowsley Councils eventual plan is to rid us of every bit of free open green space and then charge us to use whatever facilities they have.
Cause of the Fire?
There was no news from workmen in attendance regarding the actual cause of the blaze, but the Fire service will be in attendance tomorrow to investigate what actually caused the blaze. If this was an electrical fault or if it was arson, there needs to be serious questions asked.
The burning issue.
Kirkby has had a lot of damage caused by fires. We saw an entire School burn down in Northwood, if this land was owned by the church, then they can now sell off the land with the school itself already moved to Sacred Heart. We saw Centre 63 burnt to a cinder a couple of years back. All Saints School, Kirkby suffered a serious blaze in May 2003. Brookfield was set alight in June 2003. We also had a serious blaze which destroyed one shop and closed down 2 others in Kirkby town Centre a couple of weeks ago.
The swimming pool was once one of the 'Jewels in the crown' of Kirkby and has itself has served generations of Kirkby people. Many of us will remember a time not so long back when kids here took part in exciting well attended competitive swimming events with the odd kid perhaps harbouring dreams of becoming an Olympic swimmer. The building itself actually has three pools; this included a 33-metre main pool plus a diving pool which had 3 different boards and was used by professional divers at one point for practice. Kirkby Swimming pool also has an excellent baby/teaching pool which is great for toddlers accompanied with adults. Many of us would have taken our first tentative paddle in this pool which also had a café overlooking the area so that parents could perhaps view as kids were given lessons by trained accredited staff. There was also a meeting room suitable for local groups plus the café, which overlooked the toddlers pool, and the actual seated spectators area which looked over the main pool and the diving pool.
What about the Workers?
The staff at Kirkby Swimming Pool were always a good bunch, they had to be on their toes as sometimes kids took the Michael, but they always kept order and the place had a good atmosphere. No-one has asked what is to become of the staff if the pool is closed and merged with Kirkby Stadium in some 'super complex'. The staff may not know themselves what their future is to be if the swimming pool is closed. Will they still be employed by Knowsley Council? This question is one that needs answering. It seems like Knowsley Council want to give up actually controlling local facilities and hand them over to the private sector.
Smoke Damage.
I went over to take a few snaps but the visible damage is mostly inside with just a few boarded up windows plus open windows revealing to passers by that something is wrong. The smell of smoke was still there and at the entrance to the swimming pool the smell of smoke was particularly bad.
Below, the staff car park of Kirkby Swimming Pool today as various workers were busy inside repairing damage.
One of the workmen estimated that the swimming pool would be closed for a few days, but the sauna/steam rooms, popular with many who use the baths, may not be repairable. This is another loss to the community and adds to the pressure on Knowsley Council who have a number of community recreational facilities out of action. Towerhill Community Centre, we will recall, was closed recently because the Council thought the electrics were unsafe. Kirkby Sports Centre and Kirkby Swimming Pool have both been lined up for the chop, and the replacement facility will take up less space than the two other facilities combined. More land to sell off for Knowsley Council. More houses built. More people in need of recreational facilities! Maybe Knowsley Councils eventual plan is to rid us of every bit of free open green space and then charge us to use whatever facilities they have.
Cause of the Fire?
There was no news from workmen in attendance regarding the actual cause of the blaze, but the Fire service will be in attendance tomorrow to investigate what actually caused the blaze. If this was an electrical fault or if it was arson, there needs to be serious questions asked.
The burning issue.
Kirkby has had a lot of damage caused by fires. We saw an entire School burn down in Northwood, if this land was owned by the church, then they can now sell off the land with the school itself already moved to Sacred Heart. We saw Centre 63 burnt to a cinder a couple of years back. All Saints School, Kirkby suffered a serious blaze in May 2003. Brookfield was set alight in June 2003. We also had a serious blaze which destroyed one shop and closed down 2 others in Kirkby town Centre a couple of weeks ago.
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