Group set up in bid to save Shaw baths

Friends of Shaw Baths are fighting to keep the pool open

A community group has been set up in a bid to take over a popular swimming pool.

Friends of Shaw Baths hope to save Crompton Pool, which is set to close under Oldham Council’s review of its leisure facilities.

The potential bid for community ownership of the historic building will be discussed tonight at St Paul’s Methodist Church, in Shaw.

It follows Shaw and Crompton Parish Council receiving a reply from Oldham Council’s chief executive Charlie Parker regarding what assets are needed to complete a potential transfer of the baths to the parish council or community groups.

The local authority is set to close the pool — which marks its 113th anniversary later this month — after it was not included in its new leisure plans.

Mr Parker told the parish council: “The council is keen to encourage community ownership of the pool, subject to the asset transferring and on the provision that the future model of operation is sustainable.”

Mr Parker said the council is willing to discuss the matter in the future — but the discussions must not delay the already agreed timetable for the leisure plans.

Friends of Shaw Baths, which has a committee in place, hopes to follow in the footsteps of a Fylde community group which took control of Kirkham Baths in 2009.

Joanne Lewis-Ryan, treasurer of the new group, hopes enough momentum can be built for their campaign and they can work with the council over a potential transfer.

She said: “They did it in Kirkham, so why can’t we? We just need to drum up enough support.”
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