Rescued baths to open doors again next week
CASTLETON baths is set to reopen next week after being saved from closure at the 11th hour.
The historic pool, which first opened in 1910, has been shut since traces of Legionella were found in the showers in December.
And with refurbishment and repair costs estimated at £120,000 the pool, which is where Olympic star Keri-Anne Payne learnt the ropes, was at risk of being closed permanently.
But Castleton-raised businessman, Nick Crewe – who runs engineering and construction firm Crewe Industrial – stepped in and set up a trust which has taken over the lease from Link4Life under a community asset transfer.
And now, following weeks of work, it is set to reopen on Monday (Sept 4).
Initially swimming club Aquabears swimming club will be the sole users, but from Monday, September 11, local schools will be allowed in and then from September 18 it will reopen to other swimming clubs and the general public.
Coun Billy Sheerin, who helped arrange the community asset transfer, said: “Workmen from Crewe Industrial have been working extremely hard to solve the problems that caused the closure of the pool at the beginning of this year.
“The community asset transfer was agreed by the council on August 1, and since then the aim was to get it up and running for the beginning of September.
“This now has been achieved and important safety checks have been made.
“Ongoing improvements will continue to happen whilst the pool is in use to make a better and more attractive facility for all who use it which makes the news of opening even better.”
As the Observer reported last month news of the pool being saved was welcomed by Dave Crouch, Beijing silver medallist Payne’s former coach at Aquabears.
He said: “We are really pleased and really relieved. We are also really grateful to Nick Crewe. We can now start getting kids back in the water, which is the main thing.”
Eric Sutton, president of Castleton Swimming Club, which was formed in 1909, also said the move was ‘fantastic news’.
He added: “We have been asking questions about the future of the pool since December and not had any answers, but now we know its future is secure. It’s fantastic news.
“It’s good for the club, it’s good for the schools, who have been paying for transport costs to take the kids to Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, and it’s good news for Castleton because the pool is also going to be opened up to the public for the first time in a long while.”