Campaigners call for national pools federation

Meeting at the University of London Union on Saturday 24 June, 76 delegates explored the challenges facing historic pools. They publicised their own campaigns for historic pools, and drew up action points for government, pool providers, and campaigners around the country. Speakers including Ralph Riley, Chief Executive of the Institute of Sport & Recreation Management, Dr Ian Gordon, author of the forthcoming book Great Lengths, and Gill Wright, Director of the Victoria Baths Trust, provided delegates with the historical and practical context for their discussion.

Making a Splash was a landmark event, said Dr Ian Dungavell, Director of the Victorian Society. It provided the first opportunity for many people campaigning for swimming pools around the country to meet and showed how much people care about their local pools. Historic pools have so much to offer and meet so many of the Governments heritage, health, and community value criteria, yet people around the country are having to fight to save them. A national network would make this easier.

Download the conference report here (PDF 1.6mb)

eNews issue 57