Taken from a Facebook entry- hat tip to John Stooke :
"The rapidly unfolding debate about the future of Milton Road Baths (can’t quite get used to ‘Health Hydro’) sadly shows up the Borough Council in both a manipulative and spineless light.
Councillors are all aware that GLL took on Milton Road Baths on a five year lease option, after which time they have the possibility to return any or all of the facilities gifted to them by the Borough Council. (There is the question of the £2 million or so dowry for outstanding maintenance and how much of that is due to the small baths for example, but let’s leave that argument for a moment).
GLL is not a property developer. They are alleged to be a ‘not for profit’ social enterprise (what this seems to mean is that all potential profit is distributed internally in costs, salaries, benefits or bonuses before the final accounts are drawn up). For this they receive reductions in council tax and VAT unavailable to their competitors, arguably providing up to a 25% trading advantage.
The ‘social enterprise’ bit of the strapline calls for them to listen to and respect the populations that previously owned the leisure facilities as well as heritage and historical factors, and that maximising income is NOT the ONLY criteria.
It was clear at the time that GLL did not really want the Baths, but were required to take it as a package in addition to the Link, the Haydon Centre, Delta etc … centres where they thought they could operate profitably. The draft lease I saw specifically excluded running down or closing those bits of the ‘Package’ that were financially more challenging?
If Greenwich Leisure cannot propose a viable model to run this important facility … i.e. the large, the small and the Turkish baths, which it seems they cannot, then the expiry of the five year lease option should see GLL return the baths. The Borough Council should then consult, in good faith, with heritage groups and other interested parties locally and nationally over its future.
Instead, if past performance is any indicator of the future, we are witnessing the emergence of a potential ‘stitch up’ between GLL, Forward Swindon and the Cabinet….despite David Renard’s somewhat ambiguous statement.
Ironically, this is the very same Council that seeks to splash £25 million or so on a ludicrous building on Princes Street car park, arguing Swindon’s cultural heritage needs assembly, promotion, and presentation in a new, expensive home. This seems to me akin to buying new carpets and curtains on HP, without any money to fix the leaky roof?
I said spineless … Not content with one layer of “removal” via GLL, they also will rely on ‘Forward Swindon’ as another body who will dispassionately weigh up alternatives. Forward Swindon are of course a discredited company, wholly owned by the Borough Council, and will do the Council bidding at every stage.
It is not only about the external façade; internally the baths boast Victorian and Edwardian architectural features which are of outstanding quality and unique national importance.
I have no idea whether there is a plan which will protect the building, externally and internally into the future and of course this is needed, but a ‘so called’ feasibility study ending in ‘turn it into flats’ is as baleful as it is simplistic.
This is a spineless (that word again!) abrogation of our Borough Council’s duty to protect and enhance what small part of this town’s built heritage is still standing, further a contrived and engineered smokescreen to pretend these people you have voted in, can have no influence or role in these matter.
Our town should really not let them wriggle off this particular hook.
If you believe as I do .. that the Borough Council should be taking a lead in these areas and not dragged kicking and screaming to the party ... then go to facebook group 'Save Swindon Heritage', join, sign the petition and do get involved'... oh and share with any friends you think may feel the future of this town has room for more than just an endless landscape of 'Barrett's Boxes' .... (like what I live in) "
A Very good explanation for anyone who cares about the place we live in .
