A swimming pool which has been out of action for years in the Small Heath area of Birmingham will finally be back in use, say Council officials.

Birmingham City Council issued a statement today (8 December) confirming plans to bring back the pool for the people of Small Heath and Bordesley Green who feel “forgotten and betrayed”.

The swimming pool, which has been closed since 2016, will be brought back into use in the medium term as plans are developed to build a brand-new swimming and leisure facility in Small Heath which will serve the community for decades to come according to a statement issued by Birmingham City Council.

The closed swimming pool forms a part of the current Small Heath Wellbeing Centre which is located at the triangle of the Ladywood, Small Heath and Bordesley Green wards.

 

The Small Heath Swimming Pool was used by many Birmingham schoolsHSJ
The Small Heath Swimming Pool was used by many Birmingham schools

Councillor Mariam Khan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “Everyone is keen to see swimming facilities return to Small Heath, as since the pool closed in 2016 there has not been provision in the local area.

“The return of swimming facilities to the neighbourhood would help to improve health outcomes and provide an important leisure and recreational space.”

Birmingham City Council is working to bring the existing pool in Small Heath back into use, by conducting the crucial repairs that need to take place.

The work will take some time to complete, and the Council will work closely with other stakeholders from the site, including Small Heath Leadership Academy, Small Heath Public Library and the Youth Service, to minimise disruption to services.

The pool requires repairs to some of the tilesHSJ
The pool requires repairs to some of the tiles

This plan will mean that swimming facilities – which have been closed to the public – will return to Small Heath, providing the community with a valuable resource, helping to keep the community active and healthy.

However, according to the Council “significant work” is required to bring the pool back into use and thus no timescale is being outlined as to when the work will be completed.

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The Small Heath Leisure Centre has been a vital part of the Small Heath and Bordesley Green community for many years, and that is why we are also looking at plans to build a new, modern leisure facility in the area, complete with a swimming pool.

“This development would bring state-of-the-art facilities to the area, giving local people the chance to take part in sport and leisure on a redeveloped site.”

The abandoned pool was once a sports mecca and drew people from across BirminghamHSJ
The abandoned pool was once a sports mecca and drew people from across Birmingham

This development is in its early stages, and local Councillors are working with officers to investigate what the available options are in the locality.

Once these options have been explored further, a process of community engagement will begin, in order to understand the views and needs of local residents.

Mrs Begum, who lives in Whitehall Road, Bordesley Green, spoke to I Am Birmingham after hearing about the plans to get the swimming pool back into use.

“It’s overdue. Why didn’t the Council carry out essential repairs years ago? I’m so frustrated that it’s taken this long! Me and my kids love swimming and we’d go to the pool every week. It’s just up the road, only a few minutes away. It’s been years since it was last open,” said Mrs Begum.

The pool was used by women's groups and for children to learn a key life skillHSJ
The pool was used by women’s groups and for children to learn a key life skill

She added: “I’m happy to hear this news of reopening the pool but it’s only happened after local people launched campaigns on social media and told the press how the people of Small Heath and Bordesley Green have been totally and utterly forgotten and betrayed.

“It was so sad to see the Birmingham Commonwealth Games taking place this year and walk past our swimming pool which has been left to rot.

“I hope Birmingham City Council keeps the promise to fix our pool. Our community deserves better.

“I don’t want to be waiting around for another year as officials carry out some ‘consultation plan’ and waste time dangling carrots in front of us.

“We’ve waited too long.”

A stone laid by Prime Minister Harold Wilson to build the Small Heath Community Centre complex in 1975HSJ
A stone laid by Prime Minister Harold Wilson to build the Small Heath Community Centre complex in 1975

The long abandoned swimming pool was once a major public asset in Small Heath and Bordesley Green.

The Small Heath Community and Leisure Centre in Muntz Street was a huge building project – with a stone laid by Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1975 – and boasted a public library, swimming pool, leisure centre and a school which was opened by the then Prince Charles in 1980.

The swimming pool was popular with local people and also proved a huge success with schools and colleges across the West Midlands with coachloads of pupils arriving daily to use the services offered by the centre until the centre fell into decline and disrepair.

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