Carlisle’s Turkish Bath campaigners are demanding answers from the city council over the future of school swimming lessons next year.
Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths say that the decision to close the James Street Pools will leave just three pools available for primary school swimming lessons from autumn 2022, including two currently being built at the new-look Sands Centre.
And they claim that without proper provision, there could be more tragedies like that of a 16-year-old city schoolboy who drowned in the River Eden last month because he couldn’t swim.
The group has now written to the council questioning whether there will be sufficient capacity for school swimming lessons after the James Street Pools close next year.
And as part of their campaign to save Carlisle’s Grade II listed Turkish Baths in James Street, they are calling for the two pools in the James Street Victorian Public Baths to remain open.
The move comes just weeks after the death of teenager Mohammad Abdul Hamid, who died after getting into difficulty in the River Eden, and amid increasing concern that the closure of swimming pools during pandemic has left many children without basic water safety awareness.
Campaigner Lynda Hepburn, who taught Hamid, said: “Hamid’s death is a a horrific reminder of the dangers of water and the importance of all children being taught to swim.
“I am begging city councillors to set aside their political differences and commit to retain the two pools in the Victorian Public Baths now.
“Please don’t wait until the pools are drained before discovering there isn’t enough pool space for Carlisle’s primary school children.”
The National Curriculum requires schools to provide swimming lessons so that all pupils are able to swim at least 25 metres by the end of KS2, and guidance from the Amateur Swimming Association recommends schools provide at least 24 hours of swimming to meet the KS2 requirements.
Leader of Carlisle City Council, John Mallinson said: “The £27 million Sands Centre redevelopment is a major project that will provide significant benefits and will support our communities to continue to improve their health and wellbeing. There is a necessity to do the work.
“Carlisle desperately needs new swimming facilities. This is a one-off opportunity with the benefit of all the facilities being on one site.
“The new Sands Centre building will be set across two storeys and the new build extension will add 40,000sqft to the existing building, with the redeveloped centre offering state-of-the-art facilities including a 25m main pool and a 20m learner pool complete with an innovative moveable floor.
“The new pools facilities at The Sands Centre redevelopment will have sufficient capacity to accommodate all school swimming in new, modern and reliable facilities.”
Construction on The Sands Centre redevelopment is due to be completed by late autumn 2022. The existing pools provision on James Street will remain in place until all construction at The Sands Centre has been completed, the council added.
