Campaigners with ambitions to revitalise a unique heritage asset in Carlisle are set to make their case to councillors next week.
Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths are set to attend Carlisle City Council’s People Panel next Thursday, providing an update on their developing business plan for the threatened facility.
The campaigners hope to see the Grade II listed Turkish Health Suite remain an asset to Carlisle. It will close in September when the next door 1970s pool building is knocked down.
The James Street Pools are set to be demolished to make way for the expansion of Carlisle’s railway station under the Borderlands funded Station Gateway Project.
Staff of GLL will move to the redeveloped Sands Centre which will become the new home of swimming provision in Carlisle.
Addressing councillors next week, the group will report the findings of their viability study which looks at the future potential of the baths.
Councillors will be told that the 20 metre pool currently set for demolition could provide an extension for the Turkish baths with space for changing rooms a cafe/bar and treatment rooms.
The viability study explores the potential for the 10 metre pool to be refurbished for hydrotherapy treatments.
A previous meeting of the scrutiny panel heard of the group’s ambitions to create a community hub and laundry in the extended facility.
However, chair of the group Julie Minns said: “The decant will complete by the middle of October to the Sands Centre. We would have hoped, if it wasn’t going to be last minute, there would be come clarity by now.”
Funding for the viability study which will be complete by October, was awarded by Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and the Architectural Heritage Fund.
The group would then hope to carry out a development stage study with a view to seeking capital funding and a community asset transfer.
Ms Minns said that in the meantime, the city council must make a decision on whether the baths will continue to operate.
“At the moment it doesn’t feel we’re any closer to that decision or any further on it than we were this time last year and that’s really disappointing because it’s such a gem. Wellness tourism is a massive growth area and Carlisle has a facility that could have a slice of that market.”
