Threatened swimming pool put on charity's 'at risk' register

The campaign to save St James Pool in Doncaster has been gathering momentum since it emerged the building was threatened by the regeneration plan.

Opened in 1932, the complex is one of the few remaining in Britain with a surviving original Turkish baths, which campaigners say remain popular.

But it could disappear as part of Doncaster Council's CCQ project, which the authority hopes will transform the run-down Waterdale area. Experts from the London-based SAVE Britain's Heritage recently visited Doncaster and agreed urgent action was needed to save the baths from demolition.

They agreed to place the swimming pool on their "at risk" register and also said they would support an application made to English Heritage to list the baths.

Ray Nortrop, one of the members of the group who asked SAVE to get involved, said he was delighted the charity agreed that the building was worth saving.

He added: "Certain parts of Doncaster town centre are currently blighted by the consequences of buildings which have been demolished in recent months. If the skids can be rammed under the demolition proposal of St James Pool so much the better in the name of Doncaster's people and the town's heritage."

According to Mr Nortrop, the campaign has "brought about a considerable amount of interest" from those who use the pool and from staff who work there.

He said his campaign had also been endorsed by the mayor of Doncaster, Peter Davies, despite the fact that the council was sponsoring the CCQ project.

Mr Nortrop added: "Mayor Davies was so impressed by SAVE's work that he has invited them to return for a two-day visit to Doncaster later in the year.

"The group have an incredible reputation as far as heritage matters are concerned."

Both the charity's secretary William Palin and his assistant Catherine Townsend visited Doncaster last month to tour St James Pool and the town centre.

A spokesman for SAVE Britain's Heritage confirmed the pair held discussions with the campaigners to help them gather support for the future of the baths.

Other projects the charity has been involved with include the

restoration of All Souls Church, Halifax.

The building, which was designed by eminent architect George Gilbert Scott, was said to be his finest church, but its spire had become dangerous.

Workers from SAVE helped to raise almost half a million pounds to make the building safe and helped to set up a trust to ensure its future was more secure.

Doncaster recently saw its former Odeon cinema in Hallgate pulled down and there is also a campaign running to restore the town's derelict Grand Theatre.

Mr Nortrop said the loss of the Odeon, formerly known as the Gaumont, had been keenly felt and there was now more determination to stop more demolition.

Doncaster's 300m civic and cultural quarter scheme includes plans for a new council HQ, a "performance venue" and new public open space on land which is currently a car park.

Outline planning permission has already been granted for the first phase and the town's former college has already been demolished to pave the way for construction.

It is projected that the first part of the scheme will be open in late 2012. St James Pool would be lost in phase two of the scheme which is expected to start later this decade, subject to funding.