Coseley Baths campaigners vow to fight on after Government backs closure plan
Campaigners fighting to save a Midland swimming pool have remained remained defiant despite suffering a fresh blow.
Members of the Save Coseley Baths Action Committee pledged to fight on after the Local Government Ombudsman backed Dudley Council’s methods of closing Coseley pool.
The authority decided to close the facility in March following safety inspections which identified a replacement roof would be required within six months.
Repair costs, disputed by the campaigners, were put at more than £1 million.
A complaint was made to the ombudsman alleging the council had failed to carry out public consultation before reaching its decision.
But in its response, the ombudsman rejected the complaint, saying: “The council is elected to make decisions such as this through the democratic process.
“It is not a requirement that it must consult the public as to how resources are to be allocated on each occasion.
“The evidence I have seen does not lead me to believe there was maladministration in the decision.”
Save Coseley Baths spokesman Brian Guest said: “We still believe there are unanswered questions in relation to the closure of the baths.
“As we’ve said all along, this is morally wrong. What they are doing is robbing the people of the Dudley area of facilities to enable them to swim.
“We are not going to go away. We are going to fight on.”
The group is raising cash for a legal challenge, which could cost around £25,000. Campaigners hope to receive legal aid, but first of all need to net around £2,000 for consultations with solicitors and barristers.
Council leader Coun Anne Millward said: “The council took no pleasure in having to take the decision to close Coseley Swimming Pool but we had no choice because we have to consider the safety of the public first.
“We hope this response from this independent body will reassure people the council acted perfectly correctly in taking the decision.”
