Provision for swimming pools in Birmingham goes back to the late 19th century. Harborne pool was built in 1923.

From what follows you can see that the history of the campaign to rebuild the Harborne baths is riddled with prevarication, u-turns and confusion.

This account is therefore the campaign as it appears to have occurred.

2001

Gisela Stuart MP first writes to the council to demand better facilities at the swimming pool.

2002

The Harborne Society, speaking on behalf of many Harborne residents, begins a campaign to secure the refurbishment or redevelopment of Harborne pool.

2003

October 2003: The City Council conclude that the pool has reached the end of its viable economic life.

2004

July 2004: An Edgbaston constituency district officer says at the Harborne ward meeting that, "Harborne pool is the greatest single asset that we have in this district. We have identified money that can be made available to refurbish it.”

August 2004: The Harborne Society is told that a repairs survey will start soon.

October 2004: Leisure chief and Harborne’s Cllr Alden says, "Harborne is the next priority after Moseley Road swimming baths and funding will be found as soon as possible for it.” click here for Evening Mail article

November 2004: It is announced at the Harborne ward committee that Cllr Alden “would be looking at the provision of funding at the strategic level with regard to all leisure facilities within the City”.

2005

March 2005: At the Harborne ward committee the Edgbaston District Manager says that a “full condition survey had been implemented” and that work will be implemented as soon as capital funds are released.

April 2005: The Harborne Society lambasts the council over the fact that the promised repairs survey has not been undertaken.

October 2005: At the ward committee the Chairman of the ward says that the swimming pool is the top item on the list of priorities in Harborne ward. The 'Condition of pool survey' report is given at the ward committee. It is resolved that approval be given to officers to complete a feasibility study with options for site redevelopment or a suitable site away from the current site.

2006

January 2006: It is announced at the ward committee that the feasibility study has resulted in four additional sites being identified as possible alternative locations for the pool; namely, Lordswood Boys' School, Harborne Hill School, the Blue Coat School and Harborne Church Farm Golf Course. A consultation is announced which has costings for the current Lordswood Road site.

March 2006 A vote at ward committee shows how much support there is for the pool to remain on the current site. The Acting Sports and Leisure manager says he has received 250 communications from members of the public, the vast majority of whom support retaining the pool on the current site.

April 2006: Gisela Stuart MP again demands answers from council chiefs about funding and timescale for a new pool and fitness centre.

May 2006: The Cabinet Member for leisure services (Cllr Alden) instructs officers to produce a business case to be completed by the end of August 2006. The case is to be based on the premise that facilities will include a 25 metre pool and sports hall and a teaching pool.

5 May 2006: Consultation on the pool site ends.

July 2006: The council finally announces that it will prepare a business plan based on a new development comprising a 25 metre pool, a teaching pool and a first floor sports hall on the existing site.

2007

29th January 2007: Council Leader and Harborne Councillor, Cllr Mike Whitby gives a statement at the ward committee saying that funding for another feasibility study will be agreed in April.

March 2007: The Head of Property and Projects says that a report about the swimming pool will be considered at the next meeting of the Property Cabinet Committee on 24 May 2007. A report on TIMESCALE of feasibility and FUNDING OPTIONS is to be submitted to future meetings of the ward committee.

24th May 2007: Funding for the feasibility study is agreed (one month later than promised)

July 2007: It is revealed that the Council is considered relocating offices to the Harborne pool site in order to cut costs. Cllr Deirdre Alden says "let's have a bit of vision here - delays over this new pool have given us a lot of heartache and we don't simply want a repeat of what we already have - let's go for it and get the best we can for Harborne. We could end up reducing costs if we relocate offices, reducing expenditure, for example at Harborne West."

July 2007: Gisela Stuart MP begins major consultation with residents over whether they want to see council offices transfered to the Harborne swimming pool site.

July 5th 2007: Cllr Hassall, Birmingham leisure chief admits that he does not know where the money will come from to refurbish the pool.

July 11th 2007: Council leisure chief orders officials to go back to the drawing board after saying that he thinks the quotes he has been given for the swimming pool rebuild are incorrect. He has ordered a detailed survey of every pool in the city.

July 31st 2007: Wyndley swimming baths (Sutton Coldfield) is allocated extra cash (reported to be £2.8 million) by council for refurbishment project.

30th October 2007: Report given to Harborne ward committee about the future of the baths. 3 design options shown but no Business Case made would be made until Easter 2008.

December 2007: The three design proposals are put out to public consultation at the request of the Harborne Society. 67% of respondents indicated a preference for option 3.

2008

May 12th 2008: Consultants Capita Symonds made a presentation to the Ward Committee which did not include a Business Case and recommended that the new pool be build on the site of the old baths, Lordswood Road. The propoals which the Consultants made were accepted by the Ward Committee

Work is expected to start on the new pool early 2010 with completion due towards the end of 2011.

Notes: Sources include the Harborne Society Website, The Evening Mail and Birmingham City Council. If you have any information to add to this section please contact me.