Blackburn with Darwen pools death knell

THE final death knell on Blackburn’s Daisyfield Pools complex is due to be sounded by councillors on Thursday.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning committee has been recommended to approve an application to demolish the building in Daisy Lane.

The authority controversially close the swimming complex in August 2023 after the discovery of legionella bacteria sparked wider health and safety concerns about pool plant and equipment in the 118-year-old building.

The planning committee meeting is the final piece of the jigsaw by the council before knocking down the building which has two separate pools for adults and children.

In September last year the authority’s ruling executive board confirmed the closure despite an impassioned plea to reverse the decision from Shelley Whitehead from charitable organisation Half Fish which had operated the complex on its behalf since 2016, providing swimming lessons for thousands of children in the town.

Conservative group leader Cllr John Slater told that meeting: “It is absolutely disgraceful how we got to this situation.

“We own the building. If there was a political will to help these people we could have done it.”

But an officer’s report to the executive board said council could not afford the £71,000 needed to refurbish the pool plant and £3.1 million more required for wider building repairs to keep the pools operational in the short term.

In April the authority went out to tender for a contractor to knock down the building and last month submitted the necessary planning application to start the actual demolition process which will begin once councillors have rubber stamped it.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s environment and operations boss Cllr Jim Smith said: “It’s a pity the baths got into the state they were but unfortunately they had to go.

“This is the final piece of administration before demolition.

“The council had no choice because of the health and safety issues.”

Cllr Mustafa Desai, leader of the authority’s 4 BwD opposition group, said: “It’s sad it has come to this, this was a much used facility however the health and safety of the public is paramount.

“The current financial position does present challenges for the council therefore the viability of ‘fixing’ I guess isn’t an option.

“There was a promise of working with Sports England to look at building an alternative provision and I’m hopeful this will come to fruition ”

The planning officer’s report to Thursday’s meeting says: “The site is a vacant swimming baths that is located within Blackburn.

“The submitted application forms states that the building is in a dilapidated state and is no longer fit for purpose.

“The wider site covers circa 1.1 acres and comprises of a single large building, car parks and soft landscaped areas.

“The methods of demolition detailed are relatively standard for this type of development.

“A demolition contractor is yet to be appointed and some of the specifics relating to the exact types of machinery to be used are currently an unknown.

“That said, the site is large enough to prevent any adverse disruptions for the immediate neighbours beyond those that are typically expected for this type of development.

“The submitted information states that the foundations would be grubbed up with slabs removed and any voids filled in.

“Temporary metal fencing would also be retained around the site following completion.

“Those restoration works are relatively standard and no further measures are required as the site will be redeveloped in the future.”