Open Day Saturday 12 September 10am to 2pm

There will be a Camberwell Baths Open Day at Camberwell Library on Saturday 12 September from 10am to 2pm.

As you know, the Baths have now closed for renovation and the 'At Risk' work has now begun. The plan is that they should reopen, fully renovated, in 2010.

The detailed plans will be on display in the Library, and the Project Team and Cllr Lewis Robinson will be there to answer any questions you have, and to give clarification on the plans. It is a great opportunity to see how the Baths will be renovated, and what the new layout and facilities will be.

The public consultation period ended on 12 August, and I understand that there were no objections forthcoming from within the community or from English Heritage. So it's full steam ahead for the Project Team, as they need to get the grant spent within the financial year!

Planning Application

The planning application has now been submitted and is currently out to public consultation until Thursday 12^th August 2009. Full details of the proposals are available on the Council’s website, using Application Number: 09/AP/1207 at: http://planningonline.southwarksites.com/planningonline2/.

The application will then be considered for approval by the Planning Committee on Tuesday 8^th September 2009.

As you know, the Government funding has to be spent in this financial year and achieving planning approval in September is crucial to meet this deadline. If the money is not used within the time frame, then it will be lost to the project.

Our recommendation is that you have a look at the plans and if there is anything on which you seek clarification (for example the exact layout of the changing rooms) then please contact Lewis Robinson lewis.robinson@southwark.gov.uk.

Please do not wait until 8 September to have a look at the plans!

The Camberwell Baths Campaign will be making more detailed observations on the plans, as will the Camberwell Society.

Achieving planning approval is the final hurdle before work can actually start on refurbishment of the Baths. It has taken a long time to reach this point so I hope you can take the time to review the proposals so that restoration of Camberwell Baths will start this autumn.

It would also be helpful if you could email your support for this application to planning.applications@southwark.gov.uk or directly to Lewis Robinson lewis.robinson@southwark.gov.uk.

Finally, there will be an open day on Saturday 12^th September 2009 where residents and users can view the final plans and programme of works. Once we have the details of this day we will circulate them.