Look how far we have come

When sorting through my archives recently I came across these plans from a company of architects. They show how the refurbishment of the pool would have been achieved through the redevelopment of the area at the back of the Baths. So we would have had no 30 station gym, no youth centre, no Warwick Hall and no Olympic (Sports) Hall.

Makes you think doesn't it?

http://ashsak.com/camberwell-baths-london-grade-ii/

Olympic Capital Legacy Fund: Latest News

Dear Supporter

I have just heard that following the application from the Camberwell Baths Campaign, the Olympic Capital Legacy Funding Panel has recommended that the Sports Hall (now to be known as the Olympic Hall) should receive £490K from the fund! The decision will now go forward for approval to Southwark Council (specifically Cllr Livingstone).

Matched with the £500K from Southwark Council's capital programme, that means that we will have reached our target for total refurbishment of the Olympic Hall.

We cannot celebrate just yet as the decision has not been ratified by Southwark Council, but should be in about 2 weeks.

Please find below the link to the full report on the Olympic Capital Legacy Bid. I have also taken out some of the key points for you:

http://moderngov.southwarksites.com/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=22879

Ten projects are recommended for full or part award. These are:

§ Bethwin Road Playground’s bid for a multi use games area in Bethwin Road

for £95K

§ Southwark Tennis Club’s bid for support for a BMX Track for Burgess Park

for £150K

§ The Camberwell Baths Campaign’s bid for a further phase of refurbishment

to the Camberwell Leisure Centre Sports Hall for £490K

§ Herne Hill Velodrome Trust’s bid for a contribution towards refurbishment of

the Herne Hill Velodrome track for £400K

§ Athenlay Football Club’s bid for a Sports Ground Development in Homestall

Road for £175k

§ Peckham Town Football Club’s bid for an Outdoor disability multi-sports court

for £85K

§ Fusion’s bid for a disability Pool Hoist for the Peckham Pulse Healthy Living

Centre for £5.6K

§ The parks and open spaces’ service bid for upgrading the Peckham Rye

pitches & changing rooms for £200K

§ The sports services’ bid for a contribution towards the redevelopment of the

Southwark Park Sports complex for £370K

§ Trinity in Camberwell’s bid for an outdoor sports area in Camberwell for £30K

The Camberwell Baths Campaign’s bid for a further phase of refurbishment to

the Camberwell Leisure Centre Sports Hall is a community driven proposal that

upgrades a significantly under used facility located in an area of high demand. 5

The sports hall forms the final phase in the wider refurbishment of the leisure

centre and would greatly increase usable space. The bid offers minimum risk

with achievable and realistic costs that afford good value for money. The board

felt that this bid would afford a strong legacy and would very likely improve

access to and participation in sport. For this reason, this project is recommended

to be funded to 99% of the amount applied for.

Four projects are not recommended to be funded. These are:

• London Southbank University’s (LSBU) bid for a new entrance to the LSBU

sports centre for £309.5K

• The Peckham Settlement’s bid for a new ‘Southwark run training facility’ in

the Peckham Settlement for £70K

• Sustrans’ bid for the ‘Connect2’ and ‘South Bermondsey Link’ projects for

£461K

• Tideways Sailability’s bid for an ability centre and pontoon access to the

River Thames for £490K

New Gym opens on Saturday 24 September

At last the new gym is opening! The revamped, larger gym will open its doors on Saturday 24 September. I understand that there will be 30 workout stations and all of the latest fitness equipment, as well as new changing rooms.

I would suggest a look at the Fusion website ( http://www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/Camberwell_Leisure_Centre) for all of the details on what will be available, as well as costs of membership.

However, there is a chance to win Choice memberships in a competition which is being run by Fusion. The entry is online at www.southwark.gov.uk/camberwell , or you can complete a form at Camberwell Baths .

The closing date for the competition is 15 September and winners will be notified on 20 September.

Olympic Capital Legacy Fund Stage 1

We have just heard that our application for the refurbishment of the Sports Hall has been recommended to continue to Phase 2 of the process. We have applied for £500K for the refurbishment of the Sports Hall. Below is an outline of our application request.

The opening of the pool in February will be followed by the gym, dry-side changing rooms, Warwick Hall and Youth Area in September 2011. These works are defined as Phase 2 and 3. The contractors will remain on site until this date. This means that considerable savings would be achieved should funding be available to proceed with Phase 4 development in 2011.The only remaining areas of the centre requiring significant investment to bring them up to modern standards are the Sports Hall, and the 2^nd class entrance off Harvey Road. The Sports Hall currently features a sunken area (approximating the former pool tank) which is used for football and badminton sessions. The hall has poor heating and ventilation, and due to a lack of maintenance and investment, the roof and lantern windows leak, and poor insulation results large energy losses from the building. These works are defined as Phase 4.

It is the Sports Hall which is the subject of the application for funds from the Olympic Legacy Project. The total cost for refurbishing the Sports Hall is £1,097,806.

As a campaigning body, Camberwell Baths is encouraging the Executive Committee of Southwark Council to allocate funding from the Capital Programme fund to complete Phase 4 of the refurbishment. However, at the time of writing it is unclear the level of funding which may be awarded. It is in this context that an application has been made to the Olympic Legacy Project, putting forward Phase 4 development of Camberwell Leisure Centre as an appropriate legacy project for the people of Camberwell. This funding would allow the completion of a high quality project.

We would recommend that the Sports Hall is renamed The Olympic Hall in recognition of this legacy.

Camberwell Leisure Centre holds an important place in the strategic development of Camberwell in terms of its contribution not only to health and well being, but also is a symbol of civic pride. With the closure of the Town Hall, Camberwell Leisure Centre will be the only heritage building in Camberwell which is open to the public. It therefore represents a rare opportunity for local residents to immerse themselves in living history. It is rare, being one of only 13 Victorian swimming pools in England which is still open for public use. The critical role that it will play in terms of engaging young people to participate in sports and leisure activities is also critical.

Camberwell Baths: Community Open Day on Saturday March 12 from 10am

As you know the pool is now open and some of you have already had the chance to look round and also have a swim. This Saturday there will be the chance of FREE SWIMMING from 11am to 3pm. This has been organised by Fusion, and they are also funding it.

You will need to book though as safety rules mean that only 100 people are allowed in the pool at any one time. There is a number you can call before the day to prebook your free session, which is 0844 893 3888.

The four sessions are 11-12, 12.30-1.30, 2-3 and 3.30- 4.30.

Alternatively, just turn up on the day and book a slot. If you have to wait around for your swim, then there will a marquee in the car park with lots of activities going on, including Tai Chi. The marquee will be open from 10am to 3pm.

There is an opening ceremony just after 10am, which will be run by Southwark Council. After that there is a display of synchronised swimming by Out to Swim Angels!

The timings are below.

10am - Marquee opens - exhibition displays (historical and plans for new gym), Community Games coach advising on fitness, face painting, badge making, local community table, tea and coffee

10.10 - The welcome address and cutting the ribbon to declare the centre doors open

10.20 - Visitors are admitted to the balcony to be seated (first 100 only)

10.30 - Commemorative synchronisation swimming display - Out to Swim Angels

11am - First of four free swimming sessions starts (100 people admitted at a time)

11.10 - Cutting of the celebratory cake in the marquee (or outside in Artichoke Place if sunny/dry)

12.30 to 1.30 - Tai Chi demonstration and workshop (visitors will be encouraged to join in)

Enjoy!

Press Announcement for Opening on Monday 28 February

The Camberwell Baths Campaign are delighted to welcome the re opening of the swimming pool at Camberwell Leisure Centre on Monday 28 February.

After a four year campaign, the first stage of the refurbishment of the Leisure Centre is now complete. We would like to pay tribute to the cross party support for the project, and the key roles played by our local Labour MP Harriet Harman, as well as Conservative Councillor Lewis Robinson. We are equally delighted to have received assurances from the Leader of the Council, Peter John, that the Council is ‘ confident that we will find the capital’ to complete the refurbishment of the Sports Hall.

We have asked the Council to clarify the date for the capital programme decision, which has been delayed from February, so that refurbishment of the Sports Hall can begin whilst the contractors are still on site, and so ensure that maximum savings are made.

The refurbishment of the Sports Hall , and completion of the gym and the Warwick Hall will provide the additional revenue streams necessary to ensure the future financial stability of the Centre

Political Will: Brunswick Ward By Election

Political will is very important. If politicians want to make something happen, then they usually can. That's why we are asking candidates who are standing in the Brunswick Ward by election what they are willing to do for Camberwell Baths.

Time is important. The contractors are still on site, and if we can get the additional funding in the next 2 months, then considerable efficiencies can be achieved. If decisions on the capital programme are delayed (as they appear to have been from February 2011 to a currently unspecified date), then we will lose the window of opportunity to get the Sports Hall refurbished at the current price.

Specifically we are asking candidates whether they are committed to the following:

1) Carrying out complete refurbishment of the Sports Hall (£1.09m)

2) Bringing forward the capital programme decision so that refurbishment of the Sports Hall can begin whilst the contractors are still on site, and so ensure that maximum savings are made

3) Seeking third party funding to complete refurbishment

By election implications

The resignation of John Friary, the Labour councillor for Brunswick Ward, has meant that a by election will take place on 10 March. A by election means that there is a period of 'purdah' where politicians of all parties cannot appear at any Council run event which may generate publicity for their campaign.

In the light of this, so that politicians can be present to make the speeches and appear in photographs, Southwark Council have decided to delay the official opening event, with Free Swimming, to Saturday 12 March.

This delay is disappointing to us. As a campaigning body, our focus is to ensure that Camberwell Baths is a financial success so that it does not get into the same spiral of lack of investment as before. Part of that means getting as many people as possible to use the facilities as soon as possible. We would have preferred to keep to the date of 5 March, but that's politics for you.

Equally disappointing is the delay on the decision on the Capital Programme, which has been shifted back from February 2011 to September 2011. The reasons for the delay are unclear.

We need £1.09m to complete the Sports Hall refurbishment this year. Peter John, Leader of the Council, indicated his strong support for the investment at our public meeting on 3 November.

Whether the money comes from his £2m Olympic Legacy Fund, or the Capital Programme, we will be keeping up the pressure and continue to campaign to get current Southwark councillors to take up the baton from the LibDem/Tory councillors, and to complete the refurbishment of Camberwell Baths.

How the money stacked up

Here is the definitive breakdown of the money raised for Camberwell Baths, and where the money came from.

Free Swimming Capital Fund: £1,450,000: External Funding From Department of Culture Media and Sport - Camberwell received the largest grant nationally

Leisure Investment Fund: 1,500,000: Council Internal Contribution. Allocated from 12.3m Leisure Investment Programme

Leisure Investment Fund +: 500,000: Council Internal Contribution. Allocated from 12.3m Leisure Investment Programme

Youth Capital Fund: 579,000: External Funding allocated to Camberwell following Young People consultation.

Youth Funding +: 45,000: External Funding allocated to Camberwell following Young People consultation.

Cleaner Greener Safer: 52,000: Internal Council Funding

London Marathon Trust: 100,000: External Funding From London Marathon, Mayor of London

Southwark Council Leisure Facilities Capital Budget: 20,000: Internal Council Funding (Roger Pearson)

Southwark Council Property Services: 150,000: Internal Council Funding from Property Services

Leisure Investment Fund Refresh: 154,000: Internal Council funding following review of £12.3m

Playsport Facilities Fund: 50,000:Mayors Legacy Funding

S106: 100,000: S106 funding ( Planning Gain from local developments)

Pool Opens on Monday 28 February!

Yes at last the pool will open to the public on Monday 28 February! It looks fantastic, and the 25m main pool has been fully refurbished and retiled, now with a separate learner pool, as well as new male, female and family wet-changing areas.

We have a new entrance foyer, reception and social area/café, all of which are wheelchair accessible.

Please let everyone know that Camberwell Baths are open for swimming, plus delicious coffee and cakes (you can go to the cafe without paying the entrance fee to swim).

We understand that there will be special swimming only membership deals whilst we wait for Warwick Hall, the new Gym, and new Youth Facilities to open later in the year. If you don't see them on the Fusion site (link below) , then call the new manager at Camberwell Baths. His name is Adrian Matthews

http://www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/Camberwell_Leisure_Centre

We will also continue the campaign to get funding for the Sports Hall, which needs about £1,097,806 for refurbishment, so watch this space.

There will be a Free Swimming day on March 12 which will be funded by Fusion.

Official Opening Saturday 5 March

Camberwell Baths will have an official opening on Saturday 5 March from about 10.30. More details to follow, but we want this to be a community event , celebrating the culmination of a lot of hard work by local and national politicians of all parties, the officers of Southwark Council as well as everyone in the community of Camberwell.

At this stage, only the pool and cafe will open.

The gym, sports hall, youth facilities and Warwick Hall should follow by May. The Camberwell Baths Campaign is still pressing hard for final funding so that this can be completed, so the fight goes on.