The fight to re-open a run-down swimming baths is over.
The Elland Baths Community Association says the costs to bring the pool back into use are too high and the group will now focus on fighting for a new pool for the town.
Julian Robertshaw, secretary of the Save Elland Baths campaign, spoke of the group’s disappointment and said: “It has been more than two years between inspections and two years ago we thought £400,000 would do it, but there’s been deterioration and it’s been a slow process and at the second inspection there was more that needed doing.
“We were raising £200,000 and getting match funding for the £400,000, but the costs went up and it became outside our reach.”
People behind large donations to the campaign will be refunded and the remaining donations will go towards campaigning for a new swimming pool for the town.
Calderdale Council closed Elland baths in December 2011 when structural defects were identified.
The group started their campaign shortly after, seeking an asset transfer of the baths building and in March they were given six months to complete the process after Calderdale Cabinet initially rejected the asset transfer bid.
They immediately commissioned a second independent structural survey of the pool and its facilities, but the outcome caused dismay.
Further structural deterioration in the building, along with damage caused by metal thieves and vandals, increased the repair costs.
Estimates of £1m were quoted to put the pool area back into full operation, something considered far outside the scope of our group which had hoped for a budget of less than £400,000.
Julian added: “Recommissioning old buildings is not an exact science and our committee felt that what already was a difficult project, not without significant risks, had become beyond them.
“It is with regret that Save Elland Baths have reached the conclusion that our goal of reopening Elland baths is no longer achievable and consequently we will be withdrawing our application for an asset transfer of Elland Swimming Pool.
“The committee would like to thank the community for their help and support, without which we could not have raised the profile of such a worthy cause.
“The community of Elland want and deserve a swimming pool. With an expanding population and demand for pool time, as a group we will now switch our focus to fighting for a new pool.”
“We are a big town and we deserve a swimming pool.”
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