I thought the Lidos Group would like to know that campaigners for a junior school pool (the Gayton Community Junior School Pool) have won an amazing David and Goliath fight against Derby City Council.
The council originally tried to claim that £3million was needed to repair the pool and that, therefore, the only option was one of demolition, despite the fact that this little pool was used by over 900 people a week. (Five or six different schools and several community groups.)
The council's claim was so outrageous that a very determined opposition sprang up, disputing the £3million figure and pointing to a covenant which stated that the council had agreed to keep the pool in good repair. The council replied that the need to demolish the building was quite different from simply repairing it!
Legal advice was sought and the campaigners obtained an injunction preventing Derby City Council from demolishing the pool whilst legal options were being pursued. The case came to court in December 2007 and there has been an anxious wait since then. The judgement was finally delivered yesterday on 18th July 2008 with total victory for the Gayton pool campaigners.
This is a victory for determination and community spirit against enormous odds. Councils have legal advice permanently available to them, whereas campaigners rarely have the resources to make this sort of challenge.
The following general points apply to any pool or lido campaign: the council's attempt to claim that repairs would cost £3million is a technique known as "goldplating" - this is an attempt to put protesters off by showing that enormous sums would apparently be needed to save a particular facility.
Secondly, councils will often try to close pools at times when they feel opposition will be at its lowest eg Christmas/ New Year
The Daventry Outdoor Pool, for example, was bulldozed early in January 2007 after the Council had obtained the Letter of Non-Intervention from the Government in December 2006.
Where school pools are concerned, closure/demolition in the summer holidays is popular, when children and their parents are most likely to be away.
Thirdly, conflicting messages are also common: Derby City Council was running a B-Active Campaign whilst simultaneously trying to demolish the pool. Campaigners were able to use this against the council by producing placards which read, "Don't B-Foolish, Save Gayton Pool."
I hope that those fighting for Portishead Open Air Pool, Hendy Lido etc will feel encouraged to keep going.
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