pool in Birmingham area

[Kris Kuzniar]

could you tell me, where I can find a pool in Birmingham with no membership requirement?

cheers

Kris

[sharkey]

Where in Birmingham are you?
There is Handsworth, Newtown, Erdington Pool, Stetchford, Northfield, all council pools, Stetchford is my particular favourite as the cafe over the road does a mean bacon sarnie. But might be one nearer you?

[waterbucket]

Tell us in which area you would like to swim in? Birmingham is a big place.
Happy to help.

[Juicy Lucy]

These are Birmingham’s public pools. Some are better than others in terms of car parking facilities, cleanliness and safety. In some you will find cockroaches and rats and at others there are no rodents on display but you will be relieved of your wheel trims when parking your car outside. Some pools will have lane ropes installed for early morning swimmers, some won’t. At one pool you will have a lane to yourself for 2 hours in the morning, (7.00 - 9.00) anti-wave lane ropes and a clock running at both ends of the pool. The staff at one particular pool are very helpful, at another, if in difficulties you will probably drown. The pool staff at this venue stand with their backs to the water, whilst talking on their mobile phones to their girlfriends. Some have a cafe on site where they serve tepid tea and coffee, nicely dried sandwiches, chips, burgers and food poisoning.

Welcome to Brum!

Harborne 0121 464 1174

Northfield, Bristol Road South 0121 475 1058

Fox Hollies, Acocks Green 0121 464 4112

Stechford 0121 464 5596

Newtown, Aston 0121 359 2370

Muntz Street, Small Heath 0121 464 6131

Handsworth, Holly Road 0121 464 6336

Tiverton Road, Selly Oak 0121 464 0779

Wyndley, Sutton Coldfield 0121 464 7742

Thimblemill Road, Smethwick 0121 429 1381

Tudor Grange, Solihull 0121 7056371

Langley Baths, Oldbury 0121 552 1329

Mason Road, Erdington 0121 464 0520

Beeches Road Pool, Great Barr 0121 358 6296

Moseley Road, Balsall Heath 0121 440 0150

Sparkhill, Stratford Road 0121 772 1873

[Stevie_k]

wow look at all that time and trouble jl has gone too.

What a guy!

Or did you copy and paste the lot you lazy sod!

[NotVeryFast]

He hasn't said which pools correspond to which characteristics in his first paragraph, though.

[2.tso]

Its A New Jl Game!

[Juicy Lucy]

He hasn't said which pools correspond to which characteristics in his first paragraph, though.

The pool where you can have a lane to yourself is the one I sometimes use. I don't want sordid members of the general public knowing about it and coming in to crowd the lanes.

[2.tso]

Greedy

[Stevie_k]

I dont blame him. the general public are a nuisence in the pool.

I swam past a right drama queen the other day. the lane was massive, i was 2 meters to the left of her as i passed, but she made a gesture with her hands as i went passed. i stopped and said whatsup. she said if she hadnt seen me coming she would have been 'done for'!

haha "done for"! well funny, i wet myself laughing. what do you mean done for you dozy tart. you can swim cant you.

mind you she was hot. nutter

oh bum ive gone off topic. oh well too late.

why do they look at you like your some kind of monster.

[NotVeryFast]

I swam past a right drama queen the other day. the lane was massive, i was 2 meters to the left of her as i passed, but she made a gesture with her hands as i went passed. i stopped and said whatsup. she said if she hadnt seen me coming she would have been 'done for'!

haha "done for"! well funny, i wet myself laughing. what do you mean done for you dozy tart.
"Done for" probably means her hair might have got splashed.

[Juicy Lucy]

i stopped and said whatsup.


I'd like to have seen the look on her face.

[Stevie_k]

It was unreal. Such a drama. back of hand on her forehead "done for i was".

Prolly told everyone of her near death experience.

Another one told the lifeguard i nearly drowned her. Turns out she copped a bit of tumble turn splash.

Mind you she was old, ill let her off.

[Pandi]

Blummin ek.Am they still goo'in?
Langley Baths, Oldbury
Thimblemill,smethwick.
Day Harborne ave a problum & got shut?

[Juicy Lucy]

Blummin ek.Am they still goo'in?
Langley Baths, Oldbury
Thimblemill,smethwick.
Day Harborne ave a problum & got shut?

Harborne needs lots of money spending on it, like most of the others. It's in a bad way but still open. Most of these Birmingham pools open at 7.00 am but Harborne is open from 6.00. Ideal for the early risers.

Langley and Thimblemill have been refurbished and look pretty good now. A lot different from when you were swimming there.

JL

[sharkey]

Wyndley closed till Dec 2008, asbestos in the pipes or something along that line.
I am guessing Handsworth for JL's rodents and possibly being relieved of hubcaps at Newtown?
There is a pool in Kingstanding also, you can train in it when the waves are switched off!

[Pandi]

Wyndley closed till Dec 2008, asbestos in the pipes or something along that line.
I am guessing Handsworth for JL's rodents and possibly being relieved of hubcaps at Newtown?
There is a pool in Kingstanding also, you can train in it when the waves are switched off!


That means Wyndley pool would have been closed for over 2 years.Has brum council put up the money for a refurb yet?
or i they still dilly dallying over 50m pool in brum.:confused:

[sharkey]

It will have been 2 years for Wyndley if it ever re-opens! There was talk of it being made into a 50m pool and being joined to the leisure centre but I reckon that was going to cost mega money, so its just being re-furbed, bet it doesn't look that much different when it re-opens.

[waterbucket]

Bromsgrove is closing at Christmas and will not reopen until end of Febuary so we are down to one pool and have had to cancel a few galas. We only new about it by reading it in the local press. They are still not sure of the dates so we are down to one pool and one big pain in the bum.

[Juicy Lucy]

Bromsgrove is closing at Christmas and will not reopen until end of Febuary so we are down to one pool and have had to cancel a few galas.

It may be worth making alternative arrangements past February too. I've been speaking with Dan Steed, the operations manager of sports services at B.D.C. today. He said they haven't yet got a start date for the work and he also explained that the work will take ten weeks to complete. It doesn't look good for Bromsgrove SC.

[waterbucket]

Thank you JL, I will pass this on but if you hear any more about Bromsgrove pool please pass it on to me, all new welcome. We have made other arrangements and that was not easy to do as all pool have very little spare water time.

[waterbucket]

This is also costing the club money which we do not have and at the wrong time for Speedo and Counties. We are a small club but we will get there because we have a good team. Sorry I do go on and on.

[Pandi]

It may be worth making alternative arrangements past February too. I've been speaking with Dan Steed, the operations manager of sports services at B.D.C. today. He said they haven't yet got a start date for the work and he also explained that the work will take ten weeks to complete. It doesn't look good for Bromsgrove SC.

Did he mention What type of work is needed to be done?
Just curious, as to what work will involve,shuttng a pool for 10weeks.Without start date,has the work been put out for tender?Or are BDC doing the "lookie into whether is worth doing" feasabilty routine.And spending more money on the Study than it would cost to refurb the pool.:confused::)

[Juicy Lucy]

Did he mention What type of work is needed to be done?


He called it 'essential maintenance' work. Dunno what that means.

[Pandi]

He called it 'essential maintenance' work. Dunno what that means.

Typical cop out,from a council employee.
Sand in filters need changing.leccey needs checking,pumps need overhaul,oil or gas powered boilers need updating.tiles on pool floor coming loose due to grout,being eroded..Anyone of these excuses,could be fixed within,at the most 2weeks.IMHO.

[waterbucket]

I was hold it has something to do with putting in a new steam room and sauna which they only took out at the end of last year when they redid the pool and gym, by a member of staff. I have also been told by someone at the centre it is to do with drainage. They do not know and we don't but it will take longer, it always dose.

[Pandi]

He called it 'essential maintenance


I was hold it has something to do with putting in a new steam room and sauna which they only took out at the end of last year when they redid the pool and gym, by a member of staff. I have also been told by someone at the centre it is to do with drainage. They do not know and we don't but it will take longer, it always dose.
So pool & gym were dun last year?Steam room & sauna taken out at the same time?Are they planning on increasing space for,steam & sauna room space?do the pool & steam & sauna rooms share the same showers?
Just curious.Cos if it all seperated,why close the pool.

[waterbucket]

I hate to ask because you get a different answer, it depends on who you talk to and that also go for the managers.

[waterbucket]

We have been concentrating on getting more pool time for our swimmers which we have now got. The next headache is to workout who swims where, in what session and which pool. The difficult bit is to make sure my Junior team do not lose out in water time and in this whole movement.

[Pandi]

So pool & gym were dun last year?Steam room & sauna taken out at the same time?Are they planning on increasing space for,steam & sauna room space?do the pool & steam & sauna rooms share the same showers?
Just curious.Cos if it all seperated,why close the pool.

Littledown centre in Bournemouth.Installing 2 new spa's.extra dry heat room & larger sauna space.Walls have just been re-plastered,no closure of pool,even tho all this sits underneath the spectators seating overlooking the pool.And only access is via poolside.

I hate to ask because you get a different answer, it depends on who you talk to and that also go for the managers.

Glad you have found pool time elsewhere,but you should question WHY.If Littledown can manage without closing the pool why cant Bromsgrove?

[waterbucket]

We have just been informed that our main pool will close in January for 10 weeks!! What a great start to the new year.

[Pandi]

We have just been informed that our main pool will close in January for 10 weeks!! What a great start to the new year.

And the reason for shut down.IS ?

[waterbucket]

Sorry Pandy, I have left this a bit late, will try harder. The pool is being closed so that they can re-vamp the pump room.

[Pandi]

Sorry Pandy, I have left this a bit late, will try harder. The pool is being closed so that they can re-vamp the pump room.

10 weeks,does seem to be a long time.I am guessing that pool runs with 2 filters & 2 pumps?which could be run independent of each other,with no great loss of water quality.Why not shut down 1half & keep pool open while tother half gets the refurb(no loss of revunue)then swap over to the new system while other gets refurb.Dunno if they already have back up pump installed but if not,this could be done within a day.Can only assume the heating system is to be totally replaced.:flash:

[Juicy Lucy]

Waterbucket, don't know if you've heard, but this is the latest. (Received today)

Pool will be closed from Monday 7 January until Wednesday 19 March 2008.

Julie Smith
Admin Officer
Culture and Community Services
Bromsgrove District Council

[waterbucket]

Thanks JL, yes I know and tonight is my last training evening there. Have got pool time at the Bromsgrove school pool which is great and the staff have been a good about it and will lock the pool up last but do keep me informed because you are in the know.

[aiguille]

Northfield baths have roped off the last 5m of the pool. There is a notice at reception stating it is indefinitely due to staffing shortages.
At least it gave me reason to practice my treading water!

[FlyingBean]

Northfield baths have roped off the last 5m of the pool. There is a notice at reception stating it is indefinitely due to staffing shortages.

What????!!!!! :confused: How does this save staff? Absolutely ridiculous! :aarrgghh:

[Juicy Lucy]

What????!!!!! :confused: How does this save staff? Absolutely ridiculous! :aarrgghh:

This is quite right, FB. Northfield is my local pool and I use it sometimes in the mornings. Five metres out from the deep end is often roped off when they are short staffed.

The pool opens at 7.00 am and lane ropes are in for the 'earlybird' swimmers. The pool isn't roped off during these morning sessions, only later the day.

Of course you are quite right, it is absolutely ridiculous to rope off 5 metres of the pool when they are short staffed. I can only presume that the lifeguards would have difficulty in deep water if they had to go in to get someone out.

JL

[Wildswimmer]

Of course you are quite right, it is absolutely ridiculous to rope off 5 metres of the pool when they are short staffed. I can only presume that the lifeguards would have difficulty in deep water if they had to go in to get someone out.

JL

It's probably some rigorously enforced H&S diktat from on high. One lifeguard can only supervise x metres of pool. No ifs......no buts........and definitely no common sense.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Juicy Lucy]

It's probably some rigorously enforced H&S diktat from on high. One lifeguard can only supervise x metres of pool. No ifs......no buts........and definitely no common sense.

Wildswimmer Pete

You are correct, Wildswimmer. I've just spoken to someone from the Sport & Leisure department at Birmingham City Council. This was her reply...

"The pool is often roped off 8 metres from the deep end if they are short staffed. It is a legal requirement of all pools in the city if the pool is longer than 25 metres. The Northfield pool is 33 yards long."

So there you have it!

JL

[aiguille]

They have found some staff from somewhere and all is open again now. I would have thought it is safer having the full length of the pool open rather than having weak beginner swimmers (like me!) thrash around by the rope struggling to turn around without disappearing under the water requiring rescue. At least with the end of the pool looming, you know that sanctuary is near by.
Oh well, at least it helps me to improve quicker!

[waterbucket]

Dose Northfield have a swimming club? I may be looking for a new post with in an ASA swimming club.

[waterbucket]

Bromsgrove, Dolphin Centre reckon that they are on target of completion of the pool/pump room refurb.

[waterbucket]

In our local paper which is called the Advertiser they have a page called Your View. In this page under the title "Wasting Money" a man has said that the Dolphin Centre which is having a revamp will be bulldozed to the ground and that the council does not know where the new leisure centre will be built. JL you are good with what is happening in the area, have you heard of anything. We have two private health clubs in the town and a few in the big hotels just outside Bromsgrove so would you think the council have a right not to rebuild. As a swimming team this is not good news for us.

[Juicy Lucy]

In our local paper which is called the Advertiser they have a page called Your View. In this page under the title "Wasting Money" a man has said that the Dolphin Centre which is having a revamp will be bulldozed to the ground and that the council does not know where the new leisure centre will be built. JL you are good with what is happening in the area, have you heard of anything. We have two private health clubs in the town and a few in the big hotels just outside Bromsgrove so would you think the council have a right not to rebuild. As a swimming team this is not good news for us.

I haven't heard anything about knocking down the Dolphin Centre. I know someone who works in Leisure Services at the council and will ask her on Monday. Not sure if she will tell me anything though, especially if plans are in hand to demolish the pool. As you know, the land will be attractive to developers. With the surrounding car park, and being in a prime spot, right at the end of the high street, it's in an ideal position for building many expensive houses. I'd like to say that because the Council are spending money on repairs and maintenance that they are unlikely to knock it down, but sadly this reasoning doesn't necessarily follow.

I'm currently speaking with one of the health clubs you mention. They are keen to start a masters club with the intention of attracting adults from the Bromsgrove area. The interesting thing is that these swimmers will not be asked to join the health club but will be offered the chance to attend training when they want. Being suspicious, and forever looking for a conspiracy theory, I'm thinking maybe the council has approached the health club and suggested this to them as a way of accepting 'public swimmers' initially, with the prospect of signing them up as members later. There would be no protest from these people if the Dolphin Centre which they presently use, was then closed down.

I wish you hadn't mentioned this. I'll be thinking about it all night.

JL

[waterbucket]

Sorry if you lose sleep over this but I am already. I know David Lloyd have a masters class and some of our swimmers do get extra water time there and I know the coach who is a nice man and very keen. He has helped us out in the past if we are one short in a relay team. His son is a good swimmer with our club. I hope nothing will come of this but reading your reply is very worrying. Once again thank-you JL.

[Dave_G]

I lived in south / southwest Birmingham from September 1968 to September 1986, and have swam at several of the city's pools, sometimes alone but often with friends.

I confess to having great affection for Harborne baths because, although only 6' 7" in the deep end, it is where I learnt to swim, in 1973, and have done so on many occasions since. Northfield was another of my regular 'watering holes', which used to have a small diving board in the 10' 5" deep end back in the 1970s; this had disappeared by the mid-1980s to be replaced by a slide: I wonder if that is still there?
Stechford was another pool I used to visit, which I think had diving boards in the deep end (12' 6"). This was a more modern pool, like Wyndley at Sutton Coldfield, which I visited in conjunction with a day in Sutton Park. I was surprised to learn that the latter is currently closed. If there is a problem with asbestos, obviously this needs to be sorted out properly but to close a pool for two years seemds excessive to put it mildly. There used to be a lido in Sutton Park, but that has been closed many years.

I have visited Tiverton Road (Selly Oak) a few times: in view of it's closeness to Harborne and Northfield, it is perhaps a bit surprising that all three are still open. I have also swam in Tudor Grange, Solihull, another more modern pool, the architecturally pleasing Moseley Road, and Sparkhill.

Kings Heath and Stirchley are pools in which I have also swam but, as they are not included on the list, assume they no longer exist. I wonder when they closed? Another pool I visited which I liked the architecture of but which has been long demolished is Woodcock Street: If I'm not mistaken, the road itself has vanished --- all in the name of 'progress'. SIC TRANSIT GLORIA!!!

[Juicy Lucy]

Kings Heath and Stirchley are pools in which I have also swam but, as they are not included on the list, assume they no longer exist.

You are right. Both closed. Kings Heath (Institute Road) baths has gone and the Stirchley pool now had trees and plants growing out of the brickwork. It's a real eyesore. Don't know what will happen to the building. I'm guessing Cadburys still own the land it's standing on.

[missjackiechan]

[QUOTE=Dave_G;119855]
Stechford was another pool I used to visit, which I think had diving boards in the deep end (12' 6"). This was a more modern pool, like Wyndley at Sutton Coldfield, which I visited in conjunction with a day in Sutton Park.

QUOTE]

I used to paddle as a kid in the Lido in Sutton Park, when I was taken on day trips to the posh bit of the Midlands...i.e - Sutton Coldfield!...great days in the summer.

I also remember watching diving off the boards at Stechford, which seemed really high and almost drowning in the deep end of Stechford when I was pushed in and couldn't swim and was fished out with one of those metal lasoe thingies!

[Pandi]

I used to paddle as a kid in the Lido in Sutton Park, when I was taken on day trips to the posh bit of the Midlands...i.e - Sutton Coldfield!

A group of us would cycle over there during skool hols,swim in the lake nxt door and climb over the wall into the lido have a quick dip then dive or jump back into the lake.
Any treasure hunters out there?my silver ST.Christopher necklace (13th birthday Prezzie) is in the lake somewhere.:cry:

[Dave_G]

A group of us would cycle over there during skool hols,swim in the lake nxt door and climb over the wall into the lido have a quick dip then dive or jump back into the lake.
Any treasure hunters out there?my silver ST.Christopher necklace (13th birthday Prezzie) is in the lake somewhere.:cry:

I too have not only swam in the lido, which was often crowded on a warm days, but also in one of the lakes in the park: HAPPY DAYS!

[Dave_G]

Does anyone know when Woodcock Street was closed? Am I correct in thinking the road itself has been destroyed i.e 'redeveloped'?

[Pandi]

Does anyone know when Woodcock Street was closed? Am I correct in thinking the road itself has been destroyed i.e 'redeveloped'?

Is that the one that "used" to live in Selly oak?got mullered due to the A38 being more important?

[Juicy Lucy]

Is that the one that "used" to live in Selly oak?got mullered due to the A38 being more important?

Pandicus, you are confusing me now.

Wodcock Street baths is near the A38 Aston Expressway, and stands on the Aston Unversity campus in Gosta Green. I believe the main pool has been covered over and now serves as a sports hall for the University's use.

In it's heyday, the pool hosted the ASA's Bologna Trophy (England, Scotland & Wales) for several years.

The pool in Selly Oak (Tiverton Road) is still open for public swimming. It's now grubby and smelly, and needs disinfecting. A bit like the student population in the area who use it occasionally.

JL

[eric_the_eel]

For what it's worth don't bother with Wednesbury. Generally full on the adult session of people there just to chat and they have no courtesy for people who are there to swim by getting in the way :banghead:

Twice this week I have had to finish a practise after 30 minutes because of the lack of space :cry:

[Pandi]

For what it's worth don't bother with Wednesbury. Generally full on the adult session of people there just to chat and they have no courtesy for people who are there to swim by getting in the way :banghead:

Twice this week I have had to finish a practise after 30 minutes because of the lack of space :cry:

Welcome Eric.(although your location leaves a lot to be desired):)
Never liked Wednesbury pool,always seemed to be grubby,i even had the misfortune to work there for a few months,spent more time playing space invaders(it was new then).Since the demise of West Bromwich SC i understand a lot of the swimmers went over to wednesbury.Would you not be better off joining the club and having proper pool time rather than taking a chance with the public?The courtesy thing seems to be a nationwide problem,my normall solution is ask em to leave space for me to turn,and if you have the space overtake em doing fly,normally they get the message and change lanes.:fingers:

[eric_the_eel]

Welcome Eric.(although your location leaves a lot to be desired):)


Worry not as I was born and raised to support the correct team, having Baggies mad parents :) I have also just moved to West Brom hence why I've started going to Wednesbury as it is the closest pool I can find with fairly decent hours for the adult swim. I enquired at the reception yesterday and there doesn't appear to be any kind of SC in Wednesbury so I'm going to have to do some searching :cry:

[Pandi]

Worry not as I was born and raised to support the correct team, having Baggies mad parents :) I have also just moved to West Brom hence why I've started going to Wednesbury as it is the closest pool I can find with fairly decent hours for the adult swim. I enquired at the reception yesterday and there doesn't appear to be any kind of SC in Wednesbury so I'm going to have to do some searching :cry:

Bostin Kiddo.Check your PM.(private mesage) save you searching.
Boing Boing.:)

[waterbucket]

Bromsgrove pool has re-opened and I can not wait to get back to normal. The pool water will be cold they say but I am so pleased to get back there and one BIG thank-you to all the clubs that helped us out and Jerry.

[Pandi]

Bromsgrove pool has re-opened and I can not wait to get back to normal. The pool water will be cold they say but I am so pleased to get back there and one BIG thank-you to all the clubs that helped us out and Jerry.


Good news waterbucket.And work finished on time too.:thumb:

[Juicy Lucy]

Bromsgrove pool has re-opened and I can not wait to get back to normal. The pool water will be cold they say but I am so pleased to get back there and one BIG thank-you to all the clubs that helped us out and Jerry.

Waterbucket, Bromsgrove S.C. is advertising for a chief coach on the British Swimming website (West Midlands).

Is this an old advert that hasn't been taken off - or is there a vacancy?

[Juicy Lucy]

Waterbucket - I've just heard from Wendy - there is a vacancy at the club.

You can go back to sleep now!

JL:wave:

[waterbucket]

Thanks JL, I do like my bed.That's great that Wendy got in touch with you, could we be hearing from you?

[Juicy Lucy]

Thanks JL, I do like my bed.That's great that Wendy got in touch with you, could we be hearing from you?
Probably. We'll see.

[waterbucket]

There are a lot of clubs in our area that need coaches.

[swim247]

Worry not as I was born and raised to support the correct team, having Baggies mad parents :) I have also just moved to West Brom hence why I've started going to Wednesbury as it is the closest pool I can find with fairly decent hours for the adult swim. I enquired at the reception yesterday and there doesn't appear to be any kind of SC in Wednesbury so I'm going to have to do some searching :cry:



Hi
try Walsall SC - excellent club with a good reputation!

[rwbham]

Pandicus, you are confusing me now.

Wodcock Street baths is near the A38 Aston Expressway, and stands on the Aston Unversity campus in Gosta Green. I believe the main pool has been covered over and now serves as a sports hall for the University's use.

JL

Woodcock st baths is still open
http://www.aston.ac.uk/prospective-students/sport/

the sports hall is Gem Sports Hall, & is a typical indoor sports hall

[Juicy Lucy]

Bromsgrove pool has re-opened and I can not wait to get back to normal. The pool water will be cold they say but I am so pleased to get back there and one BIG thank-you to all the clubs that helped us out and Jerry.

Sorry to give you this news, Waterbucket. (Maybe you already know?)

I heard this morning that the Dolphin Centre will be closed in twelve month's time. The land will be used for house building.

Do you know any more about what's happening?