50m pool for Birmingham?

[swim247365]

Has anyone heard where the new 50m pool will be in Birmingham?
No more long trips to Loughborough and back if this comes off and no more pidgeon poop nets at Coventry. Yahhhhh!!!!!!

[sharkey]

How fantastic, because its very sad that the supposed second city's top pool is Stechford! Do you have any further information on it?

[Juicy Lucy]

The proposed site for building the 50m pool is where Woodcock Street Baths now stands, which is part of the Aston University campus at Gosta Green.

Birmingham City Council has put a price for building the pool at £50m, which is way above the cost of any other 50m pool built in the UK. Sport England will pay a one-off small proportion of the building costs.

Birmingham City Council is aware that there will be no ongoing financial support from Lottery Funding. The conspiracy theory behind the huge estimated price is that the Council will be pleased with, say 10 per cent of £50m, rather than 10per cent of a much lower estimate. The pool can then be built at a realistic price. It is this massive estimated cost that is holding up negotiations.

Sport Birmingham, (the old Leisure Services Department) is claiming that Birmingham would be put on the international swimming map - but only if the city had a 50m pool. Some councillors, who are opposed to the building of the pool, have pointed out that Birmingham can still hold international and world championship events in a 25m pool, which would be more user friendly to the wider population of Brum. This particular point has embarrassed Sport Birmingham.

Sport Birmingham, who are in favour of a 50m pool are up against the fact that all of Birmingham's 17 swimming pools are run at a deficit of £280,000 per year. Some councillors have pointed out that it madness to build a new pool in the city when all other pools are not being used adequately.

Those swimmers in Birmingham who are crying out for the facility are dismayed at the perceived incompetence of Sport Birmingham in presenting a flawed bid, which resembles a pantomime farce.

Two days ago, the 1960 Olympic gold medallist Anita Lonsborough was asked by Sport Birmingham to promote the city's bid by appearing on BBC local radio.The radio presenter asked, "The city needs a 50 metre pool. You've won Olympic gold. How did you prepare for this?" Anita replied, "I did all my training in a 25 yard pool." More embarrassment from Sport Birmingham who are have now started dressing as Disney characters because, as it has been pointed out by swimmers in the city - they resemble a Mickey Mouse outfit!

There is much criticism that Sport Birmingham have actually chosen the wrong site for a 50m pool. It is in the most run-down part of the city. The obscene amount of money (£50m) could be better spent in this deprived area to the benefit of the diverse population.

There is a good argument going round for building it on the disused MG Rover site at Longbridge. Two minutes from the M5 and 5 minutes from the M42, not to mention the possibility of Government money being allocated to this area because of the closing of the car factory.

Sport Birmingham is now pursuing the theory that if the city had a 50m pool the American and Chinese swimming teams would be able to use the facility as a training camp before the 2012 London Olympics. "This would bring not only prestige to Birmingham but much needed cash".

Again, to the embarrrassment of the red-faced Sport Birmingham representatives, it was pointed out to them in a recent newspaper article that these teams have already booked warm-weather training facilities for 2012 only a couple of hours flight time away from London. For some strange reason (unknown to Sport Birmingham) they prefer to prepare for the Olympics at a sunny outdoor facility in Spain or France rather than spend a few weeks in an inner city ghetto!

If this was a script written for a film, you wouldn't believe it.

JL

[swim247365]

Because birmingham will be my local 50m pool ive been listening tothe radio which is funding this pool they say that the american and chinese team have already said they will train here in 2012

[sharkey]

Which radio station is that? I was speaking to a friend about this last night. She works for Birmingham Council and she expressed surprise(to put it mildly) that this was happening. Apparently Birmingham Council have a major problem on their hands in that they have been paying women less than men for doing an equivalent job for a number of years. This has caught up with them and BC are going to have to give all these women back pay amounting to millions. The only way they can make up this deficit is to increase council tax or er...increase council tax. Apparently those in the know think there won't be enough money in the coffers to fix a hole in the roof never mind build a 50m pool.
Birmingham gives free swimming to all children who obtain a pass from their local pool. The last few times I have been to a Brum pool it has been about 80% children, assuming 40% of those have bothered to obtain a card would this in some way account for the deficit?
Another thought, Stetchford has room to be extended. Would this be more expensive than starting from scratch? I would hardly describe Gosta Green as a ghetto but there is a distinct lack of access and parking to woodcock baths. My friend in the know reckons if there is to be a facility to be built in Birmingham it would be around the Great Barr area, possibly near the Alex Stadium.
The possibility of this pool, although IMO slightly unlikely in my lifetime! is exciting but I for one won't get my hopes up,

[Juicy Lucy]

Originally Posted by sharkey

Which radio station is that?

The radio station supporting the campaign for the building of a 50m pool is BBC Radio WM (95.6 fm). Phil Upton, the presenter of the ‘Breakfast Show’ sent reporters out last week to interview early morning swimmers at the City’s pools.

Originally Posted by sharkey

I was speaking to a friend about this last night. She works for Birmingham Council and she expressed surprise (to put it mildly) that this was happening.

My information is reliable, it comes from the man at the top. He hasn’t got a boss! Also, he is selective regarding the information he filters down to the minions who just ‘work for the Council’. His words, not mine.

I understand that the American and Chinese teams have already booked pre-Olympic training facilities in France and Spain. Those in favour of a 50m pool in Birmingham are struggling to get approval from the Council. They are claiming that a 50m pool could be used by the American and Chinese swimming teams in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics. They can’t be blamed for trying. It sounds much better than saying, “We could attract swimming teams like Ecuador and Jamaica to the city.”

Originally Posted by sharkey

Another thought, Stetchford has room to be extended. Would this be more expensive than starting from scratch?

The problem with the Stechford pool is that the Council bought the land in the 1960s to build the pool. They didn’t need more land because the plans were for a 33.3m pool, not for a 50m pool. The land behind the pool is no longer available.

Originally Posted by sharkey

I would hardly describe Gosta Green as a ghetto but there is a distinct lack of access and parking to woodcock baths.

As for Gosta Green not being an inner-city ghetto, I suppose it depends largely on where you live and what you are used to. People living in Gosta Green are anxious to distance themselves from the adjoining neighbourhood of Newtown where more shootings have been reported during the last two years than anywhere else in the UK. I agree, the parking around Woodcock Street is pretty dire. Swimmers will have fun getting there too. Almost as bad as getting to Crystal Palace.

Originally Posted by sharkey

My friend in the know reckons if there is to be a facility to be built in Birmingham it would be around the Great Barr area, possibly near the Alex Stadium.

The site for the pool is to be at Woodcock Street and never has been destined for the athletics stadium.

Birmingham is keen to redevelop New Street Station and a rebuilding cost of £500m has been banded about. This is seen as much more of a priority than a 50 metre pool, especially because the Government is now back-tracking on it’s previous offer of financial support for the station and most of the money for a pool or station will have to come from Ratepayers.

Apparently, the Liberal Democrat councillors in the city raised concern at their Council meeting on Friday about the arguments being put forward in favour of building a 50 metre pool. It was agreed that they don’t hold water - well, not as much as a 50m tank would.

Maybe Birmingham will get its 50 metre pool. Nothing is certain at the moment, but the opposition to the project is growing daily.

JL

[Bully]

Originally Posted by Juicy Lucy

The radio station supporting the campaign for the building of a 50m pool is BBC Radio WM (95.6 fm). Phil Upton, the presenter of the ‘Breakfast Show’ sent reporters out last week to interview early morning swimmers at the City’s pools.

But did any come back alive?

Originally Posted by Juicy Lucy

I understand that the American and Chinese teams have already booked pre-Olympic training facilities in France and Spain. Those in favour of a 50m pool in Birmingham are struggling to get approval from the Council. They are claiming that a 50m pool could be used by the American and Chinese swimming teams in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics. They can’t be blamed for trying. It sounds much better than saying, “We could attract swimming teams like Ecuador and Jamaica to the city.”.

Surely it's not in our own interests, to provide good facilities for the opposition?

Originally Posted by Juicy Lucy

As for Gosta Green not being an inner-city ghetto, I suppose it depends largely on where you live and what you are used to. People living in Gosta Green are anxious to distance themselves from the adjoining neighbourhood of Newtown where more shootings have been reported during the last two years than anywhere else in the UK. I agree, the parking around Woodcock Street is pretty dire. Swimmers will have fun getting there too. Almost as bad as getting to Crystal Palace.

That would be a very long walk (Birmingham to Cystal Palace)

Originally Posted by Juicy Lucy

Maybe Birmingham will get its 50 metre pool. Nothing is certain at the moment, but the opposition to the project is growing daily.

Do you think it will get its 50m pool?

[Taxiandbank]

Originally Posted by Champinprogress

Doesn't every town and city have so called run down and ''ghetto'' areas were money would be better spent by council's ?

I'm sure Guildford doesn't have a ghetto. (Or a Netto or Aldi for that matter)

[Bully]

Originally Posted by sharkey

The only way they can make up this deficit is to increase council tax or er...increase council tax.

I understand that the original costing of £2.5 billion has risen slightly to £9 billion, but don't start worrying, £1.9 billion is going to be taken out of the lottery fund to cover the extra expenses for travel arrangements, so it's only the charities that will lose out!!!

[Juicy Lucy]

Originally Posted by Bully

Do you think it will get its 50m pool?

Not sure - probably. A decision is to be made in the next three weeks.

I must say though, the argument against having one is now much stronger than the reasons for. Leisure Services/Sport Birmingham has done Birmingham's swimmers no favours at all in presenting a flawed bid to the Council

It's the £50m price tag that's uppermost in people's minds, especially when money is needed elsewhere in order to improve the lives of the greater population of the city.

JL

[adamlelean]

£50Million does sound a bit steep, but I guess that depends on where you are starting from. If you need to buy the land, and do a lot of recovery work on the land I would imagine that would significantly increase the price.

The going rate for an 8 lane 50m pool with boom and raiseable floor at one end seems to be around £12-15 Million. But then if you want to use it for serious international competition it needs to be 10 lane not 8. Again if you want to use it for serious international competition one 50m pool isn't enough you need a second pool ( at least 25m ) This pool might as well be deep enough for synchro swimmers, and if it's going to be deep enough for synchro swimmers you might as well make it deep enough for divers. But then if it's deep enough for divers you need a higher roof for the diving boards.
Then there's spectator area, car parking, cafeteria, and if you are going to have such a big complex then you really need a second 50m pool for warm up and swim down, might as well make that 10 lane as well, so it's suitable for a world masters event. Chuck in an extra 25m pool ( flume run off, like the one at Sheffield) and you won't have much change from £50Million

[swim247365]

Reckon im still off to Loughborough once a month then and hope im lucky and dont get the end lane at Coventry (by the cool down pit). Hope Alexander Stadium do get a 50m pool next to it it would take ma mom 20mins with traffic and 10 mins without ! lol - Better than that drive down the A38 n M42 falling asleep in the back of the car.

[Juicy Lucy]

Originally Posted by Champinprogress

They then cut to the leader of Birmingham City Council, standing in front of a poster saying '' A World Class Sporting City'' giving his spiel, shouldn't there be a big ? after City.

I was actually speaking to Mike Whitby, leader of the council, today. He's very much in favour of having a 50m pool built in Birmingham. He's worried that several other councillors want the money spent on refurbishing the existing 17 pools in the city. The council is meeting with the ASA and Sport England soon. The sticking point is that the council are not united in their desire to build a pool. The Liberal Democrats seem to be the largest group against the idea.

As for the American athletics team training in the city in preparation for the 2012 Olympics, they have five years in which to change their mind and opt to train in London. They are talking about staying in the city centre hotels and travelling by road to the Alexander Stadium.

They will be super fit if the traffic congestion in Brum has any say in the matter.The only way they'll get to the Alexander Stadium is if they run there every day.

JL

[in-exile]

are the yanks not using bath uni ???thats what i was told...

[Juicy Lucy]

Originally Posted by in-exile

are the yanks not using bath uni ???thats what i was told...

If you have any information regarding this I'd love to see it.

Birmingham City Council announced during the Indoor European Athletics Championships at the weekend that the USA athletics team have agreed to use Brum as their Olympic preparation base.

Local paper, The Sunday Mercury, announced last weekend that the Chinese would be coming. They were fed misinformation.

Maybe you've heard that the American swimming team are using Bath University?

Any news would be gratefully received.

JL