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Here are a few comments we’ve received from people who have been swimming at the Baths since they reopened on Monday:

‘I’ve been this morning! It was absolutely blissful, having not been swimming in a swimming pool since it shut. It was 8.15am and everyone was talking about how brilliant it was that they were open again. There were swimmers stopping mid-lane to shake hands and say ‘good to be back’. The staff were really cheerful about it too. I was pleased to find I can still do my mile without feeling tired, the metal ‘beams’ above were beautifully painted and the sun was shining onto the water. Fantastic! Making resolution to go every week.’

‘At 09.30hrs the kids from King David arrived and there were screams and shouts of delight have to say it was great to hear the kids getting excited about being able to get back into the pool’

Let us know your experience of being back in the swim!

We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that today, after 1 year, 3 months and 24 days, Moseley Road Baths finally reopened its doors to the public for swimming.  The closure in December 2010 was due to last just six weeks whilst a lintel above the fire exit in Pool 2 was replaced.  However, as fault after fault was found the reopening was put back time and time again until the situation became almost farcical.  Many of us were beginning to think that today’s reopening would never happen.

We want to say a huge thank you to all of our supporters, local schools and volunteers who have kept the pool in the spotlight during its closure.  I think that we’ve sent a very strong message to Birmingham City Council that this is a much loved community building which we value as a swimming pool above all else.  We’re not prepared to let it go the same way as so many other pools across the city.

Congratulations to local school pupil Harry Higgins (pictured) who was the first person to take a dive into the pool!  The building has been deep-cleaned, repainted and polished up ready for the public.  The timetable stays much the same as before, but we’ll post up details soon.  In the meantime you can contact the pool on 0121 464 0150.  Can’t wait to get down there myself!

We have received a further update from Cllr Mullaney stating that the Baths is due to reopen on 16th April.  We’re REALLY excited to see Pool 2 full of water – how inviting!  However, with less than a week until the building opens its doors we have still had no answer from Hall Green Constituency Councillors to our letter which asked how the reopening would be publicised and whether or not school have been told of the reopening.  We’ll be pushing them to ensure that they go all out to get swimmers back!

Here is Cllr Mullaney’s update:

I visited Moseley Road baths this morning and can confirm that the staff are working towards re-opening the baths at 12noon on Monday 16th April.

I attach two photos that I took this morning. As you will see the pool is now fully re-filled and this morning the staff started the process of heating up the pool.

Having dipped my hand in the pool, I can assure you the water is cold. Re-heating should take a few days. We should have a definite confirmation of the 12noon opening tomorrow afternoon. The staff want to see how much they can manage to raise the temperature of the pool in 24 hours and then they will be confident of the exact time of opening.

This is the latest from Cllr Mullaney.  Stick a date in your diary.  Unfortunately we’ve STILL had no reply to our questions to Hall Green Constituency Councillors – so we have no idea if they have any plans to formally publicise the reopening (despite a verbal, and probably un-minuted agreement at the Hall Green Constituency meeting).  So, PLEASE spread the news to let fellow swimmers know!

I attended a contractors meeting today to get an update on work to get Moseley Road baths re-opened. We are on target to re-open the pool to the public in the week beginning 16th April.

I attach two photos showing the interior of the Pool 2 this morning. As you can see from the photos, the scaffolding is almost completely down. It will be completely removed by tomorrow.

The process of refilling pool 2 will begin over the weekend – can I thank the staff of Moseley Road baths who will be doing this, especially during Easter weekend.

By next Wednesday we will have a firm date for when pool 2 will open. It will be sometime between 16th and 20th April.

This is our latest update from Cllr Mullaney:

Moseley Road baths on target to re-open mid-April.

I attended a contractors meeting today to get an update on work to get Moseley Road baths re-opened. We are on target to re-open the pool to the public in mid-April.

The repainting of the interior of Pool 2 will be finished tomorrow. Mesh will be installed in front of the ceiling windows; this is being done as a safety precaution, in case any panes of glass come loose between now and the restoration in 2014.

The scaffolding inside Pool 2 will be completely removed by Wednesday 4th April. On the Thursday and Friday the contractors will then give Pool 2 a clean down.

From Tuesday 10th April, the staff in the baths will start the process of fine cleaning the pool and refilling it. This normally takes about five days.

I attach photos showing the repainting of the ceiling of Pool 2.

Last Tuesday we presented around 130 letters and posters to Hall Green Constituency Councillors.  Despite attempts to get clarification on some key issues about the Baths we received no concrete responses.  Last Thursday (21st March) we sent this letter to Cllr Kennedy who is the Chair of the Committee.  As yet we are awaiting a response.  We’ll keep you posted as and when we receive a reply.

Dear Councillor Kennedy

We are writing to you as Chair of the Constituency to ask for some points of clarification after the Hall Green Constituency Party meeting, (Tuesday 20^th March). Several of us were in attendance from the Friends of Moseley Road Baths and presented over 130 letters and petitions from the public and from pupils at local primary schools, many of whom are currently being denied their right to learn to swim under the guidelines of the National Curriculum.

As the meeting was at times very confused and emotional, there are points which are unclear and on which we would like clarification from you in writing, or at a meeting with you and your colleagues as appropriate:

1. Could you confirm that the schools which have made their views known to you via our petition will receive a direct response from the Constituency?
2. What publicity and/or events will the Constituency undertake to mark the re-opening of the Moseley Road Baths? We would be happy to play our part in promoting and helping to organise the re-opening.
3. Does the constituency retain a commitment to both school and community swimming at Moseley Road Baths, both in the short and in the long term?
4. How will the day-to-day operation of the Baths be affected by the plans, as announced by your colleague Martin Straker-Welds, to pass responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the building to the Corporate Centre should Labour take power in May?
5. How will such a move impact on the HLF bid for the baths, which the Labour group have stated that they support?
6. We have just received nearly 100 more letters about the Baths from children at Tindal Primary School which we would like to present to you. We look forward to your reply with possible dates for a meeting.

Yours, on behalf of the Friends of Moseley Road Baths

James Gillies (Chair)

We’ve been completely inundated with letters and posters from the public calling for the reopening of the pool.  These were presented to Cllr Tony Kennedy as Chair of Hall Green Constituency at last night’s Constituency Committee.  We are continuing to put pressure on for an April reopening.  We also want to see our local councillors committing to a huge publicity drive to attract swimmers old and new.  This was verbally agreed, but we have yet to see if this has been minuted and if it will be acted on.

Here are just some of the excellent letters we have received from Clifton Junior School, Nelson Mandela School and Chandos School.  We have also had letters from SS John and Monica School, Percy Shurmer School and Tindal School.  Thank you all for your hard work!