Baths vital facelift sunk after it becomes listed buiding (From Daily Echo)
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Baths vital facelift sunk after it becomes listed buiding
7:20am Friday 22nd March 2013 in News
Lymington seawater baths
CIVIC chiefs say plans to transform Lymington’s famous seawater baths have been wrecked by the decision to make it a listed building.
The Government has agreed to give it extra protection, sparking fears that proposals to carry out major improvements will have to be ditched.
The baths, which celebrate their 180th anniversary later this year, are owned by Lymington and Pennington Town Council, which had hoped to reduce the size of the pool, build new facilities and use the revenue generated to modernise the site.
But it fears the plans will be thrown into disarray by the decision to make the pool a Grade II listed building.
Cllr John Olliff-Cooper, chairman of the amenities committee, told the annual town meeting: “At first glance it may seem that an accolade has been awarded to the town and the listing will certainly be regarded by a few activists as a victory.
“Sadly, it is likely that this will prove to be an extremely negative and expensive event.
“A year ago we published a paper outlining a three-phase programme to upgrade the seawater baths area. In the longterm that development might have provided an outstanding and attractive outdoor environment.
That plan is effectively scuppered. We will now look at what can be done with what we have.”
But the decision to list the site was welcomed by former town councillor Tony Swain, exchairman of the seawater baths sub-committee.
He said: “This is good news. It will guarantee that any future development will be carried out in a sensitive and sympathetic manner.”
Culture secretary and Basingstoke MP Maria Miller, below, has listed the baths on the advice of English Heritage.
It means that the building’s new status will have to be taken into account if any planning applications to alter the site are submitted to New Forest District Council.
Members will consider the views of the council’s conservation officers before making a decision.
An English Heritage spokesman said: “Just because the building has been listed doesn’t mean that sensitive changes can’t be made, but that’s a matter for the district council.”
- The baths are due to reopen on May 1.
Comments(13)
southy
says...
9:30am Fri 22 Mar 13
In away I glad it as happened its being listed as a grade 2 building, I think this is the oldest sea baths in the UK.
sotonboy84
says...
9:35am Fri 22 Mar 13
The Civic Centre is grade II* listed but they have managed to convert the old courts and remove the grand stone steps to put in a lift and fit two huge modern glass light boxes on the roof!
southy
says...
9:40am Fri 22 Mar 13
sotonboy84 wrote:Oh very true boy.
Don't worry about the listing status, you only have to look to Southampton City Council for that.
The Civic Centre is grade II* listed but they have managed to convert the old courts and remove the grand stone steps to put in a lift and fit two huge modern glass light boxes on the roof!
Torchie1
says...
10:17am Fri 22 Mar 13
Saintly wrote:Oliff-Coopers hands aren't as clean as he would have us believe and Listing the baths has upset his plans for getting the Council to pay for modernisation before one of his friends took them over to run as a commercial venture. As for sidelining local councillors, the ones complaining tend to be the ones who like the office but don't like anyone questioning the amount of effort they put in to it (or not) and they've found themselves outmaneuvered by those who use their position for the benefit of the town and its people.
Vital facelift or hidden agenda?
Depends on who you believe.
It seems this particular council representatives are intent on ruffling as many feathers as possible - Cricket Club, Sea Water Baths, High Street parking....
All we hear are long standing local councillors being sidelined or bypassed in favour of a closed shop.
If there was transparency in the first place, there wouldn't be dissenters.
Quite easy when you think about it....
Jimbo2012
says...
12:28pm Fri 22 Mar 13
There has been a lot of underhand gong on regarding the sea water baths. Some on the council would have sold it off if they could.
Like the person commenting above said Grade 2 listing doesn't stop sensible and appropriate development.
With enough imagination the Seawater Baths could have a long and succesful future ahead of them.
Jimbo2012
says...
12:30pm Fri 22 Mar 13
Frank28
says...
4:54pm Fri 22 Mar 13
cantthinkofone
says...
5:29pm Fri 22 Mar 13
Torchie1
says...
5:42pm Fri 22 Mar 13
cantthinkofone wrote:You're skills at misinterpreting are to be applauded as there is no developer in the story at all. It's a shame that the story isn't anywhere near as interesting as your imagination.
Glad it's been listed. Soton are living proof that you can't trust councils to exercise discretion and sensitive judgement voluntarily. Especially when big fat developer cheques are at stake.
cantthinkofone
says...
7:12pm Fri 22 Mar 13
Torchie1 wrote:Your (nb spelling) skills at misreading are impressive. Listing it takes it out of the potential grasp of developers - nowhere have I suggested that they're involved at this stage. It's a shame that your desire to patronise is nowhere near as advanced as your capacity for comprehension.
cantthinkofone wrote:You're skills at misinterpreting are to be applauded as there is no developer in the story at all. It's a shame that the story isn't anywhere near as interesting as your imagination.
Glad it's been listed. Soton are living proof that you can't trust councils to exercise discretion and sensitive judgement voluntarily. Especially when big fat developer cheques are at stake.
Torchie1
says...
7:31pm Fri 22 Mar 13
cantthinkofone wrote:Thankyou for pointing out an unforgivable grammatical error. No developers were anywhere near nor could they have got their hands on the sea water baths. One small group of councillor s wanted to hand over control of the baths to a private company to run so that the facility would no longer be available to make money for the town. Another group of councillor s got the baths Listed so that the baths and buildings could remain as they are with an additional layer of protection. The potential plans included adding other attractions on the same site or possibly hiving off part of the land for a dinghy park. At the end of the day, it was Listed to prevent the possibility of anyone treating it as a piece of prime building land.
Torchie1 wrote:Your (nb spelling) skills at misreading are impressive. Listing it takes it out of the potential grasp of developers - nowhere have I suggested that they're involved at this stage. It's a shame that your desire to patronise is nowhere near as advanced as your capacity for comprehension.
cantthinkofone wrote:You're skills at misinterpreting are to be applauded as there is no developer in the story at all. It's a shame that the story isn't anywhere near as interesting as your imagination.
Glad it's been listed. Soton are living proof that you can't trust councils to exercise discretion and sensitive judgement voluntarily. Especially when big fat developer cheques are at stake.
cantthinkofone
says...
8:55pm Fri 22 Mar 13
Torchie1 wrote:Thank you for confirming exactly my point. :-)
cantthinkofone wrote:Thankyou for pointing out an unforgivable grammatical error. No developers were anywhere near nor could they have got their hands on the sea water baths. One small group of councillor s wanted to hand over control of the baths to a private company to run so that the facility would no longer be available to make money for the town. Another group of councillor s got the baths Listed so that the baths and buildings could remain as they are with an additional layer of protection. The potential plans included adding other attractions on the same site or possibly hiving off part of the land for a dinghy park. At the end of the day, it was Listed to prevent the possibility of anyone treating it as a piece of prime building land.
Torchie1 wrote:Your (nb spelling) skills at misreading are impressive. Listing it takes it out of the potential grasp of developers - nowhere have I suggested that they're involved at this stage. It's a shame that your desire to patronise is nowhere near as advanced as your capacity for comprehension.
cantthinkofone wrote:You're skills at misinterpreting are to be applauded as there is no developer in the story at all. It's a shame that the story isn't anywhere near as interesting as your imagination.
Glad it's been listed. Soton are living proof that you can't trust councils to exercise discretion and sensitive judgement voluntarily. Especially when big fat developer cheques are at stake.
.
Happy to help with the grammar. You're welcome.
Saintly says...
7:38am Fri 22 Mar 13
Depends on who you believe.
It seems this particular council representatives are intent on ruffling as many feathers as possible - Cricket Club, Sea Water Baths, High Street parking....
All we hear are long standing local councillors being sidelined or bypassed in favour of a closed shop.
If there was transparency in the first place, there wouldn't be dissenters.
Quite easy when you think about it....