Hopes for referendum on future of Haggerston Baths quashed

Floating votes: many local people want the derelict baths returned to its former glory. Photograph: Hackney Council

Campaigners’ hopes for a ‘referendum’ on the future of the Grade II-listed Haggerston Baths have been dashed after the council said it must have the final say.

At a public meeting on the future of the Whiston Road baths last week the idea was floated that local people could vote for their choice, once the council has a shortlist of bidders.

At the meeting, council representatives said they were “open to new forms of democracy” but when asked by the Hackney Citizen, the Town Hall said a referendum would be “unconstitutional”.

A council spokesperson said: “Elected members, according to the council’s constitution, must make the decision on this.”

Hackney Council put a 250-year lease of the bathhouse on the market in June, calling for developers to submit “expressions of interest”.

The council says it has received 29 proposals for the 111-year-old building, attracting bids from “a range of individuals, firms and developers” with ideas ranging from a brewery to flats and offices.

Standing room only at the public meeting on 8 October

Campaigners from Save Haggerston Pool, which has been running for fifteen years, is fighting for the building to reopen as a public baths. Chair Mike Coysh said there was “a fantastic turnout” at the meeting.

“Now that the community support has been demonstrated, we call again on the council to prioritise a swimming pool in the beautiful Edwardian pool hall of Haggerston Baths, as the centre piece of their plans to find a long term future for the building.”

Haggerston ward councillor Jonathan McShane, said: “We know that there is enormous strength of feeling about Haggerston Pool which was evidenced in both the numbers who attended the meeting as well how passionately people spoke about the building.

“It’s clear that local people really want to see a pool as part of any future plans – the council will take that on board and will also feed that back to the bidders as they refine their ideas. I’m committed to keeping the local community informed and involved as these proposals take shape.”

The Haggerston Pools Trust and the council are together running a survey for local people to have their say on the future of Haggerston Baths.