The story so far

thecampaign

10 April 2017:

Sadly, at the Policy Committee meeting, Reading Borough Council rejected the CIC proposal for a project to reopen Arthur Hill Pool at least until a permanent replacement at Palmer Park is available.

2 March 2017:

Our third public meeting and first Annual General Meeting of Arthur Hill SOS CIC. We presented our plans, opened up for members and had a very enjoyable ‘Arthur’s Awards ceremony’.

25 February 2017:

 “Arthur Hill Save Our Swimming Community Interest Company (CIC)” is officially registered.

January – March 2017:

Completed a lot of work to get ourselves ready to submit our proposals to the Council, including:
  • preparing a business case;
  • developing a website;
  • building relationships with potential partners, e.g. Amateur Swimming Association, Arundel Lido;
  • setting up company policies, training, banking, etc.

31 December 2016:

The crowdfunding appeal closes having met and exceeded its target: online donations eventually reached £10,727.

20 November 2016:

A crowdfunding appeal is launched on the internet and by leaflets, aiming to raise £10,000 by 31 December to fund preparation of a business plan to reopen the pool and survey work into its condition.

17 November 2016:

A second Community Meeting takes place at the Warehouse Center and agrees to set up a new Community Interest Company (CIC) to take forward the project to keep Arthur Hill Pool open.

18 October 2016:

Despite massive opposition from local residents and users of the pool and gym, a meeting of Reading Borough Council votes to close Arthur Hill Pool. Labour Councillors vote en bloc in support, rejecting an amendment by all other Councillors to defer closure until a replacement is available.

6 October 2016:

Around 100 people cram into a packed Community Meeting at the Warehouse Center to give their ideas on how to keep the Arthur Hill pool and gym open.

26 September 2016:

Campaigners present a petition to the Council’s Policy Committee, calling for the Baths to be kept open until a replacement is available; the petition had secured over 2,500 signatures in just over one week. The Policy Committee defer the decision to the next full meeting of Reading Borough Council on 18 October.

16 September 2016:

The Council announces that Arthur Hill Pool will close on 19 December 2016. It claims that budget constraints mean that it can no longer afford to keep the pool and gym open, and “huge investment” would be needed to complete repair work. A new pool will be opened in Palmer Park “in 3 to 4 years’ time”.

25 December 2015:

Charlie Burt, legendary swimming teacher at Arthur Hill since 1959, passes away aged 98.

30 November 2015:

Reading Borough Council publishes a Leisure Review stating it will undertake a feasibility study into providing a new swimming pool at Palmer Park as a replacement for Arthur Hill Pool.

28 May 2015:

Specialist consultants present a Condition Survey of the building to Reading Borough Council; it lists features that need redecoration, repair or replacement in the medium or long term.

29 November 2011:

The Centenary of the opening of the Baths is celebrated with a commemorative event, organised by The Friends of The Arthur Hill Memorial Baths. The Friends publish the Centenary booklet about the Baths and the people behind it – Arthur Hill himself, his eminent family members, and Charles Burt, renowned swimming teacher at the Baths for decades.

October 2005:

Reading Borough Council first announces plans to build a new swimming pool in Palmer Park and says that Arthur Hill Pool will close when the new pool is built.

thepool