A MULTI-MILLION pound grassroots plan to refurbish a former Edwardian baths is floundering due to lack of council support, campaigners say.
Govanhill Community Baths Trust has appealed to the Heritage Lottery Fund for financial backing to open a £3.8million sport and wellbeing development.
However, the funder has knocked back an application, saying it would first need to see greater support from Glasgow City Council.
Trust chairman Andrew Johnson said lack of support has "stymied" plans in what is one of the most deprived areas of the city. He has now written to council leader Gordon Matheson to ask for his backing.
In a letter that has also been sent to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Mr Johnson said: "Our financial projections for this phase are realistic and are supported by a comprehensive business plan that proves the pools can be self-sustaining without the need for additional revenue funding.
"However, our funding efforts have been stymied by the lack of financial support from Glasgow City Council for the project, and it is extremely unlikely that we will be able to provide this much-needed facility for the residents of Govanhill without a commitment from you."
Govanhill Baths, a well-used swimming pool on the south side, was forced by the council to close in 2001.
The decision faced fierce opposition from local people who occupied the Calder Street centre for 140 days before being forced out by police.
In 2005, the Govanhill Community Baths Trust was formed to try to find a way to reopen the Edwardian building as a wellness centre.
Ambitious plans would see three functioning swimming pools, a gymnasium, event hall, a Turkish Sauna and Health Suite, and meeting spaces for the local community.
A first phase of the scheme, opened by Peter Mullen, has already proved successful.
The Trust now wishes to proceed to Phase 1B, for which they have asked the Heritage Lottery Fund for £1million of funding.
A response from the fund said: "The Committee were disappointed by the amount of funding indicated by Glasgow City Council.
"The total contribution (included in the application as unsecured) was £250,000.
"Given the stated importance of the facility to the community, the Committee expected to see a more substantial commitment from GCC."
The Heritage Lottery Fund expressed three other concerns: a lack of partnerships with other organisations, the condition of the building and a more detailed business plan.
But Mr Johnson added: "These things are all easily surmountable. The sticking point in funding from Glasgow City Council."
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "No application for funding has been received from Govanhill Baths Trust in respect of the next phase of the proposed work at the baths.
"It is therefore unfounded to claim that funding efforts are being stymied by the council.
"There have been very initial discussions about further funding and nothing has been ruled out at this stage.
"We have been working with and supporting the trust over a number of years and we will be pleased to continue doing so.
"However, there has to be a degree of realism about the level of council resource available in the current financial climate."
Mr Johnson, however, insists the Baths Trust made a funding application to the council two years and has been in ongoing discussions since.
He added: "The reopening of Govanhill Baths is important because it provides a facility for a wide range of culture, recreation and sporting activities as well as swimming and that's vital in an area such as Govanhill, which is deprived, as a counterbalance.
"The struggle to get the pool back is something that we have been fighting for the past 14 years and that is because we believe in it and we will not stop."
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