Pool in gas leak to reopen
Coseley baths was today given the all-clear to reopen by health and safety inspectors.
It came a week after 50 people needed medical treatment following a chemical leak. The pool was due to open to the public at 2pm today. A sign outside the baths in Pear Tree Lane advises residents of the reopening.
Cabinet member for leisure Councillor Karen Shakespeare pledged lessons would be learned and said she was confident there would be no repeat of last Wednesday's chlorine gas leak.
However campaigners fighting to save the closure-threatened baths questioned whether the building should be opening at all until £2 million of repairs identified by the council had been carried out to bring it up to scratch.
Councillor Shakespeare said the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had given the green light for the re-opening today.
"The most important thing was that we got the all clear from the HSE, to make sure it was safe for users and make sure there wouldn't be any further problems," she said.
"We have flushed out the tanks and started again with new chlorine.
"This is the first and only time this has happened. While I haven't had a chance to get any feedback from the HSE yet if there is anything which they say needs to be put in place we would do that because the safety of residents is paramount."
The baths have been closed since the chlorine gas leak which left 50 people needing medical treatment.
Workmen were on site over the Easter holiday weekend trying to ensure the pool was safe to re-open.
It will close permanently by August after an inspection revealed it requires £2 million of repairs.
But campaigner Linda Turton, of Wallbrook Street, said: "If the structural damage is as bad as the council is saying it is then the pool shouldn't be open at all. It needs to be made safe."
