Coseley Baths face bulldozers

Bulldozers will move in to knock down Coseley Baths this week, reducing the building to rubble after more than four decades.

Workmen at Birmingham-based Coleman & Co, the firm appointed to demolish the Pear Tree Lane pool, will step up the pace of the project after removing fittings and asbestos.

Cabinet member for property Councillor Adrian Turner confirmed today heavy machinery would arrive "on Wednesday or Thursday".

Defiant campaigners said the latest blow in their fight to save the building would signal a new stage in their battle.

Chairman of the Coseley Civic Trust John Wilkes said today: "The feeling is that if we manage to stop demolition that would be a bonus but if not we are prepared for it, we are ready to go in other directions.

"As soon as the fencing went up round the baths we knew this was on the cards. This will mark the start for a new fight for a new baths in Coseley. I certainly intend to make sure that will happen but I don't think people will need much encouragement."

Work to remove windows, doors and asbestos from the building started last month after Coleman & Co won the contract for the project. Fences were erected round the building by workers clad in high visibility vests and hard hats.

A section of wall has already been removed as part of the initial soft stripping works, with rubble piled outside the baths.

Residents complained they had been treated with "utter contempt" after the work started unannounced.

Then the Save Coseley Baths campaign group suffered another blow when it was refused funding to launch legal action.

Mr Wilkes has applied for the baths to be granted listed status and criticised the council for moving ahead with demolition before the application was decided.

The council was cleared of blame over claims it breached conservation rules after a colony of bats was found roosting in the roof.