Campaigners say farewell to baths

Braving bitter winds and drizzling rain, more than 50 Coseley residents turned out to say an bittersweet final goodbye to their beloved baths.

Generations of swimming fans brought sympathy cards, flowers and banners to staple to the fencing surrounding the pile of rubble that used to be Coseley Baths.

With one poster labelling it the "Wall of Shame", the fence now boasts farewell messages including "gone but not forgotten", "so many happy memories were had here" and "rest in peace".

Many also posted angry messages to Dudley Council including: "Heartless, careless, hopeless - thanks for tearing up a community" and "we won't forget this".

Hall Grove resident Elizabeth Padmore, aged 36, attended the short ceremony with her nine-year-old son Joseph so he could stick his card to the wall, which read: "Goodbye Coseley Baths, I enjoyed swimming in you and I hate to see you go."

Sarah Hollington, 31 of Milton Road, was there her father Philip Turton, chairman of the Save Coseley Baths Committee, and her five-year-old son Ethan.

She said Ethan had not been able to start swimming lessons as he had to rejoin a waiting list at a different pool when the centre closed in August."My father swam in that pool on the first day it opened, and it's where I learned to swim," she said.