Green light for £1m Walsall Gala Baths revamp
A £1 million revamp of Walsall Gala Baths to provide new water features and better changing rooms has been given the green light.
Walsall Council's cabinet has given the go ahead to upgrade the outdated 50-year-old building.
Proposals include fresh water play features in the brine pool, bistro seating area and male and female changing area.
The money for the project Tower Street site has been set aside as part of the capital programme and would take up to three months to complete.
Planned improvements include a new reception foyer and entrance area and installation of a fixed boom into the gala pool to create a learner pool.
It comes as almost £24m is being invested in creating two new leisure centres at Bloxwich and Oak Park.
The council will look at the option of keeping at least one of the two pools open at all times to minimise disruption to users. Otherwise, the building could be closed until the summer.
The prospect of transforming the outdated Tower Street was first raised more than 18 months ago. It came after a A 2,000-name petition was collected in 2013 after public concerns that the building may close.
The former Conservative-led council revealed it was looking at replacing the Gala Baths and creating a new pool and multi-storey car park complex.
