Wolverhampton council defends stance on empty swimming baths as Conservatives call for investigation
A city council has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving its heritage buildings after questions were asked about the future of a former swimming baths that has stood empty for a decade.
Wolverhampton Council has said that it takes the preservation of the heritage buildings across the city extremely seriously following a call by Conservative councillors to clarify the future of Heath Town Swimming baths.
The councillors have claimed that the plans for new providers to take over the site have been repeatedly set back and the building, which is Grade II listed and formerly housed a swimming baths and public library, was closed in 2013.
Councillor Ellis Turrell, who is vice-chair of Wolverhampton Council’s Scrutiny Board, said the Conservative group was calling for an investigation into the process around the lease of the building and criticised the council for leaving the building to "rot and decay".
He said: "The Heath Town Baths site has been empty and derelict since 2013.
"The council ran a tendering process in 2017 to find a developer to regenerate the site and put it back into use. Since then, nothing onsite has happened.
