Stockport Council has been advised that it would not be required to keep the site of the former Marple Baths at its current location in Marple village centre. 

The baths were conveyed to the council in 1931 by Mrs MacNair. After having reviewed the original conveyance with external legal advisers, the council has concluded: "...whilst the building and land was transferred to the Council for the provision of public swimming, the transfer does not require the council to keep the baths in that location or building."

The full extent of the legal advice remains confidential. 

There is an obligation in the conveyance to provide swimming baths, however the council says that this obligation will be fulfilled with the introduction of the new Marple Leisure Hub - in other words, baths must be provided, but not necessarily on the original site. 

As it stands, plans have been submitted to demolish the baths, level the site, and erect security palisade fencing. Demolition would take place in mid-October. A determination deadline was set for 23 August, although as yet the decision status remains 'not available'. Nub News has reached out to the agent for more information. 

The council has said it is 'aware of the strength of feeling' surrounding the old baths. However, it maintains: "The building has been extensively surveyed prior to its closure and is unfortunately at the end of its economic life. The building required extensive repairs and refurbishment to allow it to remain open as a swimming venue and closed as a result in 2018."

Marple Civic Society (MCS) argues that although it may be expensive to repair as a swimming pool, it might nonetheless be cheaper to refurbish the building for another purpose. 

"The use of the building for another purpose than a swimming pool would not incur these specialised equipment costs", MCS argues. 

Nonetheless, the council maintains a figure of £3.5m-4.5m to refurbish the building for an alternate use, including filling in the swimming pool. 

"As a result", the council says, "repurposing of the building is not economically sustainable and we will be seeking to dispose of the site following demolition of the current building subject to planning."

MCS remains opposed to demolition on the grounds that the building is capable of being re-used, that the site could remain derelict for some time after demolition, and that the council is 'wrong' to treat the building as a non-viable asset. 

In an open letter to a number of Marple councillors, MCS said: "It is alarming that the council is treating the demolition of the building and the sale of the site for development as a forgone conclusion. 

"In the absence of convincing information to the contrary, the Society believes that the pool building is in basically sound condition and capable of re-use. 

"A new future for the building should be the subject of a feasibility study and consultation with the people of Marple. Its loss will be irrevocable."

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