Boost for Camberwell Leisure Centre

Monday, 06 April 2009

By Jenny Clover

ECSTATIC swimmers are celebrating after their pool was given a “fairytale” cash boost of more than £1million.

The £1.45million will be spent on giving Camberwell Leisure Centre’s pool and gym a revamp.

There will also be a new cafe, crèche and changing rooms at the centre in Artichoke Place, it was announced by Southwark council on Tuesday.

The Camberwell Baths Campaign members had been asking for investment in the dilapidated pool for 10 years.

Campaign secretary Helen Owen said: “We are absolutely delighted – this is a fantastic result.

“We are amazed that we got all the money we asked for.

"It’s almost like a fairytale come true for Camberwell.

“Everyone has worked really hard on this and we want to say thanks to everyone who marched, wrote letters and generally refused to take no for an answer.”

The cash comes from the Government’s Free Swimming Capital Modernisation Fund, which aims to get under-16s and over-60s to swim.

Six councils across the UK got large grants, but Camberwell was handed more than anywhere else in the country.

The Lib Dem/Tory-led council will add another £1.5million towards the cost of the works, and hopes to get even more cash from English Heritage.

Work on the pool is due to start in the autumn.

Councillor Lewis Robinson, Southwark’s executive member for culture, leisure and sport, lobbied for the grant.

He said: “When I took over this job I made a personal commitment to securing the long-term future of Camberwell Leisure Centre.

“The success of this application means I can now deliver on that.

“This funding will go a long way to making it possible to modernise the baths.”

Camberwell and Peckham Labour MP Harriet Harman said: “I am delighted that the Minister for Sport has decided to grant £1.4million to refurbish the baths – the full amount of money that the community asked for.

“I look forward to work starting as soon as possible.”

- OVER-60s and under-16s can now swim for free at any of Southwark council’s four pools.

Email: jenny.clover@slp.co.uk

For the full story, you can get a full online edition at www.slp-e-edition.co.uk

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1 comments on this news item

Posted by : Simon, SE5 | Tuesday 07/Apr/2009 | Report this comment

Good news for Camberwell and about time too - the Lib Dems and Torys have been delaying on this issue for far too long. I hope this will be the start of a renaissance and regeneration for Camberwell.

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