UBS PULLS OUT OF HAGGERSTON POOL DEVELOPMENT
Financial Services Company UBS who are sponsoring the new city academy on the site of Laburnum primary school, (which is in the street behind Haggerston Pool) have decided not to include Haggerston Pool in their development.   They have also decided not to take the land from Tannery Arts for the school, but to fit the whole new secondary school on the site of the old primary school.
 
 
TANNERY ARTS - WILL INVEST IN HAGGERSTON POOL
Russell Gray from Tannery Arts was threatened with a compulsory purchase order for his land to become part of the new school (see above).  He said that if his land was left alone he would contribute to the refurbishment of Haggerston Pool.  Mr Gray, who owns a property company specialising in historic buildings, has repeated his offer saying he is still keen to support a project to re-open Haggerston Pool.   
 
 
SUMMER STREET PARTY - 101st BIRTHDAY OF HAGGERSTON POOL
Planning is just beginning to have another Street Party in Laburnum Street, Haggerston in June or July this year.  This will be to celebrate the 101st birthday of Haggerston Pool.  Anyone who'd like to get involved please get in touch - contact details at the foot of the letter. 
 
 
LONDON FIELDS LIDO TO OPEN - WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Hackney Council have announced plans to re-open London Fields Lido as an open air heated lido open for 6 months a year and run by a not-for-profit operator.  More details http://www.hackney.gov.uk/index/council/departments/communityleisure/sports/londonfields-lido.htm.  The Council are asking for comments about design, management and usage.
 
Send comments by 26th February to lido@hackney.gov.uk or Freepost RLSU-EEKB-JTGK (LIDO Redevelopment), London Borough of Hackney. Ground Floor, Maurice Bishop House, 17 Reading Lane, LONDON E8 1HH  
 

LONDON FIELDS LIDO TO OPEN - STAKEHOLDERS VIEWS
The Stakeholders consultation about the lido involved the City and Hackney Health Authority, The Learning Trust, London Fields User Group, Hackney Voluntary Action, London Pools Campaign and the Council Sports Department among others.
 
The unanimous recommendations, which were not mentioned the public consultation, were for a sliding roof (so that could be used all year, particularly for school swimming), a steering group for the development involving members of the local community and a plan for the longterm economic sustainability of the lido (many lidos close after a few summers of bad weather).
 
CLISSOLD SWIMMING CLUB - FIRST GALA WIN
On January 29th Clissold Swimming Club won the first gala of the 2005 London Graded League.  This is the first time the club has won a gala since moving to Clissold in 2002, and is just a year since it looked like the club might fold, having no pool and few swimmers.  Clissold Swimming Club which was at Haggerston until it closed, at Clissold until it closed now trains between Ironmonger Row, Kings Hall and Highbury Grove school.  More information www.clissoldswimmingclub.org.uk or coach Greg McNeill 07789 005 652
 
 
CLISSOLD - CONSULTATION FOR RE_OPENING
Clissold Leisure Centre in Stoke Newington closed in November 2003 having cost £32 million and been open just 23 months.  The Council are aiming to re-open the centre in February 2006 and are looking for comments on the running of the centre - the swimming, other activities, customer care and programming.  Please send any comments to clissold@hackney.gov.uk or post to Swimming Pools Consultation, FREEPOST RLSU-EEKB-JTGK, Maurice Bishop House, 17 Reading Lane, London E8 1HH.  
 
Clissold campaign website www.clissoldleisure.com   
 
 
IRON MONGER ROW
Ironmonger Row Baths re-opened on 17th January following total refurbishing of the changing rooms. 

 
LONDON POOLS CAMPAIGN SWIMMING DETECTIVES WANTED
London Pools Campaign tries to stop pools closing and to improve the pools that we do have.  LPC is running a "swimming detectives" campaign where swimmers are visiting every pool in London to check for cleanliness, good opening hours and friendly staff using a standard questionnaire.  Anyone who would like to volunteer as a swimming detective, please contact info@londonpoolscampaign.com or call 020 7690 6662