Hawkins\Brown architects have started working with HCD on plans for the re-opening of Haggerston Pool. One of the architects will be coming to the Pool meeting (see below) to discuss their initial plans.

The next pool meeting is next Thursday (10th July) at 7pm at Haggerston Community Centre which is at 179 Haggerston Road. We will be reporting on general progress as well as hearing from the architects, also starting a membership and support campaign (association of schools and tenants associations, maybe car stickers, posters, newsletter) and responding to the Council's draft Sports Strategy (see below). Everyone is welcome, we'd be particularly pleased to welcome people who could help with the support campaign.

Hackney Council have agreed in principle that Haggerston Pool should be part of the London Open House program that takes place on September 21st and 22nd. This is a London wide event, widely publicised, when many buildings not normally accessible, are opened to the public. (More information http://www.londonopenhouse.org/ or 020 7267 2070). The opening of Haggerston Pool depends on agreeing how the public access can be managed - probably by allowing in small groups of people accompanied by Haggerston Pool Campaign members, and on the Council checking the insurance held by Open House.

Haggerston Pool Community Trust made a presentation to the Shoreditch Neighbourhood Committee at their June meeting attended by about 30 local residents. The Committee agreed to follow up with the Council the issues of access to the baths by the Pool Trust and other interested parties, the clearing of the rubbish and the Council's continuing involvement in the future of the pool. Following this the issue of access has been resolved and the Council have also agreed in principle to allowing public access to the building in the Open House program (see above).

Hackney Council have produced their draft Sports Strategy.
The only mention of Haggerston Pool is : ".... sports facilities of all types continue to suffer from a history of long term poor maintenance and lack of investment. Haggerston Pool which was forced to close because of poor maintenance is, perhaps, the prime example of this ...".

However the report does say "In overall terms there is a lack of swimming pool space across the borough as a whole. The major effect of this is to restrict the ability of schools to deliver the national curriculum requirement for all pupils to learn to swim at Key Stage 2".

You can read the draft report on our website at http://www.haggerstonpool.com/documents/LBHSportsStrategy.htm or ring the Council Sports Department for a copy 020 8356 5000.

Grunge band Placebo shot their latest promotion video in Haggerston Pool last Saturday (June 27th). This was arranged through the London Film Commission who market Haggerston Pool for films and videos on behalf of Hackney Council. All fees for filming go to the Council.

Artists Amy Plant and Ella Gibbs are planning a magazine of drawings based around Laburnum St in a project organised by the Drawing Room gallery. The magazine will be launched on October 4th and all contributions to the magazine will come from Laburnum St.

Hackney Council's Buildings at Risk Officer has written again to the Community and Environment Department in the Council asking for the rubbish in Haggerston Pool building to be removed as it is now rotting and so causing damage and encouraging infestation.

Pool campaigner John O'Callaghan has done some research into the existence of a swimming pool at the western end of Albion Square. There was a swimming pool there initially built by a philanthropic society - just for children - and then passed onto the London Schools Board. The pool was demolished by a flying bomb in 1944. John has written a short article about the swimming pools of South Hackney (Pitfield St, Haggerston and Albion Square) which he describes as being now a "swim free zone". This will be published in the Hackney Society magazine and on our website soon.

London Fields User Group are holding an event in London Fields on Saturday July 12th from 12:30 - 4:30pm to publicise the plans to re-open London Fields Lido. Working with the Environment Trust, Matthew Lloyd architects and Market Sports, LFUG have put together plans to cover the lido and incorporate the tennis courts in a new pool and health club. Events include obstacle races and stalls as well as a chance to look at the new plans for the site. More information from Mike Martin on 07752 833 487.

An open meeting is being held by the York Hall User Group on Tuesday 15th July from 6:30 - 9pm in York Hall to report back and discuss the user group's participation in Tower Hamlet's consultative group on the future of York Hall. Also to consider the User Group's next steps.