Pool where deadly bacteria found to be demolished...

Pool where deadly bacteria found to be demolished

After a swimming pool was controversially shuttered in August 2023, a council is reportedly moving forward with preparations to demolish it.

This was in spite of the fact that Shelley Whitehead from HALF Fish, which had been running the Daisyfield Pools

facility in Blackburn since 2016, appealed for its reprieve at a meeting attended by over thirty supporters.

Following the finding of legionella bacteria at the 118-year-old building, it was closed last year.

Now that Blackburn and Darwen Council have approved the tender process to locate a contractor to level it, they

have committed to looking into creating a “replacement pool” in the future.

The decision to knock down the building followed a consultation on the swimming provision in the area.

Initially, the closure of the pools led to a petition by local residents calling on Blackburn with Darwen Council to

address condition of the building and fund repairs.

But in February, the authority’s finance council meeting approved the knocking down of Daisyfield Pools and the

redundant Shadsworth Leisure Centre and allocated a budget of £1.5m to cover the demolition costs for both.

Now Blackburn with Darwen council’s growth programme director Simon Jones has authorised the tender process to

find a contractor to flatten the two buildings.

The authority’s Conservative group leader councillor John Slater, who opposed the shutting of Daisyfield Pools at the

executive board meeting, said: “This is sad.

“The closing of Daisyfield Pools was not necessary.

“The council is just liquidating all of its assets in order to maintain its financial stability. It doesn’t give a damn about

Blackburn residents.

Councillor Damian Talbot, the authority’s health chief, stated: “It was not financially feasible to repair Daisyfield

Pools at a cost of £3.1 million. The structure is over a century old.

“The council and Sport England are working together to look at building a replacement pool, as we promised. If we

can create a workable business plan to secure the necessary grants, we will do so.”