Protesters defy eviction order

The sit-in protest is in its 114th day

Campaigners fighting to save a city swimming pool have vowed to defy an eviction notice served on them.

The planned closure of Govanhill pool, in the south side of the city, has been met with fierce local opposition.

The demonstrators were served with an eviction notice on Tuesday, but they have promised that they will strongly resist police and sheriff officers if they try to remove them.

The notice gave the protesters 48 hours to clear the building, but after a 114 day sit-in they said they would not be moved.

Some protesters do not want to be identified

Instead, they said they have strengthened the barricades and have 100 people on standby to come to the pool at a minute's notice to stop moves to empty the building.

Glasgow City Council has refused to say when it plans to remove the campaigners, but a spokesman said the protest was hampering the attempts to find an alternative use for the building.

Campaigners claim the council's decision to close the baths was illegal because it did not take the necessary steps to consult over the proposals.

The council closed the pool in March, saying it was no longer viable and that new facilities were provided at the Gorbals and Bellahouston.

Since then about 200 people have taken turns to make sure the building is occupied 24 hours a day.

MSP for the area, Frank McAveety, said local councils had the right to make decisions in terms of their budget.

Local opinion

Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, he said: "I think we have reached the stage where the point has been made by those who have occupied the pool, but the reality is how we move forward.

"And a number of us in recent weeks have been trying to move the debate forward to include the future of the building and the feasibility study that can be undertaken."

But Scottish National Party MSP Dorothy Grace Elder told the programme that plans to close the baths went against local opinion.

Frank McAveety: "Point has been made"

She said: "The public have the ultimate right here, they voted in Frank McAveety and the local council.

"And the public are overwhelmingly in favour of retaining this great asset in Govanhill."

The Edwardian baths were built in 1914, and council officials said they would have to spend £750,000 on immediate repairs to the building and at least £3m to bring the pool up to standard.

Protesters pointed out that the pool contains the city's only secluded pool, which is used by women from the local Muslim community whose faith forbids them from bathing where they can be seen by men.

Protesters, who often spend several days or even weeks without leaving the building, are allowed to use showering and toilet facilities at the pool.

They take in various comforts such as duvets, food and a radio and the council has employed security guards who are outside the premises at all times.