Pool protest stays afloat

Protesters have been inside for 100 days

Campaigners occupying a swimming pool threatened with closure have reached the 100th day of their sit-in protest.

The vigil at Govanhill Pool in the south of Glasgow began in March and since then about 200 people have taken turns to make sure the building is occupied 24 hours a day.

Campaigners have said they will continue until they succeed in reopening the facility and are mounting a court challenge.

The Southside Against Closure group began the campaign after Glasgow City Council decided the Victorian-style pool in Calder Street should close at the end of March.

We are pleased to have reached the 100-day milestone and we will continue the sit-in as long as it takes

Protester Judith Fryer

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.

They also said money would be better spent on new facilities such as the Bellahouston and Gorbals leisure centres.

But protesters have disagreed and said the council is not listening to the views of local people.

They also pointed out that the pool, built in 1914, 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.

The campaigners are determined to fight on until the council reverses the closure decision and are also taking legal action.

'Healthy living' centre

A judicial review of the decision is due to take place later this summer.

Meanwhile, the milestone of 100 days of the occupation was due to be marked with the launch of a blueprint for the pool which the protesters propose should become a 'healthy living' centre.

And on Saturday they will celebrate with a 101 Days street party and march due to be attended by local MPs and MSPs including Mohammed Sarwar and Gordon Jackson.

Protester Judith Fryer, a mother-of-two, has been involved in the campaign from the start.

She said: "We've had 200 people all doing different stints to make sure there are people inside the building 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"There have always been at least two people outside the pool and at least five inside.

"We are pleased to have reached the 100-day milestone and we will continue the sit-in as long as it takes."

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.

'Tough going'

Ms Fryer said: "It can be tough going being in there all the time and it was quite spooky at first but after 100 days and nights we have all got used to it."

She points out that many people in the Govanhill area have no car and have to take several buses to reach Bellahouston Leisure Centre or Gorbals Leisure Centre.

The council and councillors are comfortable with that decision because we are providing outstanding alternative facilities in the south side of Glasgow.

Glasgow City Council spokesman

However, a spokesman for Glasgow City Council insisted officials were right to close the pool and said he is confident they will win the pending legal action.

And he urged the campaigners to give up their "futile" occupation because "they are achieving nothing".

The spokesman said: "The council and councillors are comfortable with that decision because we are providing outstanding alternative facilities in the south side of Glasgow.

"We are not depriving people and although they may have to travel a slightly longer distance they have the choice of two outstanding centres."

He said that the campaigners were forcing the council to spend money to pay the security firm who are monitoring the situation.