Listed swimming pool could be demolished
The building closed in 2020 and has been standing idle ever since at a cost of £400,000 each year
Plans to demolish the grade II listed swimming pool attached to the Elephant leisure centre in Coventry city centre could be approved by the end of the year. The building closed in 2020 and has been standing idle ever since at a cost of £400,000 each year.
But there is hope that the iconic Elephant building, with its legs straddling Cox Street, could be spared with talks ongoing between the city council and potential developers.
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, spoke after an online petition calling for the council to modernise and reopen the Elephant attracted 725 signatures.
“Signing petitions is easy but running things is difficult,” Cllr O’Boyle admitted. “The Elephant and the swimming pool were decommissioned for sporting use over ten years ago.
“There was a piece of work done by the previous administration which looked at what was there and they worked with Swim England and various other bodies. Reluctantly they eventually came to the conclusion that it wasn’t fit for purpose.
“It opened in 1966, was envisaged in the 50s and while it was state of the art at that stage, it was expensive to run and you couldn’t get parts for it. When you go down to the plant room underneath the pool – which is absolutely massive – it is like going back in time. It resembles the old U-boats you see in films with all the pulleys and massive wheels and clocks.
“The buildings cost us £400,000 each year in security and the rest of it. We have facilities elsewhere in the city now. There are private gymnasiums all over the place, they seem to be on every other corner. The world has changed.
“In an ideal world I would love to keep them open but unless someone comes forward and says they want to take on those liabilities then it is pointless. It is nice that people have these ideas but at the end of the day we have to back those ideas up with reality.”
Cllr O’Boyle explained that while the Elephant was not a listed building, the situation was complicated with it being connected to the swimming pool which was grade II listed due to its unusual winged roof space and glazing.
He said: “Ultimately the swimming pool is falling down and it would be a heart decision rather than a business decision for someone to take it on.
“I’ve spent many happy hours there and I love the place but I cannot justify the tax payer spending £400,000 each year maintaining an empty building that has no potential future use. It is unacceptable and needs to end.
“Historic England are supporting us in this endeavour and the planning application for the swimming pool to be demolished will be coming forward in the next few months.
“Historic England recognise the work we have done and the uses we have tried to find for it, looking for a third party. I am holding off on the Elephant in the hope that someone will take that on.
“I have had a couple of interested parties look around it in the last couple of weeks and I’m waiting for them to come back. We have had leisure companies look at it, paddle court companies look at it and also churches and those involved in the nighttime economy look at it.”