Swimming pool cost irony

The Birmingham Post has reported on the city council cabinet approving ambitious £90 million proposals for swimming provision with an ironically mistyped headline of £90 pools investment backed but funding problem remains (sic) in keeping with the problem that culture cabinet member Martin Mullaney admits he doesn't know how the transformation will be paid for.

The ambitious plans, reported in earlier blog articles Birmingham's 20 minute swim, include a 50 metre Olympic-size pool, replacement of Sparkhill pool, reopening of the number one pool at Moseley Road's Edwardian baths and replacement or rebuilding of the Stechford Arcades baths.

Priority is being given to the Birmingham Aquatic and Leisure Centre, to be built on a site close to the National Indoor Arena in Ladywood, which the council wants to open by February 2012 before the London Olympic Games in the same year. It’s hoped that the provision boost Birmingham’s bid to host training camps for the games.

Harborne Pool is likely to open by December 2011, although the council admits the timetable is very tight. No decisions have been taken yet about Stechford Cascades and Moseley and Sparkhill baths, and it is by no means certain that all of the projects will go ahead as planned.http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2009/07/14/90-pools-investment-backed-but-funding-problem-remains-65233-24145102/

Leisure officials will have until September to devise the detailed business case for the Olympic pool in the Birmingham Aquatic and Leisure Centre together with the rebuilding of Harborne baths.