Will the Stirchley Baths HLF bid sink or swim?
The round 2 Heritage Lottery bid to restore the former Stirchley Baths and re-purpose it as a community ‘hub’ is due to be submitted by the 17 June. This poignant moment was marked on Saturday by over 200 people on the former bowling green behind the Baths for a wonderful and balloontastic event called ‘Sink or Swim’ which was organised by Place Prospector.
Will the bid be turned down and the plans for the Baths’ restoration sink? Or will the HLF say yes and secure a future for the building? Once again Stirchley residents turned out to show their support for the project.
Cheered along by the Stirchley Shakers, members of the community selected their weighted balloon from a pool where balloons spelled out the word SINK, weighed in their support for the project by handing over their custom made ‘thumbs up’ weight to literally be weighed and to sign a book. They then added their balloon to a custom made wall, and by the end of the event the balloons spelled the word SWIM. Pictures from the event can be found here.
Simon and I have been busy preparing the Activity Plan and Interpretation Proposal which accompany the application and these will also be submitted by 17 June. What an amazing project to work on. I’m sure you’ll also be routing for a ‘thumbs up’ verdict! We will find out in September.
Working on and supporting the project are from left to write; Jaime Summerfield who has been leading on social media, Mark Sloane, project architect, Chair of the Neighbourhood Forum Peter Walker and Emma Larkinson, one half of Place Prospector who organised the event.
Developing and supporting the HLF bid from left to right; me (Suzanne Carter), Birmingham Conservation Trust, Selly Oak District Chair Cllr Karen McCarthy, Karen Cheney, Service Integration Head for Selly Oak District and the other half of Place Prospector Jayne Murray who organised the event.
I am a professional writer and suggest you looked at the Crown, 65 station Street with its beautiful early Victorian fittings which is threatened by development . The fittings are carved English rosewood and Victorian glass behind the bar with other interesting features in the pub. This pub needs listing. It should not difficult for the council to build round it.
I have had considerable difficulty in dealing with English Heritage as they expect me to fill forms that require too high a technical knowledge. The local CAMRA who are supposed to preserve pubs ignored me as well.
David Hamilton
http://www.newenglishreview.org/David_Hamilton/
Stirchley residents really want this HLF application to succeed. Good luck BCT – fingers and toes crossed!
Thanks Rachel. I think we have a strong bid – certainly lots of community support. I’m crossing my fingers too! Best wishes, Suzanne