Initial doubts about the building of the new public baths for Crewe in the 1930s were largely based around the economics of the project. Contemporary Borough Council minutes document a lengthy process where after agreeing an option that appears close to what is now built, in Summer 1934, nearly two years were spent exploring alternative options to reduce costs, before the Ministry of Health finally signed the scheme off.
Realising the original vision (1934-1937)
Contemporary local government statistics and council minutes suggest a mood of optimism as Crewe emerged from the economic depression 1929-1934. An extensive programme of public works was underway during the years 1934-37 when the baths were planned and built.
Image originally published in Baths and Bath Engineering Vol. 5. January to December, 1938
Nonetheless, the early history of the Flag Lane Baths reveals false starts and doubts, and significant optioneering with varying scopes, sites and budgets, as documented through Borough Council minutes.
In February 1934, a proposal for Swimming Bath at Flag Lane was formally recorded and the Borough Surveyor, Leonard Reeves was requested to prepare a scheme. By April, Reeves (also the Architect) had prepared a report setting out four schemes of varying scope for consideration with cost estimates ranging from £31,000 to £48,000, noting that no definitive instructions had ever been given. A Sub-Committee was appointed to oversee the development of the baths, who in August 1934 agreed to proceed with the costliest option, while also considering means to reduce costs. At the October meeting, the Committee considered the option of an open-air pool at the nearby Queens Park and instructed the Reeves to submit alternative plans and estimates, and to approach the Ministry of Health regarding funding the scheme.
By April 1935, the General Purposes Committee minuted the response of the Ministry, confirming they agreed with the principle of the baths, but advised the Queens Park site to be unsuitable, and suggested the Council select an alternative. At this point the Council resolved to revert to the previous proposal, a closed bath at Flag Lane, and firmed the provisions of the building to include a main pool, learner’s pool, laundry, car park, four foam baths, twelve slipper baths, but no café or balcony.
By August 1935, Reeves submitted amended plans and revised costs of £39,866 and an additional £1,004 to be added for expenses already incurred on the open-air scheme. The committee resolved to make a revised application to the Ministry for the funding, and for their consent to appropriate the Flag Lane site.
Minutes from the General Purposes Committee from November record the receipt of the letter from The Minister for Health noting the Council’s proposals would entail an annual deficit of 3.8 pence in the pound on the rates and he would defer a decision pending the outcome of a local inquiry into the matter. Reeves noted that this delay now made it unlikely in his opinion that he would be able to complete the work before 1938. It was resolved that the Council would send a deputation to interview the Minister on the matter.
Minutes from January 1936 report that the meeting with the Minister had been successful, that the local inquiry could be dispensed with and that quantities could be prepared and tenders invited. By May, the Committee were considering tenders received for the construction of the proposed swimming baths and resolved to accept that of E. Taylor and Co. Ltd. For £34,090 as being the lowest of the five received.
In May 1936, minutes note the submission of revised plans incorporating a gallery and café, which were approved on condition this did not exceed the accepted tender. By June, the Council had received a letter from the Minister of Health, forwarding consent to the borrowing of £37,215, approving appropriation of the Flag Lane site for the purpose of the Baths and Washhouses Act.
On opening in November 1937, the Crewe Labour MP from 1929-1935 declared the Baths to be ‘money well-spent’, and proof that the Council were once again living up to Crewe’s motto of the time – ‘Never Behind’.
A new life? (2021-2024)
Replaced by the Lifestyles centre, a new build facility in the town, Cheshire East Council closed the doors to Flag Lane Swimming Pool for the final time on Sunday 27th March 2016. The building was left without a purpose and suffered from years of neglect, trespass and vandalism.
Coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020-2021, the Conservative government sought to deliver on their 2019 election manifesto to ‘level up’ the country, tackling geographical inequality through funding settlements made to local authorities to regenerate communities.
Crewe Town Board oversaw the allocation of £22.9m government Towns Deal funding, awarded in July 2021 to support regeneration projects in the town.
The following timeline documents the political oversight of the project through Crewe Town Board meeting minutes, interspersed with contemporaneous press releases charting the development of the project.
In October 2021 the Crewe Town board announced that the Flag Lane Baths project was one of 10 it would be supporting. Always Ahead, a local charity had an ambitious vision to acquire the lease for the building and to extend and comprehensively refurbish it into a Community Hub. Successful proposals would secure final funding; with the condition all funds would be spent by end of March 2026.
A planning application for the project was submitted to Cheshire East Council in December 2021, based on RIBA Stage 2 concept proposals.
Minutes from March 2022 updated the board that Flag Lane Baths had submitted their business case for appraisal and were on schedule – summary reports would be drafted and submitted to government in May 2022 as scheduled.
Minutes from the May 2022 meeting noted the board appraised the project. They raised questions and comments in relation to:
-whether there was confidence if a phased approach was taken due to a funding shortfall that the scheme would still achieve the objective and benefits and would be able to produce and deliver the project;
-reminder that the funding envelope would not be changed, it would be up to projects to raise any additional funds.
Nonetheless, the Board resolved unanimously to progress the Flag Lane Baths Project to the government. Planning permission for the scheme was granted by Cheshire East Council 26th May 2022
October 2022’s Town Board meeting recorded that an independent review commissioned by Cheshire East Council, prompted by the current economic climate and high inflationary pressures on how the projects were managing inflation and risks, had concluded that most projects had insufficient budget allocated to meet current and future inflationary pressures. The Flag Lane Baths scheme had been identified as facing ‘significant’ inflationary and delivery risks.
Minutes from the June and September 2023 Town Board meetings reported that value engineering work was ongoing on the scheme following receipt of over-budget tenders.
July 2024’s board meeting minutes recorded that the restoration costs had risen significantly which had caused several substantial risks to the project.
Cheshire East Council cite ‘significant cost increases and delays’ as the reason for withdrawing its support for the project in a September 2024 press release. The chair of the Town Board noted the extensive discussions held with Always Ahead, Government officials and Cheshire East Council to see if the project could still be achievable by the end of March 2026, the grant funding spend deadline, concluding it would not be possible. Always Ahead concluded ‘With a heavy heart, we agree with the town board that this project cannot be delivered’.
The sad reality is that in the 6 1/2 years between closure in 2016 and K2’s first involvement in the scheme, the condition of the building had deteriorated alarmingly. Consequently, a significant proportion of the allocated funding would have been required to be spent repairing the building, making the envelope secure and once more weathertight, before the refurbishment and reinvention even began.
Concerns regarding inflationary pressures across the entire programme were recorded in Town Deal minutes throughout 2022. Despite numerous attempts to scale the scheme back, or to approach the build in phases, returned tenders in 2024 totalled many millions more than originally budgeted.
By February 2026, approaching 10 years since its closure as a swimming pool, plans to convert the Flag Lane Baths site into an alternative provision school (that would have involved the demolition of the building) were abandoned.
