South Yorkshire Times April 26, 1952
Conisbrough Anger
Miners’ Leaders Will Brook No Swimming Baths Delay
“If there is no progress during the next two or three months and a likelihood of a resumption of swimming by 1953, members who represent the miners will be inclined to put it quite plainly to their members that they will not be anxious to restrain them—as they have done in the past—from taking appropriate action,” said Coun. J. T. E. Collins, secretary of Denaby N.U.M. branch, at last week’s meeting of Conisbrough Urban Council.
He was protesting about ministerial delay in granting authorisation for the Council’s scheme to restore swimming facilities at Denaby Baths by the installation of a filtration plant.
The Baths Committee chairman, Coun. G. Cheshire, had reported that the Council were not at all satisfied with the progress that the scheme was making with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. They seemed to be attempting at every stage to stop the scheme from proceeding. The Council had tried to do all they could to get loan approval to proceed with the work, but the reply that had been received was not very favourable.
People were getting alarmed at the delay, but the Council seemed to be blocked at every stage in their efforts for installing a filtration plant at the baths. The Council did not feel that the Ministry should be blocking small schemes like that.
Coun. Collins said that they must report to their members that no longer could they brook any delay. They had waited too long; the filtration plant should already be installed. They did hope that facilities would be there for 1953.
Coun. H. Gomersall said that he hoped they would not get to the last resort suggested by Coun. Collins—that would be a very serious matter—but they must remember that there were children who were prevented from receiving swimming facilities in their own district. Conisbrough and Mexborough had a population of 37,000, he said.
Referring to the closure of the previous filtration plant, County Coun. B. Roberts, J.P., said children and adults had now to learn to swim in the canal and river in much worse water than they had previously. In a smoky, congested mining district they were entitled to the swimming baths facilities. “Conisbrough asks for fair play,” he said.
The whole of the correspondence is to be forwarded to Mr. W. Paling, the local M.P., for his observations.