AS Carlisle City Councillors vote on their budget this evening (February 1), the group campaigning to save Carlisle's Victorian and Turkish Baths have expressed fresh concern about its future.

Under the Council's contract with Greenwich Leisure Ltd, the leisure operator will no longer receive a subsidy to operate the Council's leisure services once the new pools open at The Sands Centre later this year.

Campaigners claim that the Council have been aware that the James Street Public Baths will revert to the City Council for over four years and fear the failure to make budget provision for capital expenditure on leisure services after the 2022/23 financial year could mean that the Council either plan to close and or sell-off the 138-year-old Victorian Baths.

Chair of the Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths, Julie Minns said: "When we started the campaign, Cllr Mallinson said that £400,000 was available from the Station Gateway Project to refurbish the Baths but their future depended on more people using them.

“Usage has increased by 90 percent since they reopened last July. Now we're being told everything is on hold while they finalise the costs of the Station Gateway Project.

"When we've contacted the County Council, they say the Baths belong to the City Council and any decision on their future rests with them.

"It's impossible to tell what it is going on and what is being decided behind closed doors."

In response to the group’s plea, Cllr Stephen Higgs said: “It is important for the City Council to fully understand the requirements and costs of the Station Gateway project before embarking on any options for refurbishment on the Victorian Health Suite.

“It would not be in the public interest to commit time and resources to finding an operator for the site when partners are not yet clear about the future capital costs, type of facilities required and feasibility of the service.

“The feasibility report will be discussed at our Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, February 17. This document will guide thinking within the City Council and help us to set out a plan for the site.”