Steps are being made towards the potential reopening of Carlisle’s historic Turkish baths.

At the next full council meeting of Cumberland Council on September 26, the council is to hear how a working group has been formed with representative from the Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths charity over a possible community asset transfer.

Said transfer will, if agreed, support the charity’s aspirations to develop the baths, reopen it, and make it sustainable by being able to apply for grants.

Cllr Barbara Cannon, portfolio holder for financial assets and planning at Cumberland Council, wrote that a set of milestones for progress have been agreed and heads of terms are being finalised, with a report being prepared for the executive to consider.

This has been welcomed by Julie Minns, chair of the charity, who said a community asset transfer is something seen with what happened to Wigton’s baths years ago, and is a model that similar groups have undertaken.

It is required for the group to apply for funding to reopen and develop the baths and keep it sustainable.

“We’re definitely moving forward after nothing changed last year, which was disappointing.

“We are hopeful and confident that we’re getting there and are positive that things have been able to progress in recent months.

“We are still optimistic in securing an asset transfer and realising our aim of reopening the baths,” she said.

The baths were closed in October 2022 after the executive of Carlisle City Council voted to do so, sparking outrage from supporters of the historic attraction, which saw fewer visitors progressively and was therefore deemed unsustainable by the former government.

However, efforts have been made to fundraise the charity, which has been fighting to get it up and running again, arguing that its historic significance and uniqueness offers something that Carlisle stands to gain from, both from a resident’s point of view and that of tourists.

The Turkish baths were on last year’s list of top 10 most endangered buildings by The Victorian Society.

A spokesperson from the society said that the new developments are a positive outcome of their publicising this list and Carlisle’s baths featuring on it.

This news does not mean that it is certain that the baths will open, as the executive of the council is still to consider such a decision, but supporters are hopeful that such a decision is forthcoming.