Derelict pool facing uncertain future in town

Alternative options will now be considered for a former Art Deco swimming pool, after councillors agreed to drop plans to use it as a school.

The Flag Lane Baths in Crewe, Cheshire, closed in 2016 and the site has been empty since.

It was set at first to become a community hub and then later an alternative provision school but instead, the council agreed to accept government funding and use it in existing schools instead.

The authority said they would look into alternative plans for the site.

The 1930s Flag Lane Baths closed after the Lifestyles centre, which includes a swimming pool, leisure facilities and a library, opened in 2016.

In autumn 2024, the council agreed to look into converting the site into an alternative provision school, including for students from families facing health and behavioural challenges, with funding from the government.

But the council agreed to accept £3.45m from the Department for Education to invest in its mainstream schools, instead of the Flag Lane site plan.

In a report to councillors ahead of the meeting, officers said accepting the funding would allow the authority to "deliver placements in a more efficient and timely way" without the "risk" of incurring unknown costs for this scheme.

The authority has also recently agreed to redevelop its former headquarters in Sandbach into a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Send) school, and dropped plans for a site in Middlewich.

Laura Crane, the chair of the authority's children and families committee, said the funds would be invested in improving its mainstream schools.

"Alternative options for the future use of the former Flag Lane Baths site will now be explored," she added.

Speaking at the meeting, Conservative Janet Clowes said the site was costing the authority money every single day.

"So we need to sort out what we're doing with it sooner rather than later," she said.

Labour's Dawn Clark said it "saddens" her that the building is deteriorating and wanted to see it protected.

"As a Crewe resident, I'm sure Cheshire East members will want to see that the building is preserved for use in some way," she added.

"So let's get it back onto our asset register, let's get it out there and marketed again to see exactly who is wanting to preserve and take on this building".

A spokesperson for Crewe Town Council said it recognised the "disappointment" of the decision.

"Decisions regarding the future of the building sit solely with Cheshire East Council. Crewe Town Council has no role in that decision making process," it said.

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