TOWN Hall bosses expect to end up £105,000 better off as a result of a “land swap” with health chiefs to enable a new medical centre to be built on the site of Warrington Baths.
The deal will involve the borough council swapping the baths site, estimated value £485,000 for the site of the Garven Place Clinic, owned by NHS Warrington and said to be worth £230,000.
NHS Warrington will pay the difference of £255,000 to the council, who will pay for the demolition of the baths – estimated at £150,000.
This will result in a net capital receipt of £105,000 for the council.
Meanwhile, NHS Warrington will bear the cost of demolishing the clinic and clearing its site for car parking for health staff, estimated at £60,000.
A report to the council’s executive board says land values have been agreed after taking into account the economic downturn and its impact on property values.
The document states that the baths have deteriorated rapidly in the five years since they closed and are now beyond economic repair.
Similarly, the Garven Place clinic is also considered no longer fit for purpose.
An alternative option would be for the council not to proceed with the deal and wait until property market conditions improve when there could be wider opportunities for the baths site and a potential to increase the value of the land.
But this option is not recommended because of the wider partnership and health considerations and because it would be contrary to the council’s wish to develop the Garven Place site and enhance the adjacent Bank Park
Members of the executive board will be urged to approve the land swap tonight (Monday).
TOWN Hall bosses expect to end up £105,000 better off as a result of a
"land swap" with health chiefs to enable a new medical centre to be
built on the site of Warrington Baths.
Baths deal to bring £105,000 windfall?
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
2 Comments
I can see it now, a historic victorian baths torn down to make way for some newbuild portocabin prefab that will look just as derelict in 20 years as the 140 year old building, which has recently had our money spent on a refurbishment pool lining I have just discovered when googling.
I HATE WARRINGTON COUNCIL AND WHAT THEY ARE DOIING TO WARRINGTON.. our history and herritage is being buldozed over by these mindless morons…hey how about you use one of the countless empty buildings in bridge street, or one of the unused tinfoil boxes along winwick road. LEAVE OUR HERRITAGE BUILDINGS ALONE ! When you walk around historic townships such as york and chester and see how they balance development and history, where our council wade in with their size nines irrespective of the people of warringtons views, there is so much undeveloped land, winwick street, eyesores such as the pink eye, empty buildings such as most of brifdge street and yet they have to do this AGGHHH!!!!!
How many people would have benefited ‘health wise’ had the lovely baths been retained, restored (or even maintained might have been a good idea) and kept open for public use ?? Rather ironic that the site will now become a medical centre !!
Sadly it had become rather grotty inside through lack of maintenance over the years which must have been rather off putting for many swimmers. 🙁 Alas this is yet another fine example of a piece of Warrington’s heritage being lost through complete lack of maintenance, interest, imagination, foresight….. and of course the need to make a quick buck !!
What are the tax implications for SWAPPING land by the way ?