Latest news with #RenfrewCommonGood
Daily Record
14 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
£600,000 to be spent on Renfrew Victory Baths after investment approved
A series of steps will extend the life of the B-listed building in the town. Hundreds of thousands of pounds are set to be spent on the iconic Renfrew Victory Baths after investment was given the green light by elected members. A total of £600,000 has been earmarked to fund steps to extend the life of the B-listed building, including works beneath the pool, concrete and masonry repairs, roof and drainage upgrades and general improvements to maintain the character of the facility. Its status as a Renfrew Common Good asset means the costs will be shared between the common good fund and Renfrewshire Council, with the common good contribution capped at £500,000. The move was approved at the local authority's finance, resources and customer services policy board on Thursday, with board convener Councillor John Shaw describing the investment as "welcome". The baths is an Edwardian 25-yard pool which was designed by Paisley architect Thomas Graham Abercrombie and dates back to 1921, a paper considered at the board said. Historical structural interventions and both in-house and consultant inspections have been ongoing since 2011. The last major refurbishment was around 1996/97 and the most recent upgrade work was a boiler renewal in 2021 in advance of the building's 100-year anniversary. Councillor Edward Grady, a Labour representative for Renfrew South and Gallowhill, said: "I warmly welcome this report and fully support the proposal to this finance board. "The Victory Baths has been a cornerstone of Renfrew town centre for generations and its value to the Renfrew community cannot be overstated." The paper explained that at more than a century old the building is "naturally showing signs of age" and in November a structural engineering consultancy was commissioned to conduct a non-intrusive survey. Their report, issued in December and revised in January, advised targeted investment could extend the life of the building, depending on the extent of remedial works carried out. Councillor Shaw, who is also an SNP representative for Renfrew North and Braehead, has described the baths as a "cherished part" of Renfrew's heritage. He added at the meeting: "This secures the baths in the short to medium-term and longer term, there's still a bit of work to do but this is a hugely important first step."
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Proposed £600,000 repair package for Renfrew Victory Baths
The funding will be considered by members of Renfrewshire Council's finance board on Thursday. The historic and much-loved Renfrew Victory Baths could be preserved for future generations as councillors consider a £600,000 refurbishment package. The funding will be considered by members of Renfrewshire Council's finance board on Thursday and, if approved, would cover the cost of structural repairs to secure the long-term future of the 104-year-old building. The proposals follow recent structural assessments and include a range of repairs such as works beneath the pool, concrete and masonry repairs, roof and drainage upgrades, and general improvements to maintain the character of the facility. With costs estimated at £600,000, the building's status as a Renfrew Common Good asset means funding will be shared between Renfrewshire Council and the Common Good Fund. The Common Good contribution will be capped at £500,000, with any additional costs met by the council to protect the fund. A report, prepared ahead of the board meeting, highlights that, as a building now over a century old, Victory Baths is naturally beginning to show signs of age. It states repairs to the superstructure are becoming increasingly difficult to manage and less sustainable. Any future refurbishment is likely to require significant investment, including the possible replacement of major structural elements such as sections of the concrete framework. Despite the scale of the proposed works, there are no plans to close the pool during the improvement programme. Councillor John Shaw, chair of the finance board and local councillor for Renfrew North and Braehead, will present the paper to councillors on Thursday. He said: 'The Victory Baths are a cherished part of Renfrew's heritage and continue to play an important role in the life of our community. 'These proposed works are not just about tackling current maintenance needs, they're about taking steps to secure the future of the building for the next generation. 'With the building now over 100 years old, we need to act decisively to ensure it remains safe, functional and fit for purpose. 'm pleased to bring this paper forward and hope to see it approved so the work can get underway.' Victory Baths is an Edwardian, 25-yard pool designed by Paisley architect Thomas Graham Abercrombie and dates from 1921. The baths are a Category B listed building and retain the original layout of cubicles around the pool, arched doorways, memorabilia and viewing gallery. Historical structural interventions, in-house structural and consultant inspections have been ongoing since 2011. Cllr Lisa-Marie Hughes, fellow councillor for Renfrew North and Braehead and chair of OneRen, added: 'The Victory Baths are more than just a pool, they are part of the fabric of Renfrew and hold a special place in the hearts of so many local people. I welcome the proposed investment as an important milestone in preserving and protecting it. 'I'm particularly pleased to hear that the pool will remain open throughout the works, so users can continue to enjoy it without disruption.' If approved, work is expected to begin over the summer period.
