'Buy A Brick'!

Buy a brick plan for baths 

Support has been offered by firms in Lancashire for the new community group 'Kirkham Splash' whose aim it is to raise enough cash to take over the running of the threatened Kirkham pool

Organisers say there has also been an "incredible response" to a deal offering local people the chance to buy their own brick for the building.

Fylde Council decided to hand the pool a one-year £118,000 stay of execution at its budget meeting last month.

Elaine Silverwood, an independent councillor  and a member of the Chamber of Trade, said the response showed the town had united behind the cause.

She said: "We already have so many businesses coming to us and saying they want to be part of keeping the baths alive and are willing to put their money forward now.

"The buy-a-brick scheme is going well. We have people offering to run fund-raising discos, bingo and other events and all these small events are adding weight to our argument.

"I want every one of those 3,000 people who marched in Kirkham in February to know that we will not let our baths die."

She said it was hoped the council would "gift" the freehold of the pool, on Station Road, to the trust or give it a 100-year lease on the building.

The trust is made up of local lawyers, architects, chartered surveyors and marketing experts. It is now drawing up a business plan which it hopes to put before the council in the next two months.