Govanhill Baths Community Trust (GBCT) had a street party in Calder Street to celebrate coming one step nearer to re-opening the Govanhill Baths as a ‘well-being and sporting complex’.

Glasgow City Council approved the Trust’s first phase business plan, giving them a 99-year lease on the B-listed building provided they can secure the necessary funding. GBCT has 12 months to obtain the funding and to submit their phase two business plan.

The party, in the ‘Peace Garden’ outside the Baths, had face painting and bric-a-brac and bakery stalls, which raised £338 for the Trust. The Queens Park Ladies’ Swimming Club raised half of the cash with their delicious home baking. People also enjoyed music from Queen’s Park Café resident band Fozzie & Friends.

Fatima Uygun, a Trustee of the GBCT, told the LOCAL NEWS, ‘It was to celebrate our new partnership with the Council. It’s great that we’ve gone from them shunning and us and refusing to talk to us to developing the very positive relationship we have now. All in all it was a great day. Lots of people turned up to help and fun was had by all.’

The baths were the scene of a riot when GCC evicted protesters who had staged a long and peaceful ‘sit in’ after the building was closed in 2001. Fatima added that the GBCT were now looking around Victoria Road to find premises for offices and a second-hand shop, staffed by volunteers, to deal with all the donations they receive.