A historic former public baths is to begin a new chapter after a £4 million transformation into a community centre.

The Grade II-listed Stirchley Baths will be officially opened to the public for the first time in almost 30 years this week following three years of building work.

The swimming pool, left derelict for three decades, has now been refurbished as a large community hall. Other facilities on site include a a cinema area, meeting rooms and a cafe.

The former Bournville Lane public baths opened in 1911 on a site donated by the Cadbury brothers.

Campaigners finally won funding for the restoration through a spin-off payment from the long-awaited Stirchley Tesco development and a Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

Stirchley public baths
Stirchley public baths

Coun deputy leader Ian Ward said: “Thanks to the hard work and vision of council staff, partners and volunteers, what was once a dilapidated and derelict pool has now been restored, renovated and reshaped to become an outstanding facility.

“I am particularly impressed by the way local people have been involved in this project at every step, and having been involved, I am confident that they will nurture and care for this centre at the very heart of the community.”

West Midlands chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund Les Sparks added: “Money raised by National Lottery players has helped re-open this Edwardian treasure, bringing it back to life.

“This project is an excellent example of how HLF funding can breathe new life into old buildings.”

Honourary Alderman Nigel Dawkins with the 1910 plaque from Stirchley Baths
Honourary Alderman Nigel Dawkins with the 1910 plaque from Stirchley Baths

But one person who will not be attending is former Conservative councillor Nigel Dawkins who remains locked in a dispute with the council over the restoration of a foundation plaque laid at the Baths in 1910. The council wants to place the plaque on a heritage wall in the cafe, but Mr Dawkins argues it should be returned to pride of place on the outside of the building or foyer.

He also believes that a member of the Cadbury family, not a member of the Labour council which mothballed the pool and frustrated restoration attempts for more than a decade, should be asked to open the building.

He said: “I consider that idea, an insult to the people of Stirchley.”

“After all it was a Labour council that closed the baths in 1988 thus depriving a generation of local children of their birthright; the pleasure of learning to swim.”