Old baths set to be demolished

The former pool building on South Elmsall’s Westfield Lane has stood empty for decades and has fallen into disrepair following several vandal attacks.

Permission has been given by Wakefield Council to demolish the building, which backs onto Frickley Colliery Welfare Cricket Club, and erect a two-metre high security fence around the site.

South Elmsall and South Kirkby Councillor Steve Tulley, said the planned demolition was “not before time”.

He said: “It’s been closed for nearly 40 years, it was used for storage by a furniture company but it’s now pretty-much derelict.

“It closed in 1969 and in the mean time we’ve had the Minsthorpe pool open and close.

“There’s been a problem with vandalism and we have kids setting fires.

“As part of the Westfield Lane Improvement Area, it’s the last eyesore there so it will be a godsend once it’s gone.”

But while demolition has been approved, planners insist an acceptable scheme to replace the old building needs to be in place before work can begin.

Coun Tulley said: “It will either be a continuation of the housing or it will be left as open space because it backs directly onto the cricket club, and I’m sure there will be restrictions.”

“There are new builds either side of it, with housing and the new cricket club house, so it’s out of place as it is and is no use to anybody.”