- Ian AllenPlans to repair the pools at Bournemouth Bath, along with the rest of the complex, are underway. The facility is to benefit youths from the area and elsewhere.
TODAY IT is an unkempt property with stale green water in its two swimming pools and a gaping hole in one of its rusted fences.
But the Bournemouth Bath complex in east Kingston, a noted dancehall and sports club in its glory days, will be reopened as a youth centre managed by the Young Men's Christian Association (YWCA).
Contracts and lease agreements are yet to be signed, but the drafts are in the hands of the KSAC, the Bournemouth Foundation, Member of Parliament for East Kingston, YMCA and prospective investors. Kevin Brown, secretary to Phillip Paulwell the MP for East Kingston, explained that "The Minister as well as the councillor for the area have made contact with private investors to upgrade. We have sent a proposal to KSAC to lease it to us."
He also told The Sunday Gleaner that "We started negotiating with the KSAC about two years ago and have just managed to reach an agreement with them."
According to Angela Chaplain, the councillor for south east Kingston: "The UDC (Urban Development Corpora-tion) spent $15 million to refurbish the complex over two years ago but we will need about $5 million to $6 million to fix it up. So the project was discontinued."
Investors
This money will be provided by private investors who along with the Kingston Restoration Company have displayed an interest in the establishment.
"Investors are interested, including Grace and Guardsman," said Mr. Brown.
The YMCA will implement its sports training and mentorship programmes, and provide instructors to oversee the general operations of the complex. YMCA General Secretary Sarah Newland-Martin said: "We just got a document with the lease agreement, KSAC will lease it and we will be the organisers and administrators but we still have to review and discuss the lease agreement."
She added that "We were once in that community and this provides us with an opportunity to go into the communities rather than have the communities come to us."
Juliet Barnes, caretaker for the Bournemouth complex, looks forward to the re-opening of the pool but with a better management structure.
"It lasted for a while and then stopped because of bad management, the building was scrapped up to the early 1990s," said Mrs. Newland-Martin.
She, however, does not foresee the building being scrapped or abandoned again as "When its fixed up we will oversee it, no one will scrap it when its fixed up."
Ms. Chaplain added that the complex will be open to anyone who wants to utilise the services of the YMCA regardless of which community they are from. "It won't just be for PNP or this community but will be opened to all, since it's a youth complex run by the YMCA."
Resident of Bournemouth, Craig Hylton looks forward to the reopening and thinks it will be an important step in unifying the community. "It kept the community together Doncaster, Sigarney and Bowerbank, I look forward to its reopening."
Olive Rodgers, PNP area leader for the Bournemouth community, reminisced on going to dances at the Bournemouth bath in the 1950s. She is hopeful that project to revive the area for its youngsters.
"I don't think it can ever be what it was then but I am anxious to see it come together," Ms. Rodgers said.
