Have your say on what Buckley's Old Baths should become

In 2019 the Leader reported how Buckley councillors Carol Ellis, Mike Peers and Dennis Hutchinson shared their hopes of giving the town's Old Baths on Mold Road a new lease of life.

The councillors, who are also the three remaining trustees and directors of Old Buckley Baths Community Hall Ltd which owns the site, said they hoped to turn it into a multi-use community space.

After securing support from Cadwyn Clwyd, the project is now holding a public consultation to find out what the community would like to see at the site.

A spokesman for consultants Cynlas Cyf said: "With support from Cadwyn Clwyd through the Rural Development Programme the Trustees of the Old Buckley Baths have commissioned Cynlas Cyf and Dewis Architecture to undertake a feasibility study to look at bringing back into public use the Old Buckley Baths Building, in Buckley.

Image: Dewis Architecture

"This well- known building has historically been a pivotal part of the community and was initially funded by the people of Buckley through the efforts of the coalminers in the town.

"The trustees, working with the consultants, have come up with a number of ideas, including a community hub and venue, heritage centre, artisan market and wedding venue.

"The trustees are anxious to also seek the views of the people of the town and how the Old Baths could be redeveloped to support the future growth and prosperity of the Buckley."

The facility - built in 1928 at a cost of £5,000 - closed more than 15 years ago and has remained unused since.

Image: Dewis Architecture

Councillor Ellis said: "We would like as many people to get involved as possible - we really want to hear what they have to say and what they'd like to happen. "The history of this site is immense and we have been working with the Buckley Society to incorporate that history and heritage in the final result.

"Covid-19 has curtailed a lot of our planned consultation activities, but we contacted all of the schools to find out what the children want too. "These efforts have been going on for a number of years but we're now at a really exciting part. "A lot of people have said they would like to see a general or food market there and of course we would want it to work with the town, not be separate from it. "We want to encourage footfall so this needs to be a multi-functional facility and we'd like it to cater to young and old.

"It is a really exciting opportunity to kick-start the town centre's revitalisation.

The site has been unused for more than 15 years

"We're thankful to Cadwyn Clwyd for getting involved, because that enabled us to have consultancy which started this off."

There is an online questionnaire now available, and this will be open until the end of February 2021.

To take part, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/S8MZCYH

Those interested can can also view some of the initial suggested designs of the interior of the Old Baths by visiting: http://www.dewis.uk.com/consultations-old-buckley-baths.php

This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-20, which is funded by the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.