If you’re under 17 years old and live in Manchester you can get free swimming during the school holidays.
Free Swimming For Under 17s
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Category Archives: baths
Arcadia 1st Birthday Celebrations
Arcadia’s 1st Birthday Celebration Event
We’re having a Fun Day on Saturday 18th February from 12 noon with exciting and unusual activities and sessions to try out….
- 12-00-13.00 Circus Skills
- 12.00-16.00 The Library have some craft activities, badge making, and green screen activities available
- 12.00-16.00 Cross Fit Challenge
- 13.00-14.00 Bhangra Fit
- 13.00-15.00 Splash Mat session
- 14.00-16.00 Levenshulme Youth project will be here putting on activities for the younger members and customers
There will also be refreshments available, a cake stall, a charity tombola, face painting, plus a fruit bar for the more health conscious.
The event will be opened at 12 noon by Councillor Rahman, cutting a cake and joining in the activities.
Come along and join in the fun!
Arcadia Library And Leisure Centre Consultation
Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre wants your views on how the Centre can develop to best meet the needs of our community and make best use of the fantastic facilities available in Levenshulme. So there’s a consultation. Do get involved.
This is what they say:
“As you will be aware, the centre opened in February and as a result of consultation carried out during the two years prior, the leisure programme from Levenshulme was transferred under the ‘lift and shift’ principle In the weeks since opening, we’ve received a small number of challenges regarding the existing leisure programmes.
In addition, leisure usage at Better, Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre is considerably higher than at Levenshulme, so over capacity of some sessions is being experienced.
We’d appreciate it if you would take a few moments to answer some questions about the centre, and your usage of it, in order for us to see whether there any changes required that could help improve the service and facilities that we currently deliver.”
If you use Arcadia please click HERE
If you haven’t used Arcadia yet please click HERE
You can also collect a survey form from the Arcadia reception.
The closing date for surveys to be returned to Arcadia or completed online is Sunday 3rd July 2016.
Old Membership Rate Offer Extended to 26th February at Arcadia
Statement from Greenwich Leisure Limited / Better today after councillors have asked for clarification of pricing structure for Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre:
“It has always been our intention to honour the membership benefits of those customers who have historically enjoyed using the facilities at Levenshulme Pools. Unfortunately during the migration period from Levenshulme to the new Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre there has been miscommunication in relation to the extended availability of the £18 membership previously available at Levenshulme.
As a gesture of goodwill, until the end of day on Friday 26th February, we will be happy to honour this rate to any of our customers who can demonstrate previous use of Levenshulme Pools.
Customers who believe that they are entitled to take up this offer yet are unable to prove their past use of Levenshulme will be looked at on a case by case basis. All applications should be made in person at Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre.
From Saturday 27th February only the new membership pricing structure for Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre will be available. This is in line with all the other comparable/ new leisure centres across Manchester including the Manchester Aquatics Centre”.
UPDATE:
The Manchester Evening News has published an article on the availability of the old membership rates at Arcadia, available HERE.
Arcadia Library And Leisure Centre Is Now Open
After years of campaigns, consultations, marches, plans, occupations, letters, meetings, talking and even quite a bit of dancing the people of Levenshulme can now celebrate as our new Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre throws open its doors.
Here are a few photographs of the new Arcadia. These are the third set in the series of photographs recording the old Levensulme Baths, the original Levenshulme Library and now the new Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre.
Arcadia is a brand new £9.3m facility. It is managed and operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited under the Better brand through a contract with Manchester City Council. GLL are experts in managing leisure facilities. The facilities were built by Laing O’Rourke both on time and on budget. The quality and attention to detail is very impressive. Arcadia includes:
- Community Library of 300 square metres including dedicated children’s library
- Over 20 free computers
- Free wifi throughout the centre
- Two swimming pools
- Flexible changing rooms that can provide dedicated access to one pool for use by specific groups or for private hire
- Multipurpose Community Studio for exercise classes or community activities or meetings
- 60 station gym with additional free weights
- Sauna – up to 12 people
- Steam room – up to 12 people
- Disabled access throughout with a large lift and easy access for the pools
- A buggy store
Arcadia stands as a wonderful facility and proof of what can be achieved when there is a genuine cooperative, positive collaboration between residents, our community, councillors, council officers, designers and developers.
This is our facility.
(All photographs copyright Jeremy Hoad)
Goodbye To Levenshulme Baths
Levenshulme Baths closed today (18th February 2016) for the last time. I asked if I could take some photographs to document the building that has meant so much to generations of Levenshulme residents. Pete Caveney, Duty Manager, kindly let me have the run of the place on its last day.
Levenshulme Public Baths and Washhouse has been serving Levenshulme for decades, for some time now as a leisure centre with a sauna, steam room and gym in addition to the two swimming pools but without the Washhouse. These photographs mark the building’s last day serving the people of Levenshulme before the new Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre opens on Saturday 20th February 2016 at midday. Goodbye to the old, hello to the new.
Jeremy Hoad
Secretary, Levenshulme Community Association
(All photographs copyright Jeremy Hoad)
Save Money At The New Levenshulme Arcadia Library And Leisure Centre
Act now to save yourself money on membership at the new Arcadia Library Leisure Centre.
The old Leisure Centre closes on 18th February before the new one opens on 20th as the new Arcadia Centre. The pricing at the new Arcadia facilities has come as a surprise to people, particularly as we were assured pricing would be sensitive to the area and remain affordable.
But there is a way you can save a lot of money on membership…
If you join at the £18 a month rate at the existing Leisure Centre on Cromwell Grove this rate will continue at the new facilities. To keep this membership rate you MUST continue to renew your membership every month by cash or card in person. No direct debit option is available. If you miss a month you will be counted as having cancelled your membership and will have to renew at the £35 a month rate charged at the Arcadia Centre for use of all the facilities.
The £18 a month current membership includes:
- swimming;
- gym;
- sauna;
- steam room; and
- classes.
Classes at Arcadia will be held in a dedicated multipurpose Community Room with a sprung floor and wall of mirrors.
Levenshulme Library which is also part of the new facilities is, of course free to use. There will also be access to free use of computers and free wifi at the new Arcadia.
Join now to save yourself over £200 a year on membership at the new Arcadia.
UPDATE 23/02/16
Statement from GLL today after councillors have asked for clarification of pricing structure for Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre:
“It has always been our intention to honour the membership benefits of those customers who have historically enjoyed using the facilities at Levenshulme Pools. Unfortunately during the migration period from Levenshulme to the new Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre there has been miscommunication in relation to the extended availability of the £18 membership previously available at Levenshulme.
As a gesture of goodwill, until the end of day on Friday 26th February, we will be happy to honour this rate to any of our customers who can demonstrate previous use of Levenshulme Pools.
Customers who believe that they are entitled to take up this offer yet are unable to prove their past use of Levenshulme will be looked at on a case by case basis. All applications should be made in person at Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre.
From Saturday 27th February only the new membership pricing structure for Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre will be available. This is in line with all the other comparable/ new leisure centres across Manchester including the Manchester Aquatics Centre”.
The Wait Is Almost Over For Our New Library And Leisure Centre
Not long to go until the new Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre opens on on Saturday 20th February on Stockport Road right in the heart of Levenshulme. Here’s a nice positive article in the Manchester Evening News.
Read the article HERE
Arcadia Library And Leisure Centre Opening Date
We are pleased to confirm that the new £9.3m Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre situated in the heart of Levenshulme on the A6 will open on Saturday 20th February 2016.
This will be the culmination of a long and hard fought campaign by the LCA and Levenshulme residents and groups to keep our existing baths and library open and then to replace them with new facilities.
This is an amazing success story in hard times. It is a story of a community coming together to fight for its facilities. It is a story of Manchester City Council working positively and productively with our community. It is a story of responsive and engaging council officers. It is a story of political differences and collective action. Above all, it is a success story that the people of Levenshulme should be proud of.
We hope to see as many people as possible celebrate the opening of Arcadia with us. Further details will be made available as soon as they are confirmed.
Here are a few photographs from December. This was during a tour after the LCA Community Forum Meeting.
Oh, and here is Jean Bernard and Jeremy Hoad. We could resist a trip in the lift.
New Community Funding From Laing O’Rourke
A message from Laing O’Rourke
We’re delighted to invite you the launch of the Laing O’Rourke Cash4Graft funding programme which is to take place from 18.00-20.00 on Tuesday 24th February 2015 at Laing O’Rourke offices at:
3 Archway, Birley Fields, Manchester, M15 5QJ
This exciting new fund focuses on supporting residents in the south Manchester area to come together to identify projects that will benefit their community and get together to deliver those projects. The programme will support grassroots community projects in and around the Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre development scheduled to be opened next year for sums from £50 to £250 which can kickstart great initiatives that make our neighbourhoods happier, healthier and safer places to live.
Laing commitment to engaging with local communities where it delivers projects is essential to their ethos and their corporate social responsibility strategy and the launch of this programme means that they can deliver real impact at a local level. – making a difference where you live!
This strength-based approach looks at what’s strong and not what’s wrong in communities – residents coming together to develop great ideas – and support existing groups that already deliver real impact in south Manchester neighbourhoods.
Please feel free to invite fellow community groups to what promises to be
an informal event where we can talk to you about the programme, how
you can get involved and how you can apply for funding from the programme. Forever Manchester is working in partnership with Laing O’Rourke to deliver this programme.
We’d be delighted to see you there and it would be great if you could e-mail me back to let me know that you can make it.
We look forward to meeting you.
Jean Mills
Head of Business Development
Email: jean@forevermanchester.com
Web: forevermanchester.com
Twitter: @JeanieFM
——–
(Google Maps link HERE)
A New name for a New centre in Levenshulme
At the first Levenshulme Community Forum meeting organised by the LCA recently it was agreed that it would be a good idea to have a community consultation about a possible new name for the new Arcadia facilities. It was also agreed that the “Arcadia” name should be retained by the skating groups that have moved to Ardwick Sports Hall. After discussion and an offer by Lydia Meryll of the Levenshulme Youth Forum it was decided that that group would contact councillors to propose and organise this (the consultation isn’t being organised or managed by the LCA itself).
For information please find below a message posted by Beth Marshall to the Levy Massive Facebook group:
A New name for a New centre in Levenshulme
Cllr Rosa Battle has asked for suggestions for the name for the new Centre. Arcadia roller Hockey group has asked to retain that name as they are known internationally by that title and want to take it with them
Here are three proposals so far:
The Three-in-One Centre – from Levy Youth Project Forum
The Jeremiah O’Brien Centre – from Hard Rain Poets
The Sonny…… centre – as she was our woman who was first to swim the Channel
Dies anyone know how to make a doodle poll? If so, please can all proposals go to you?!
If not, Lydia is happy to receive proposals for names and to send them all out again for a “Vote” by the end of the week. – end of Friday 29th Aug
We have til 1st Serpt to come up with a short list.
Please send ideas to Lydia-Meryll@outlook.com
Levenshulme Community Forum Public Meeting
The Levenshulme Community Forum public meeting will take place on Friday 25th July, 19.00 at the Klondyke Club (1 Burnage Range, Levenshulme).
The meeting is about the future of our current library after the library moves to the new Arcadia building in 2015.
Other issues can be raised as well. The focus is on ideas for the library as a community facility but this is an open public meeting for all residents of Levenshulme so bring your ideas and issues along.
New Library and Baths Exhibition
The new Levenshulme Library and Baths development on Stockport Road is now ready for public exhibition.
Plans for the proposed centre design will be on display in the cafe at Levenshulme Inspire from Saturday 14th June to Thursday 26th June, where there will be a chance for you to comment on the proposals. Members of the project team will also be there for you to discuss the plans, on:
- Tuesday 17 June, 16.00-20.00
- Friday 20 June, 13.00-16.00
- Monday 23 June, 09.00-13.00
There is a dedicated page on Manchester City Council’s website HERE.
Plans for the new development will be available HERE from 14th June.
This is an exciting stage in the development and close attention has been paid to ensuring that the new facilities meet all of the requirements and specifications worked out through lengthy and detailed consultation with Levenshulme residents over the past year or more. The new facilities will include:
- two pools (one that can be accessed and used in private)
- a 60 station gym
- a multipurpose fitness / community room
- 12 person sauna
- 12 person steam room
- a staffed library
- reception area with seating, pool viewing, public computers and wifi
Manchester City Council will be investing over £8,000,000 in these new facilities that will dramatically improve services in Levenshulme and serve a wide area of south Manchester.
Relocation of users of the Arcadia roller skate rink will happen in tandem with development of the new facilities. A £250,000 investment is being made separately by the Council to enhance, extend and improve facilities for Arcadia users at Ardwick.
This commitment to public services in Levenshulme by Manchester City Council at a time of austerity and struggle for many people is hugely welcome. This is also a result of the massive local campaign to save Levenshulme’s existing Baths and Library from closure which was a huge success for the people of Levenshulme. The creativity, dynamism, imagination, persistence and dedication of Levenshulme residents and careful collaboration with local councillors and the council is really showing dividends now.
Levenshulme Community Association will continue to consult with residents and work with the council to ensure the best possible outcome for the people of Levenshulme.
A press release from Manchester City Council is expected tomorrow (Friday 7th June 2014) and will be added here when available.
Send us your news!
Do you have news about something going on in Levenshulme?
Are you organising an event?
Do you run or support a community organisation?
Please send us your news, information, event or details of your organisation and we’d love to add you to the Levenshulme Community Association website or publicise what you are doing.
Get in touch and share what you know about Levenshulme!
Contact the LCA HERE
Thanks.
Jeremy Hoad (LCA Secretary)
Development Proposal Threatens £6.5m Levenshulme Facilities
You may wish to consider commenting on or objecting to this application as it could compromise the presence, impact, accessibility and wider benefits to Levenshulme of the new £6.5m pools, gym, library and community facilities that will be built on the area immediately behind this site.
We need to maximise the benefits and presence of our marvellous new facilities for the benefit of all Levenshulme residents and visitors.
The applicants who submitted the previous application for a supermarket on the site of the Church Inn (874 Stockport Road) which was not approved, have now submitted a new application which will be considered by Manchester Council’s Planning Committee this Thursday 15 August 2013.
The meeting will be held in Manchester Town Hall starting at 14.00.
The new application is for the construction of 4 shops units with storage space on the 1st floor.
The Planning Department considers that this application meets the Council’s planning requirements and are recommending that the application be approved. The meeting is open to members of the public to attend and it is usual for the Chair to call someone to speak for and against each application.
Full details of the application can be found at the Council’s website through the Public Access Planning System. Enter the reference number in the search box to access the application. The application reference number is:
102683/FO/2013/N2
If you register with the Planning System you can leave a comment on the application.
Levenshulme Gym gets a marvellous makeover
Levenshulme Gym has been given a marvellous makeover. Freshly painted with new flooring our spacious gym looks fab and provides a bright new place for you to get fit.
Memberships at Levenshulme Baths/Gym cost only £18.00 per month including unlimited gym, swimming and workout classes. No contract. No monthly Direct Debit. Simply pay at the centre each month. How easy is that?
Find out what’s on and what it costs HERE
FREE Swimming at Levenshulme Baths
Are you under 17 or over 60 years old? Then you can register for FREE swimming!
Download a form from the internet HERE
(both forms for 60+ or under 17 are available under the green ‘downloads’ link)
Or pick up a form at Levenshulme Baths.
(under-17 free swimming only applies during the school holidays, over-60 free swimming is available all year round)
Baths, Library and Arcadia redevelopment community meeting
The next community meeting to discuss the multi-million pound redevelopment of facilities in Levenshulme will take place on Friday 26th July at 19.00 in Inspire on Stockport Road.
This meeting will be preceded by a ‘planning challenge’ meeting (15.00-17.00 at Inspire) where users of the Arcadia Sports Hall will present their plans on how all facilities can be fitted onto the Stockport Road site.
The council’s proposal is to build a new combined facility containing two swimming pools, a gym, a multipurpose fitness and community room and a full library on the Stockport Road site. The council maintains that it is not possible to retain the old Arcadia building and fit the new facilities on the same site and has proposed that users of the Arcadia are relocated to the Mount Road Sports Hall currently used by the Gorton Boxing Club and the Grange School. The boxing club would be relocated to the new Belle Vue development and the building would be adapted based on the needs of existing Arcadia users using funding from the £6.5m allocated to the new Levenshulme facilities.
The meeting on the 26th July is an opportunity for Arcadia users to challenge the council’s proposals and present plans / proposals that they have developed.
Swimming the Channel Levenshulme style
Lucy Lloyd-Roach who teaches swimming at Levenshulme Baths has just swum the channel to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. Congratulations, Lucy!
You can still make a donation on Lucy’s Just Giving page HERE
Levenshulme Facilities
Facilities lists related to the major redevelopment of sports, leisure and library provision that will take place in Levenshulme over the next two years are provided here. There are three documents, all provided as Microsoft Word document downloads:
Community Meeting 28.06.13
Back to our usual meetings:
Friday 28th June, 19.00 @ Levenshulme Inspire
Come along and discuss the Baths, Library, development of the new facilities and Arcadia. And raise anything else you want to about what’s happening in Levenshulme.
A week off from campaigning
The next campaign meeting about the Baths, Library, Arcadia etc. will happen on Friday 28th June, 19.00 at Inspire on Stockport Road
We’re taking a week off to have some well deserved fun at the launch of the Levenshulme Food and Drink Festival on Friday 21st.
‘Save our swimming baths’ campaign shows power of community action
Jeremy Hoad and Councillor Julie Reid comment on our success in saving our Baths.
John McDougall, Mancunian Matters, 4th April 2013
Read the full article HERE
Jeremy Hoad, Levenshulme Community Association Secretary and Save Levenshulme Baths and Library group member, feels the immense achievement should act as inspiration to others.
“It’s a fantastic achievement to be able to do this in times of local government being savaged more they have ever been with funding,” he told MM. “If this can be highlighted, it gives inspiration and hope to other people across the country that campaigns can work and we can actually protect our services. What has been so fantastic is the imagination, creativity and dedication of all sorts of people throughout Levenshulme and Gorton. It’s still sinking in. It’s one of those things you can’t quite believe you’ve actually won.”
Julie Reid, a Labour member for Gorton South, was actively involved in the campaign to keep the facilities in Levenshulme open.
“It took a long time and it’s been very difficult. If it wasn’t for the Tory-Lib Dem cuts we wouldn’t have even been in this position at all,” she told MM. It’s just been amazing. The Levenhulme community are awesome. I just can’t explain how wonderful they are. They’ve sustained the work all the way through for no money or anything. They’ve got loads of energy and kept it going.”
Revealed, site where town hall will splash out on new leisure centre in Levenshulme
Town hall bosses have revealed their preferred location for the new Levenshulme leisure centre. The facility – set to replace the existing baths and library in 2015 – is planned for the current Arcadia sports centre site off Stockport Road. A report to be considered next month shows it would include a ground floor pool with a gym upstairs, as well as the new library.
(Manchester Evening News, 31st March 2013)
Read the full article HERE
Levenshulme Baths are saved!
Councillor Julie Reid (Gorton South) has just confirmed that it was announced at a Labour Group meeting tonight that Levenshulme Baths have been saved.
We came together as a community and we won!
This follows immense community effort – marching, dancing, demonstrating, fundraising, lying in the street, campaigning, putting posters up, writing letters and emails, making banners, lobbying, filling in petitions, consulting and developing proposals to show how the Baths could be saved.
We showed how it could be done and the Council just couldn’t say no.
We have more work to do over the next two years and we still need to save Levenshulme Library but now is the time to celebrate our victory in keeping Levenshulme Baths open for everyone to enjoy.
Public Meeting with Jim Battle, Deputy Leader, Manchester City Council
There will be a public meeting on Monday 18th March 2013 @ 19.00 at Inspire with Councillor Jim Battle (Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council) to discuss the future of Levenshulme Baths & Leisure Centre.
Following on from the Protest events
Monday 11 February – 7:00 pm – Campaign Planning Meeting at Inspire
Tuesday 12 February – 5:00 pm onwards – Crowcroft Park Primary School
– Consultation drop-in session organised by the Council with Councillors
and senior officers to hear residents’ opinions and explain the
proposals in detail –
Wednesday 13 February – 10:00 – Manchester City Council Executive
meeting at the Town Hall. This meeting is open to members of the
public as observers. By applying in advance and getting agreement,
members of the public may be invited to speak to specific items on the
Agenda. Two members of the Levenshulme campaign have submitted a
request and it is expected that they will be called to speak at the
appropriate time.
Deputy Council Leader Jim Battle meets with Levenshulme campaigners
LCA facilitated a public meeting with Cllr Jim Battle who said he was impressed by the energetic actions of the campaign group who have been protesting about the proposed closures of both the Baths and the Library.
Councillor Battle confirmed that £6.5 million has been set aside from capital receipts of the Council for a new-build Joint Service centre which is due to be built by 2015 at a location somewhere in Levenshulme. He could not confirm where this is to be as the land was still under negotiation. He was asked to shepherd the negotiations for keeping open our vital and only public buildings until the new facilities are ready to use.
Two teams of campaigners have made recommendations about possible sources of funding which COULD be used to keep them open, but the use of Public Health money for the Baths and wider considerations about the whole city’s Libraries will be discussed in a series of Council meetings leading up to an Executive Committee meeting on 13th April, where final decisions about how to deal with the latest round of cuts will be made.
The Campaign group raised the serious impact on the area if either or both these public facilities are closed before the new one is opened.
We committed to keep up creative efforts to convince the Council to respect these needs of Levenshulme people.
LCA challenges proposal to close Levenshulme Library and Baths
LCA is working with a large group of campaigners and groups, like the Over 50s Swimming Club and Asian Ladies Swimming Group, who want to make sure the Council keeps the baths open and that they understand the need for privacy, which is the joy of having two pools at levy baths.
Library users are being asked to write letters as well as complete the Consultation forms to show what the Library means to each of us – not just a source of book borrowing, but a place to meet, a heart of our community.
Decisions will be taken in mid-April about keeping our Carnegie Library open until a new Library is established for Levenshulme. Please write to Cllr Richard Leese with your views. Copies can also come in to the LCA. Please sign the Petition available in POD and the Inspire Centre.