Cheshire East has had a number of enquiries about the former Flag Lane Baths in Crewe since the site is no longer to be used as an alternative provision school.

The economy and growth committee agreed on Tuesday (March 10), to delegate authority to officers to undertake a marketing exercise to identify potential uses and developers, and then to dispose of the property.

Cllr Chris O'Leary (Sutton, Conservative), said: "I know that there is a community group who say that they have a plan for bringing Flag Lane back into use, and I just want to know what the process will be, to ensure that that group get a chance to present their business plan."

The group wants to re-open the 1930s swimming baths and provide a range of sports facilities.

Charles Jarvis, the council's head of economic development, replied: "Officers have had several meetings with that group.

Cllr Chris O'Leary (Sutton, Conservative) (Photo: CEC).

"We've explained and outlined that there will now need to be a process for us to go through in terms of finding the appropriate type of provision and utilisation of that building and site, and we will be inviting them to participate in that."

Peter Skates, director of growth and enterprise, told the committee: "As well as the body referred to, we also have had some enquiries from other people as well.

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"So, what we're really interested in is a process which is open, fair, competitive, so there will be a marketing exercise, further to the decision of this committee."

He added the council wanted to ensure the building would be in good hands and will go forward into active use and not remain a 'problem and a liability' in the area, adding that would have to be clearly understood before any transfer of legal title.

Flag Lane Baths closed in 2016 when Crewe Lifestyle Centre opened and has been empty ever since.

The Always Ahead charity had planned to transform the building into a community hub, but that plan was scrapped two years ago because of the spiralling costs.

Cheshire East then proposed to build an alternative provision school for excluded pupils on the site, but that plan was effectively scuppered by the government.

Councillors pulled the plug on the scheme last month after being told by officers that all attempts to get a definitive answer from the Department for Education on a timeline for the Flag Lane proposal had failed.

The council instead accepted £3.465 million (high needs capital grant) offered by the DFE over three years to provide the extra provision in schools with unused space.

READ MORE: Plans for 23 new homes close to Crewe's A500 Bypass.

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