By KLTV Newsdesk –

Local charity and campaigners question decision to sell Grade II listed building despite redevelopment proposal

A Grade II listed public baths in Batley has been placed into auction with a guide price of £200,000, prompting criticism from local charities and campaigners who argue the move undermines community health and wellbeing.

The former Batley Public Baths, which date back to 1893, have been closed and are now offered for sale with vacant possession, raising concerns that the building could be redeveloped privately and lost to public use.

The baths were originally built with public funds and served generations of local residents.

Community proposal submitted

Downs and Special Friends (DNSF), a local charity, submitted a community-led proposal to bring the building back into use as a public leisure and wellbeing centre.

The plans focused on retaining the site as a public facility rather than converting it into flats or selling it to a speculative developer.

The proposal included provision for inclusive public swimming, SEN-friendly sessions, school access, and facilities for older residents and families.

DNSF stated that the model was designed to be financially viable while serving the broader community.

According to campaigners, a full structural survey found the building’s structure, plant and pumps to be in very good condition.

They also said that local manufacturer Fox’s Biscuits had indicated a willingness to supply waste heat to help warm the pool and building, potentially reducing energy costs and improving sustainability.

Charity response

Akhtar Kasia, a founding member and trustee of Downs and Special Friends, criticised the decision.

“Batley Baths was not a crumbling liability; it was a solid, usable public asset. We put forward a serious, deliverable plan rooted in inclusion, sustainability and real community need.

“To see it valued at just £200,000 tells you everything about how the health and well-being of Batley residents is being priced.”

Campaigners have also questioned why funding could not be secured to retain the baths when investment has been made in other parts of the borough.

Wider concerns across North Kirklees

Surraya, a community campaigner from Dewsbury Sports Centre, said the sale reflected a wider pattern affecting communities in North Kirklees.

“This is yet another example of a community in North Kirklees being let down. Without adequate facilities, people are written off.

“We hear constant talk of wellbeing and inclusion, yet when it comes to real investment, communities like Batley and Dewsbury are left behind.”

Organisers say the decision risks the permanent loss of a long-standing public health asset in a town already facing health inequalities, limited leisure provision and a growing SEND population.

They warn that once sold, the building will no longer be accessible for public swimming, SEN provision, or other community uses.

Campaign backing and next steps

The campaign to reopen the baths ran for 12 months and attracted significant public support, including a petition.

Campaign organisers say responsibility does not lie with the community or the charity, but with decision-making processes that prioritise asset disposal.

“This is about more than one building,” campaigners say. “It is about how Batley is treated, what is invested in, what is written off, and who decisions are really made for.”

Residents are being encouraged to raise concerns with elected representatives and to scrutinise decisions ahead of future local elections.

“Once the hammer falls,” campaigners warn, “there is no undo button.”