Actor Mullan reopens Govanhill pool

Feb 4 2012

Actor and director Peter Mullan is to reopen a community swimming pool following an 11-year campaign.

Govanhill Community Baths in the southside of Glasgow has had a £100,000 revamp and will open as a well-being centre aimed at supporting local people.

Mullan will be presented with a gold key to unlock the building which has been closed to the public for over a decade.

He will be joined by Deputy First Minister and Glasgow Southside MSP Nicola Sturgeon and city councillor Archie Graham.

Mullan, who stars in Trainspotting and War Horse, has supported the Govanhill Save Our Pool campaign since it was launched in 2001, which saw a seven-month occupation of the building by locals.

The baths first came into use before the First World War. Its recent refurbishment was funded by the Scottish Government and Historic Scotland has now provisionally agreed a grant of £980,000.

Andrew Johnson, chairman of the trust, said: "The Govanhill community's return to the baths is the result of 11 years of hard work and commitment by so many people in Govanhill, the trust and the Friends of Govanhill Baths."

The building in Calder Street will officially reopen in three phases over four years, the first of which will be launched on Saturday.