ST. CLAIR BATHS

Evening Star, Issue 22136, 17 September 1935, Page 14

ST. CLAIR BATHS

RAISING OF WALL SUGGESTED WOULD IMPROVE TEMPERATURE The raising of the wall round the St, Clair Baths by two or three feet was suggested at the meeting of the City Council last night by Cr F. Jones, who said this work would be of great value both in keeping gravel out of the pool and in improving the temperature of the water, thus popularising the. baths among bathers. , The point was raised when the council was considering the report of the General Committee, which reported that instructions had been given to the city engineer to effect necessary repairs to damaged walling at the St. Clair Baths, at a cost of £4, and also to arrange for the removal of accumulated gravel and sand in the pool, at an estimated cost of £22. Cr Jones said it had been suggested that the wall should Ire extended round the St. Clair Baths and raised two or three feet. He believed that that would prevent much of the gravel and sand from coming in. At the same time it would be a useful and valuable work, because increasing the height of the wall would raise the temperature of the water by at least lOdeg. The cost of the work would be about £350, which he understood was the engineer’s• estimate. Seemingly, .the gravel came from the working of the quarry on the second beach, and the wall would prevent it from coming in. The raising of the temperature of the water would greatly popularise the baths.* He would like the committee to take the matter into • serious consideration in an endeavour to find the money for the work, and also ,to consider the making of .a paddling pool for the children, , Most. of. the' money would be spent on labour, and it would be well spent on such! a job. The, Mayor said that some time ago the president of the St. Clair Improvement Association waited on him and suggested .a comprehensive scheme towards which his association Would be prepared to contribute. a ; considerable sum of money', Cr Jones; That was to extend the Esplanade, too. 1 , ; _ The Mayor: It was a comprehensive scheme. They would help in anything to improve the beach. Cr Mitchell said , there were many difficulties in the way, and ho believed it would take much more than raising the wall to keep the, gravel’ put. Cr . Allen (chairman of the General Committee) said the proposal to raise the wall round the baths had been considered and the .need was recognised, but there were no, funds, available. It was intended to see if the money could be found next year. There was no money this year for doing the work. . ,

The committee’s report was adopted,