Anyone here from Luton?

[BigDogsWang]

Can anyone tell me what is currently in place of Bath Road's outdoor swimming pool? The last time I was there was when it was turned into a Skateboard park back in the late 70's.

[ugly_bob]

Wardown Swimming and Leisure Centre, Bath Road, Luton?
Not entirely sure where you mean. I try and avoid going into Luton as much as possible, just because Bedford is more accesible for shops, and a better night out.

[ugly_bob]

There is certainly a pool on the right hand side (if you come in from the North on the A6 opposite Wardown Park. Can't say I ever remember an outdoor pool, but I wasn't born til 79

[BigDogsWang]

Yes, the indoor pool is still there. But it used to have a big, 1950's style outdoor pool with Fountains and the like. They closed it down in the late 70's because it cost fortune to run, and a year or so later a group of skateboard kids (my brother included) managed to talk the Council into turning it in a Skatepark. The didn't do anything fancy with it, they just skated around the empty pool.

I would like to know if the pool is still there, or if they have concreted over it and turned it into something else.

[ugly_bob]

hmmm, vaguely remember a large concrete bowl in the park area (on RHS of road), but haven't been down that way for ages. I'll make a point of looking next time i'm in town. I usually turn left at cricket ground for airport or go in on other side of town for Football.

[BigDogsWang]

You can't actually see it from the road, as you had to go through the pool's reception, and out of a side door. It was completely enclosed by trees.

[Katie~77]

Last time I was there was about 14 years ago and the outdoor pool was still there. The water was freeeeezing.x

[SteveD]

There are hundreds of old photos here:

http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/mk4custompages/C ustomPage.aspx?PageID=47933§ionID=5645

Scroll to the bottom and click on "older photos" for a list of galleries.

I remember the open air swimming pool well (wooden changing cubicles an all!).

[SteveD]

Sorry, I meant click on "view older pages".

[SteveD]

...and here is an aerial photo of the pool from the above site:

http://i7.tinypic.com/20z48t4.jpg

There are probably other ones but there are hundreds to plough through!

[SteveD]

Here's a better one:

http://i7.tinypic.com/20z4o0g.jpg