Following on from Bob Smyth's excellent article about trying to save important buildings in the Forest of Dean I should like to give you some up to date information which may help.

The Forest of Dean Local History Society has been campaigning for some months to try and save the pithead baths at Princess Royal as we all felt that we must try and save a building which is an intrinsic part of Forest of Dean coalmining history.

Bill Cronin, the conservation officer of the Forest of Dean District Council tried hard to get the building listed but was told that there was a very good example of a pithead baths in Stoke on Trent so they could not list another one. I am not sure that Stoke on Trent has anything to do with the Forest of Dean and so I contacted the South West region of the Rural Development Agency who bought the Princes Royal site. I too, was told that the pithead baths building was rather ugly and no-one would want to purchase business units on the site with "that building as an eyesore."

Dawn Walker, the project officer for the RDA replied to my letter about the future of the baths building as follows:

"SWRDA acquired the site this year following receipt of full planning permission to bring forward the regeneration of the site and promote and support the economic regeneration of the area. Full planning permission was also granted this year by your Council for the demolition and redevelopment of the Pit Baths building. Clearly this was considered to be acceptable in planning terms and indeed without this permission SWRDA would not have proceeded with the purchase of the site, as it would have been unviable for redevelopment.

Your letter raises the possibility of the retention and re-use of the Pit Baths building. Prior to the purchase this building was surveyed by our consultants and was found to be in a very poor condition and unsuitable for conversion. We have considered the potential for the reuse of the building but have found this to be totally unpractical.

We are keen to ensure that the historical dimension of the site is retained in some form. We are currently working with the County Archaeologist to produce written and photographic records of the building prior to demolition. We are also considering putting some local public art work into the scheme and would welcome input from local artists. This could include some interpretation material on the historical use of the site."

It would appear that once again the Forest of Dean District Council Planning Department has made decisions about a site in the Forest of Dean without consulting the people who care about its history. The Rural Development Agency bought the site in good faith believing that full permission had been granted for demolition of the Pithead Baths.

I am aware that Kears Bakery wanted to purchase the site at one time which would have saved the building and there have also been other enquiries about purchasing the site and using the building without having to pull it down. From Dawn Walker's letter it would appear that the building is now not deemed to be safe for refurbishment but is this just a statement because their plans have progressed too far for reconsideration?

If you would like to write to Dawn Walker, her address is Dawn Walker, Professional Services Manager, South West of England, Regional Development Agency, 100 Temple Street, Bristol, BS1 6AE Tel: 01179330206 E-mail: dawn.walker(S), southwestrda.org.uk

You could also write to Jim Stewart, Head of Planning at the Forest of Dean District Council and to Diana Organ, if you consider that they will pay any attention to your request .

If it is found to be impossible to retain this piece of Forest history then as Dawn suggests we must make sure that a suitable memorial is produced which reminds Foresters of the important part this site played in the industrial history of the Forest of Dean. – Averil Kear, chairman, Forest of Dean Local History Society.