Lawyers, Baths, Bats, MP's and the 'Coseley Report

(Lawyers, Baths, Bats, MP's and the PM)

Oh my, this Swimming pool drama is turning into potential for a channel 4 documentary or a short story, between the bats and the chlorine spill this Coseley Baths palava may have a hollywood blockbuster in there somewhere. Here’s some bullet points of interest to me so far.

1. The local conservative headed council of Dudley insist that the roof of the baths is unsafe and requires £1000000 of funds, plus another £1000000 for general upkeep, which means that due to a shortage of cash the pool must be bulldozed, contrary to these figures, locals who thought for themselves figured out the work could be done for £666’000.
2. A colony of bats listed on the endangered species list decided to take up residence in the rafters of the swimming pool roof – as if sending a message to the wrecking crew and fans of using the bulldozer – please don’t demolish our home.
3. Three British celebrity swimmers of world status have spoken out and somewhat – joined the campaign – to save the baths. Sharon Davis, Nick Gillingham and Duncan Goodhew have pledged support, along with a host of swimmers and coaches who get to hear about this battle to keep the pool open, in the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games, UK. In 'The Coseley Report' Sharon is played by Uma Thurman, Nick Gillingham by Steven Segal and Duncan Goodhew by Ben Kingsley.
4. A 2000 strong facebook group emerged early in the campaign and has grown to indicate the tendency for people to connect and communicate, and to organize so as to become more intelligent, and have the freedom to feedback. I like to draw attention to how the campaign to keep the baths open has been generally tolerant of negative feedback and small-talk on the discussion board. Contrast this with the private campaign, behind closed doors, of the councillors and MP’s and lawyers. No website, no facebook group or any social network group, no blog, nothing other than carefully monitored and content controlled – news items – forwarded by the local newspuss.
5. Thousands of people have mobilized around the Coseley area and got involved with local democracy, and literally stood up, walked, shouted and sang with a passion about something they feel deeply enough about to act, which is a good thing, in these times of apathy toward personal democracy, and the general disconnect between people and their Government, and their birthright, as human beings, to become a part of the decision process that – manages & governs – any form of civilization, anywhere. Maybe Coseley Baths will become a landmark campaign and up-rising of empowered individuals, hyperconnected and armed with data, facts, sources and resources so as to literally, out-source the Governments sluggish, monopolized methods of – doing – civilization.
6. Early on in the campaign there was a dangerous accident at the Baths involving a Chlorine spillage/leakage that highlighted, among other things, the importance of health and safety and good management at any swimming pool, leisure complex, and any public facility that requires careful monitoring and attention. Maybe it was the Chlorine spill that attracted the bats?
7. Some sources have estimated that any court case directed against the closure of the baths, that would be taking Dudley council itself – to court – may cost as much as £25’000, to gain the help of a top brass lawyer. The potential court case draws my attention to a possible court scene drama, where all the perspectives, data and points of view can be correlated, discussed and evaluated, based upon the cinematic vision and creative screenplay writing employed to describe such a case.
8. Our protagonist and hero might be considered to be Brian Guest, the local campaigner, and no stranger to the council arena and public speaking it seems, he was recently invited to meet with Gordon Brown at Number 10, and I hope he said something like the twitter/coseleybaths bio that reads “Dudley MBC less than £120k spent on me over last 10 yrs £450k to knock me down !” In my cinematic vision I see Brian Guest played by Clint Eastwood, and the heads of Dudley Council played by Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Walkin and Al Pacino. Clint is joined by Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp and Matt Damon who take on the corrupt council in a shocking court room drama, that takes us far away to the giant Bat Caves of Borneo, and back to Dudley to the underground vampire chambers of Stourbridge. Sex and drugs scandal, spies everywhere and secret love affairs between enemies, corruption, greed and devil worship – The Coseley Baths report - will change the way we do cinema, the way we do social activism. A documentary drama with a final twist that would put hairs on a jellyfish.

--Steve fly.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=136918980500
http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/12/04/licence-granted-to-demolish-baths/
http://twitter.com/coseleybaths