Fears are growing for the future of a unique Carlisle building - with a former deputy leader of Carlisle City Council calling for an “assurance” it will not be demolished.

The historic Turkish Baths in James Street is a Grade II-listed building.

Carlisle City Council Leader John Mallinson yesterday said there has been no suggestion whatsoever that the building is at risk and it is entirely feasible it could one day - if found to be viable - be brought back into use.

But former city councillor Elsie Martlew fears the planned demolition of the existing Pools building, as part of a redevelopment of the area, may put the Turkish Baths at risk.

“I have doubts that even the official listing will protect it,” she said.

She suggested that the The Pools and the Turkish Baths - both of which are owned by the city council - are undergoing a decline after being outsourced and managed by a private company.

Mrs Martlew said: “I recently raised my concerns with a leading city councillor who told me that their demise was because ‘they weren’t well used’.

“That is hardly surprising when you look at the exterior of the building and the total lack of marketing of this unique facility.”

The Turkish Baths were built in 1909 and listed in 2010.

Experts say it is a style of building that has become increasingly rare - and is an example which compares favourably with the eight other existing listed Turkish Baths across the country.

“This is an absolute gem that needs to be protected, marketed and used,” said Mrs Martlew.

She urged the city council to take ‘positive and decisive action” to ensure the building’s future by: taking it back into council control; guaranteeing its future after the demolition of The Pools: restoring the building; and marketing it to encourage its wider use by the public.

She added: “I call on the city council to give an immediate guarantee to safeguard the future of the building and to continue to operate it as the Turkish Baths. A failure to do so will be tantamount to municipal vandalism.”

Mr Mallinson said: “It’s a listed building but it seems that’s not sufficient protection as far as Mrs Martlew is concerned.

“I don’t think it’s possible to demolish a listed building but I don’t think anybody on the council is minded to want that.”

Mr Mallinson said careful consideration needed to be given to the building’s future before any guarantees could be given. When last opened, the building attracted 70 visitors a week but there are big plans for the area, he said.

Mr Mallinson added: “There will be more people using that area and it’s entirely feasible the Turkish Baths could be revamped and used for its original purpose. That’s an aspiration but there are issues to resolve.

“One is capital funding; and another is the revenue implications. We need to research it and have a business case. Unlike former councillor Martlew seems to think, we can’t just wave a wand and make it happen.”