PLANS to resurrect the Carlisle Turkish Baths are moving forward with a group of concerned volunteers likely to play a part.

Leader of Carlisle City Council John Mallinson and city councillor Stephen Higgs met with Friends of Carlisle Turkish Baths to discuss how the Victorian Baths and Edwardian Turkish Baths could be saved and potentially brought into use as a health and wellbeing centre.

In a letter to senior Cumbrians, including councillor Mallinson, Julie Minns said: “Since our meeting I have met with several local residents and we are proposing to formally constitute a Friends Group to take forward the campaign and provide support and assistance to the city council and other interested parties.

“We would be most grateful if our group could be added to the list of interested parties and stakeholders to be engaged and consulted about the council’s current and future project plans and delivery.”

The group believe the baths could become a wellbeing centre that benefits the community and would like to see their therapeutic qualities included in the City’s Social Prescribing Scheme.

Julie said that the baths can fit in with the Borderlands Project, demonstrating the area’s history.

“Capitalising on the uniqueness of the baths – one of only 11 original Turkish Baths still operating in Britain, and the only one in the North West – would support Carlisle’s plan to be a flourishing visitor destination.”

She added that the James Street site could be the main leisure offer for the planned new university campus.