News that Haggerston Pool is to be reopened after nearly a decade of neglect has sparked joy among community figures.

Leaders of several groups said they were “absolutely delighted” and “amazed” by Hackney Council’s promise, and vowed to come together for “the mother of all street parties” to celebrate.

The Grade II listed swimming baths closed in February 2000 in need of extensive repairs.

According to the Haggerston Pool Campaign , £6m of work needs to be done to make the building usable again. The pool will also require a £200,000 subsidy to cover its running costs.  It is not yet known how these costs will be covered.

After a report into the options for re-opening the venue, Hackney Council said last week that a “viable and sustainable future” for Haggerston Pool would form part of plans to develop swimming facilities in the south of the borough.

A spokesperson confirmed this meant Haggerston Pool would reopen.

Mike Coysh, chairman of Haggerston Community Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this decision.”

Nguyen Van Gac, who runs a Vietnamese refugee’s centre next door to the pool, said: “I think this may take many months to happen. But yes, I am happy – I think it has to open again.”

Conservative blogger Graeme Archer last took a dip there in 1998.

“It’s so brilliant to think of it opening again after so many years,” he said.

Jackie Carter of the Fellows Court Community Centre said children had suffered from the lack of swimming facilities in the area over the past nine years.

“There’s nothing else in terms of pools,” she said. “The nearest one is Kings Hall in north Hackney, which is too far [away] for children.

“The news is amazing, it’s fantastic, and I can’t wait. I think we should now have the mother of all street parties.”

Haggerston Pool first opened in 1904, and was welcomed at the time by the Hackney and Kingsland Gazette “not as a luxury, but as an absolute necessity”.

Thumbnail image taken from Rakan is Photo on Flickr.