Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited the baths today, which have been undergoing major works for years.
She posed for photos with the restoration team and shared memories of the campaign to save the historic baths, which included a sit-in.
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Posting the update to social media, she said: “Exactly 25 years ago, a community campaign swung into action to save Govanhill Baths from complete closure.
“A sit-in and a picket – which I was proud to support as a much younger MSP – secured victory.
“At times since then it has felt like an impossible task and the building has teetered on the brink of structural collapse – but thanks to the dedication of amazing local activists, the building is now in community ownership, parts of it are back in use and £9m of capital investment has replaced the roof and made the building wind, watertight and structurally secure.
“It is now onwards to get the pools open and Govanhill swimming again. It won’t be easy and lots more money is needed but I want to see my successor as MSP for Glasgow Southside (I hope @kaukabstewartsnp) get right behind it .
“I visited today to see progress and to pledge my ongoing support in my post MSP life.”
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When Glasgow City Council shut the swimming pools in 2001, activists occupied the building, remaining in situ for weeks before being evicted by police in a dawn raid.
In 2011, Nicola Sturgeon and the actor Peter Mullen opened the first phase of the redevelopment of the building – an entrance foyer, theatre space and community rooms.
Then, 2017 the teaching pool opened and swimming was available in Govanhill for the first time in a decade.
