Russian steam room will be run by people power if Leeds city council accepts local residents' business plan

The campaign to save Bramley's historic but cosy public baths in Leeds, complete with their exotic Russian steam room, has moved up another step.

John reported tirelessly on this in the days of Guardian Leeds and we swam together at a Tweet-in memorable for the excellence of the cake supplied by supporters.

I am very biased on this issue because I learned to swim at Bramley, helped by the strange diet of Wagon Wheel biscuits and Horlicks tablets served up in the mid-1950s by Leeds Corporation. But there is a problem in the gap between delight in the interest and pleasure of both the building and the baths, and the actual number of people who use the place.

Now a band of Bramlegians and local groups have got together under the umbrella of the Friends of Bramley Baths to prepare a business plan for a local management takeover. This takes up Leeds city council's request earlier this year for expressions of interest in such a 'community asset transfer' for the baths, whose opening hours were cut earlier this year from 80 hours a week to 49.

The Friends believe their plan has the makings of a new regime which would "restore the Baths into a thriving centre for health, socialising and fitness", presenting the case to the council before the end of the year and taking over management during 2012 if all goes well. There will be a public meeting with a film about the baths and a contribution from the local West Leeds MP Rachel Reeves from 6-30 – 7.30pm on 20 October at Bramley St Peter's Primary School in Hough Lane.

John Battle, Reeves' predecessor and chair of the Friends who want to restore full opening times and have national support from the Victorian Society, says Put your cozzies where your campaigning is:

We are asking people in Leeds who use or love this beautiful place, to support our efforts by continuing to use it as much as possible in the coming months. We are delighted that Leeds City Council has accepted our initial plan and is supporting us to prepare a full proposal that will show how this asset could be successfully run by a community group as a socially-minded enterprise. Bramley Baths is important to local residents; it is also an architectural gem of wider interest and historical significance. We are not seeking simply to save a building, but to ensure that Bramley Baths serves its local community well; an affordable place where young children can continue to take their first strokes and a place for relaxation, health, fitness and fun for young and old alike.

Rebecca Whittington, 30 and a Friends member, says:

This issue has united a lot of people in the local area who are focused on keeping this useful and important place open. Bramley Baths is a place for people to get fit and stay healthy, but it's also a valuable community hub. We represent a group of people with a wide set of skills and experience, in running businesses, charities and community groups. With the support of the local community and schools, and the expertise of established organisations like Barca, Bramley Elderly Action and West Leeds Academy, we believe we can turn Bramley Baths around in the near future.

The baths opened 107 years ago and are one of only 13 Victorian and Edwardian examples still on the go - their plight has parallels elsewhere, including many more modern public baths which are targets of the public spending cuts.