'Significant funding' needed to reopen historic lido

"Significant funding" is needed to reopen the UK's oldest lido, which closed two years ago.

Bath's Cleveland Pools shut in January 2024 due to extensive damage caused by flooding, just months after the completion of its 20-year £9.3m restoration.

Now, the Cleveland Pools Trust (CPT) said technical and engineering investigations had found pipework beneath the main pool needs repairing, as well as the site's plant room.

Newly appointed chair of CPT, Peter Askew, has said the "scale of the work means there is a significant funding challenge".

"Funding the cost of the repairs is now our primary focus," he continued, explaining that while there was no fixed timeline for the repairs "we're going to move absolutely as quickly as we can because we understand that the public wants to get in there again and get swimming".

For the first time in 40 years, the pools reopened in September 2023 following a large campaign, several setbacks and millions of pounds of public money.

CPT said it was focused on "rebuilding and strengthening its trustee board and skills" by bringing in a broader mix of specialist skills and and appointing a new chair "to manage the next phase of restoration and public investment responsibly".

Askew said the site's opening in September 2023 was "widely celebrated" and later recognised with a European conservation award.

"It has therefore been deeply disappointing for everyone involved to see the pools close again so soon after reopening," he said.

Askew said during the lido's original restoration, climate change and flood risks were taken into account in the design process.

However, he said the trust was now considering further changes to improve the site's resilience to extreme weather events.

He said some elements of the original design may need to be reconsidered, which would need further planning permission before work can begin.

"Despite everything we are absolutely determined to see swimmers return to the pools, and we totally believe the effort required now is worthwhile to securing the long-term future of what is a really special and extraordinary venue and community asset.

"We're totally optimistic and determined to get the job done again."

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