Possible reprieve for lido under threat of closure

A lido that was due to be shut down may now win a reprieve after councillors at a packed meeting resolved to formally ask for a decision to be overturned.

The executive of Teignbridge District Council in Devon voted in February to close the lido in the seaside resort of Teignmouth to save £74,000 a year.

A special meeting of the council's scrutiny committee on Tuesday heard repeated pleas from a packed public gallery to open the lido from May and arrange a handover to a community group.

The deputy leader of the council said it was good to see "democracy in action" and said the executive would listen again to the evidence before deciding whether to overturn the previous decision to close.

The lido had reopened in May 2023 after being closed for three years for £800,000 of renovation work.

Campaigners said it was "crazy" to close the lido when outdoor swimming was becoming more and more popular.

Helena Davison, who spoke at the meeting in Teignmouth, said: "Outdoor swimming is a real growing pastime in this country - there are lidos that are being rejuvenated all over the country.

"It seems crazy that here in Teignmouth we're going in the opposite direction of the general Zeitgeist."

Andrew MacGregor is the independent councillor who "called in" the executive decision, prompting the special meeting.

He said: "I think they've seen the strength of feeling in the community locally and the willingness to help a venture that works."

Daniel O'Connell, from the Teignmouth Community Lido Trust, said he was "very happy" the decision to close the lido would now be looked at again.

David Palethorpe, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader of the council, said it was "an excellent meeting".

He said: "We've seen democracy in action today and I think it's very important for the executive - we will take very seriously what we've heard from the public today."

The council's executive will discuss the recommendation to reverse its original decision at a meeting to be held on 10 March.

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