'Lack of transparency' accusation over closed lido

Councillors claim there has been a lack of transparency over the future of an historic swimming pool that requires millions of pounds in repairs.

Stratford Park Lido in Gloucestershire, which has been open since 1937, has deteriorated to the point that it is now considered unsafe, meaning it will not open this summer and may remain closed indefinitely.

Labour councillors claim Stroud District Council has not been fully open about the scale of the problem or the costs involved.

Chloe Turner, Green Party leader of Stroud District Council, said the authority "knows there have been concerns about transparency" and that officers are "committed to being open and honest".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Keith Gerrard, the council's strategic director for communities, said recent assessments of the pool suggest using the lido would be a health and safety risk.

"There are cracks and new cracks at the base of the diving board," he said.

"The pool surface in the tank is falling to pieces...there are numerous fall and trip hazards."

Stroud District Council estimates that around £5m is needed to restore and reopen the lido, something the council cannot do on its own.

At a meeting last Thursday, more than 50 protesters gathered outside as councillors debated the next steps.

Labour Councillors said the news of the Lido's deterioration was kept "under wraps until just days before the meeting".

They said members were put "in a very difficult position" and were asked to make a "critically important decision" without time to talk to residents.

Labour Councillor Shyama Ananthan asked how the council's estimate of costs moved from £900k to £5m in a short period, citing a report from a couple of years ago which suggested essential repairs for the outdoor pool would be £370,000.

Angela Gillingham, head of community services, said the first costings were done by the council's property team but when external specialists looked at the state of the infrastructure, the cost analysis came back with a significant difference.

She said that the £5.1m estimate "took us all by surprise".

Council leader Chloe Turner said all parties shared the goal of seeing the lido "restored to its former glory."

She added, "We know there have also been concerns about transparency. Officers have committed to being open and honest about both the scale of the challenge and the options available.

"This includes sharing the financial realities, the risks involved, and the potential ways forward."

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