Popular beach town reveals multi-million pound plans to save lido attraction
After years of the former
5
Worthing Lido hasn't had a pool since the late 1980s
Credit: Alamy
5
Now it's home to arcade games and a cafe
Credit: Alamy
After nearly 500 people signed a petition calling to restore and protect
While the Worthing Seafront
So two local MPs are now trying to find several million pounds worth of investment to save the Grade II listed lido in Worthing.
According to the council: "The ambition for the Lido is focused on reinstating its swimming pool.
Read More on UK Lidos
"The opportunity exists for the Lido to be a year-round attraction that will be protected from the seafront, whilst also creating a seamless experience between the pool and seaside by opening up the building's façade and exterior."
Worthing Council is hoping to emulate the success of similar renovated lidos elsewhere in the UK, like the
The salt-water lido overlooking Lakeland Fells has been closed since 1993 with plans to refurbish it with £6.8million worth of funding starting in April 2023.
Similarly, the Victorian
Bristol Lido was upgraded in 2008 a
nd reopened with spa treatment, restaurant and even a poolside bar.
Most read in News Travel
Other potential renovations to Worthing seafront were for a new and upgraded promenade and the installation of new beach huts.
Other details included the "creation of a Worthing Lagoon to enhance the growing water sports industry and provide a new attraction."
New £4million lido to open in UK next year
5
The lido was originally built as a bandstand in the 1920s
Credit: Alamy
The lido on
In 1988,
Worthing Lido was even used as a temporary home to dolphins from
Brighton Sealife Centre.
The dolphins were relocated to the lido while their permanent enclosure at the Sealife Centre was undergoing renovations.
It's now referred to as a "pool" because the swimming pool element was decommissioned in 1989.
A concrete slab was placed over it, and it's now home to a cafe, arcade, and is used as an event space.
But some recent visitors described the lido's arcade as being "very run down", with calls for it to be restored to its "former glory."
As reported by
,
, Dr Beccy Cooper, MP for Worthing West, and Tom Rutland, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, are working with experts on regeneration to investigate options for the council-owned structure.
Previously, two comprehensive Levelling Up Fund bids by the council had failed.
But there are other funding options to explore, like The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
5
The Worthing Lido sits right on the beach front
Credit: Alamy
5
The Worthing Lido could be saved - but needs lots of investment
Credit: Alamy
The petition, which was started by resident Elaine Deed, said it was "distressing to witness the sad state of Worthing Lido".
She added: "Our beloved lido, once a symbol of local heritage, now stands in disrepair, marked by graffiti and perilously close to falling into the sea.
"The Worthing Lido is more than a structure; it's an embodiment of Worthing's rich cultural history and cherished memories, enjoyed in the past by locals and visitors."
Plus, the abandoned
And the
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
July is best month to plant bright pink flower in a sunny spot & it adds a splash of glamour to the garden in autumn
GARDENING enthusiasts will find plenty of jobs to do in July to prepare for the autumn. With temperatures soaring, many Brits will be outdoors and now is the perfect time to get on with some gardening tasks. 2 Gardening experts shares a flower you should plant now Credit: Getty 2 Nerine have a long-lasting bloom in Autumn in a beautiful pink colour Credit: Alamy When it is 35C degrees outside, autumn might seem like a distant future . But a gardening expert has revealed that July is when you should start planting flowers for the colder seasons. Jamie Shipley, managing director of Hedges Direct, suggested that people plant bulbs that bloom in the autumn, such as pretty-in-pink nerine, to get ahead of the game. She told GB: "These flowers love a sun-baked spot at the base of a sunny wall." read more on fabulous Nerine has a long-lasting bloom, with its bright pink flower adding colour to your garden. According to The Royal Horticultural Society, nerines are 'great for adding a splash of glamour to the autumn garden" as they produce "flowerheads in particularly vivid shades of pink, as well as bright white and red.' Before planting, make sure to pick a warm, protected location, such a bed next to a sunny wall, in soil that drains well and holds moisture for hardy nerines. Nerine bulbs should be planted 10cm apart, with the neck of the bulb visible above ground. Most read in Fabulous Ideally, spread a coating of grit around them. They prefer to be planted alone in clusters as opposed to being mixed up with perennials. Alan Titchmarsh's top 7 plants that 'transform ugly fences with gorgeous flowers & fragrance' & they grow for years You can leave bulbs undisturbed in the ground to grow and flower. The only time you need to tend to nerines is when lumps get crowded and flowering starts to wane. At this time, you might want to split and replant them. Nerine can become extremely dry if planted at the base of a wall since they are protected from the rain. Water them once a week during dry weather throughout April to July. The foliage naturally fading is a good indication to stop watering. Jamie also added: "There are plenty of gardening jobs to get done during July. "Weeding, deadheading, and tying in will help plants look their best, plus being on the lookout for pests and keeping sustainability in mind when it comes to watering and mowing." According to the expert, this time of year is a good opportunity to tie in young growth on all your vertically growing plants that require a support. Jamie also urged gardeners to remove faded or spent flowers from their plants. Last but not least, gardeners should mow the lawn in July, making sure to increase the cutting height. Top gardening trends of 2025 Gardening experts at Matrix planting It seems that a top planting trend for this year is going to be Matrix Planting. In essence, planting in groups or blocks to give an effect of being wild whilst actually being carefully managed. Selection of the plants is essential, to give year-round interest either with flowers, seed heads or frosted/snowy spent flower heads. Some recommend using plants that seed around, but this could make managing your matrix planting harder to keep under control. Chrysanthemum comeback I hope that the humble Chrysanthemum makes as much of a comeback this year as Dahlias have over recent years, because the simple single flowered types, such as 'Innocence' and 'Cottage Apricot' would be spectacular within a matrix scheme. The hardy varieties are so easy to grow in a sunny spot and give such a valuable burst of late summer and autumn colour that would lift any dull- looking border. Blended borders For some time now we have been promoting the growing of veg within ornamental borders and I think this could really take off this year. The choice of ornamental-looking varieties available in seed catalogues is phenomenal and, if managed correctly, visitors to your garden will not even realise that you have veg growing! Must-have tool My secret is out. I discovered the Hori Hori a couple of years ago and now it seems so is everyone else. It is such a well-made, adaptable tool that can be used as a trowel or weeding tool in the garden that and everyone I speak to who have used it absolutely would not now be without it. Enough said!
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Popular beach town reveals multi-million pound plans to save lido attraction
WORTHING Lido is one step closer to being restored to its former glory as a prime beach attraction. After years of the former 5 Worthing Lido hasn't had a pool since the late 1980s Credit: Alamy 5 Now it's home to arcade games and a cafe Credit: Alamy After nearly 500 people signed a petition calling to restore and protect While the Worthing Seafront So two local MPs are now trying to find several million pounds worth of investment to save the Grade II listed lido in Worthing. According to the council: "The ambition for the Lido is focused on reinstating its swimming pool. Read More on UK Lidos "The opportunity exists for the Lido to be a year-round attraction that will be protected from the seafront, whilst also creating a seamless experience between the pool and seaside by opening up the building's façade and exterior." Worthing Council is hoping to emulate the success of similar renovated lidos elsewhere in the UK, like the The salt-water lido overlooking Lakeland Fells has been closed since 1993 with plans to refurbish it with £6.8million worth of funding starting in April 2023. Similarly, the Victorian Bristol Lido was upgraded in 2008 a nd reopened with spa treatment, restaurant and even a poolside bar. Most read in News Travel Other potential renovations to Worthing seafront were for a new and upgraded promenade and the installation of new beach huts. Other details included the "creation of a Worthing Lagoon to enhance the growing water sports industry and provide a new attraction." New £4million lido to open in UK next year 5 The lido was originally built as a bandstand in the 1920s Credit: Alamy The lido on In 1988, Worthing Lido was even used as a temporary home to dolphins from Brighton Sealife Centre. The dolphins were relocated to the lido while their permanent enclosure at the Sealife Centre was undergoing renovations. It's now referred to as a "pool" because the swimming pool element was decommissioned in 1989. A concrete slab was placed over it, and it's now home to a cafe, arcade, and is used as an event space. But some recent visitors described the lido's arcade as being "very run down", with calls for it to be restored to its "former glory." As reported by , , Dr Beccy Cooper, MP for Worthing West, and Tom Rutland, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, are working with experts on regeneration to investigate options for the council-owned structure. Previously, two comprehensive Levelling Up Fund bids by the council had failed. But there are other funding options to explore, like The National Lottery Heritage Fund. 5 The Worthing Lido sits right on the beach front Credit: Alamy 5 The Worthing Lido could be saved - but needs lots of investment Credit: Alamy The petition, which was started by resident Elaine Deed, said it was "distressing to witness the sad state of Worthing Lido". She added: "Our beloved lido, once a symbol of local heritage, now stands in disrepair, marked by graffiti and perilously close to falling into the sea. "The Worthing Lido is more than a structure; it's an embodiment of Worthing's rich cultural history and cherished memories, enjoyed in the past by locals and visitors." Plus, the abandoned And the
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Our village is so smelly that we're being told to shove duvets down our toilets – and it's only going to get WORSE
RESIDENTS in a rural village are being plagued by sewage - as a new development could make the problem worse. Local Parish Councillors have bashed the proposed housing development as the village's infrastructure is already struggling. Advertisement 3 Parish councillors in Feniton have launched a scathing attack on a proposed housing development Credit: BPM 3 Locals have been told to stuff duvets down their toilet to stop sewage overflowing Credit: BPM 3 Residents in the rural village are being plagued by sewage Credit: BPM The village of Feniton, Devon, has been plagued by the smell of sewage, with locals encouraged to stuff duvets down their toilets to prevent sewage from overflowing. Meanwhile, a proposal from South West Strategic Developments Ltd. (SWSD) aims to build 60 new homes in the area. It has led to intense backlash from Parish Councillors who are more concerned with the village's ongoing problems than its expansion, as they worry the development could make things worse. Chairman Martyn Smith told Advertisement Read more News The sewage problems stem from a Victorian system that wasn't upgraded in line with housing expansion in the area the council alleges. Councillors added that the Feniton sewage treatment works is one of the worst polluters on the River Otter. South West Water have admitted to 14 reports of sewage backing up, Martyn says, but councillors believe it to be more than that. Several councillors are directly impacted by the village's sewage problems which gets worse during heavy rain. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Councillor Chris Wilkins said one woman has reportedly had to ask neighbours not to flush their toilets to prevent sewage from flooding her garden. The area was previously declared an "unsustainable location" by a planning inspector after a 2014 public inquiry. Our posh village is now ghost town strewn with empty homes Several large-scale housing projects were refused on these grounds. There was one exception to this - 34 new houses that Martyn says "ended in disaster" when the builder went bust as it left the Advertisement Councillor Pam Rink said: "It smells all the time, even when it hasn't rained. With any more building, it just isn't going to cope." Even a Martyn said that South West Water has alleged that someone is illegally connected into the surface drain, but he adds "that's just deflection." Despite organising meetings with the sewage company, the villagers have been Advertisement In addition to the heightened burden on sewage, locals also worry about the impact on traffic that the development could bring. The narrow lane into the town already causes issues for the existing residents, and councillors worry an expansion would only make it worse. In a statement to DevonLive, South West Water said: 'We recognise the concerns raised by Feniton residents and parish councillors and have met with them to discuss these issues in detail. 'We have investigated reports of sewage problems in the village and carried out maintenance to address blockages. Advertisement 'We continue to work closely with local authorities and developers to ensure the sewerage system can support future housing, with infrastructure improvements planned as required. We remain committed to protecting the environment and supporting the Feniton community.' A statement from SWSD reads: 'The application has made in line with the draft allocation of the emerging East Devon Local Plan. "South West Water is a consultee in this process and have raised no objections to the proposals. They outline that improvements are already being progressed to address the community concerns around the existing systems and increase its capacity.' The Sun has reached out to Feniton Parish Council for comment. Advertisement
