Latest news with #BroomhillPool
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ipswich lido campaigner calls for decision over pool's future
A campaigner who has been calling for an outdoor pool to reopen since its closure in 2002 says a resolution on its future is Wainman wants the the owner of the Ipswich's Broomhill Pool - the borough council - to find a new operator for it after a revamp to the abandoned site was plunged into fresh financial National Lottery Heritage Fund said £6.8m of funding that it had pledged was being pulled because work had still not started.A spokesperson for the Labour-run council, said: "We are disappointed, but we remain committed to the restoration of the much treasured Broomhill Lido and pledge to find a way forward." The Grade II listed pool opened in 1938 and plans to restore it to its former glory have repeatedly stalled due to funding firm, Fusion Lifestyle, had been tasked with operating the pool, but the council said Fusion "had been unable to provide assurances about their financial position".The authority said this raised concerns and brought "into question [Fusion's] ability to deliver the project, which received planning consent last year". Ms Wainman says she stood in seven elections, including in the 2005 and 2010 general elections, with the pool her sole campaign said she was still hopeful of the facility being redeveloped "if there's not endless delays". "I would like to see Ipswich Borough Council decide what they want to do and get on with it - either decide they are going to take this on themselves or ask someone else to manage the facility," she said. Ms Wainman said she believed the Lido should not be looked at as a facility that needed to be profitable, but was a public service that could improve people's health and take strain from the said demolishing the pool and building houses on the site was projected to cost £1m over 20 years ago, so was not an inexpensive option. Jack Abbott, Labour MP for Ipswich, said he was disappointed to hear the news but believed "it does not mark the end of the road"."I am pleased Ipswich Borough Council remains resolutely committed to finding a solution," he Footage of pool in 1960s revealed"I will continue to work with the council, the National Lottery and other partners to find a way forward that delivers this landmark project."Fusion Lifestyle said: "We are actively seeking to engage with the National Heritage Lottery Fund to find a solution that ensures local residents can still benefit from this much-anticipated restoration project." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Work to reopen Ipswich Broomhill lido still not started
A project to restore a 1930s lido that has been shut for decades has still not Grade II listed Broomhill Pool in Ipswich, Suffolk, closed in 2002, and plans to renovate it were repeatedly stalled due to a lack of Borough Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Fusion Lifestyle then came together to agree a deal to save the lido, but the work was postponed when the Covid-19 pandemic project has seen continuous delays since then, which Mike Read, president of Broomhill Pool Trust, said was "heartbreaking". At the end of last year, the council had to consider a second planning application around the project after the initial permission was approved despite Fusion Lifestyle, which is leading on the project, stating the month before, there was a "small funding shortfall" that it was working to bridge. Six months later, the project still has not started after the National Heritage Lottery Fund wanted to perform financial due diligence on the project. "No one is in disagreement with due diligence, it's just part of the timing which is so frustrating," Mr Read said. "[Fusion Lifestyle] is a company that has already worked with the National Lottery Heritage Fund on several occasions, so we might have hoped that would count for things."But what I feel is the most important question is not what it is costing, but is this investment good value for money?"Mr Read said the project was a good investment and could help teach children lifesaving water appealed to all parties involved to start work on the project, otherwise he feared Ipswich could lose "a wonderful historical icon".The project is expected to cost £10m, with £6.8m coming from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, £3m from the council and the rest from Fusion Lifestyle. It was hoped building work could start early next year before the pool opens that summer.A spokesperson for Fusion Lifestyle said it remained fully committed to the project."We recognise that the past few years have brought significant challenges," they said. "In response, Fusion is actively collaborating with a range of partners to carry out further robust due diligence, ensuring the project is both viable and set up for lasting success."The council were contacted for comment. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
