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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
UK's deepest lido is reopening this summer after three years – and an £8.75 million upgrade
THERE'S good news for outdoor swimmers, as Hilsea Lido is set to reopen in a matter of months. The outdoor swimming pool, which is the 4 The Hilsea Lido has been closed since 2022 4 The lido has been popular with Hilsea locals since the 1930s Credit: Portsmouth City Council The It closed its doors back in 2022 for a refurbishment - thanks to the Government's Levelling Up programme, the outdoor pool benefited from £8.75 million worth of investment. Along with a fully functioning pool, there will be new changing rooms, benches, tables, and a fountain. The CGI plans also reveal grass areas with sun umbrellas and sunbeds for relaxing next to the pool. Read More on UK Lidos According to At the moment, locals can't see the works as there's a protective tent over the site. There are heaters underneath keeping the temperature at 8 degrees which is crucial for the rendering to cure. Finishing touches are being made like the tiling, the pool base has been stabilised, and the original lagoons have been restored. Most read in News Travel To keep the pool going and without further need for work, a modern filtration system has been installed. Parts of the original lido have been removed, like the spectator stand which was declared unsafe during the upgrade. New £4million lido to open in UK next year 4 Hilsea is the nation's deepest lido and upgrades have been made to maintain it Credit: Facebook The mural has also been removed, but the government website says that the artist will return to paint another once the lido is up and running. It's not the first time Local residents then formed a charity called Hilsea Lido Pool for the People who took over its management. The lido re-opened its doors in 2014. After the current closure, the original plans said that the lido would reopen for its 90th anniversary, which is on July 24. No official opening date has been revealed just yet, but there is more information on the It reads: "The project is set to reopen in early autumn 2025, which is the same year the lido will celebrate its 90th anniversary." The opening of this And here are the 4 The Hilsea Lido will open in the next few months Credit: Portsmouth City Council
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
UK's deepest lido is reopening this summer after three years – and an £8.75 million upgrade
Plus, the best outdoor lidos and water parks in the UK SPLASH ABOUT UK's deepest lido is reopening this summer after three years – and an £8.75 million upgrade Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THERE'S good news for outdoor swimmers, as Hilsea Lido is set to reopen in a matter of months. The outdoor swimming pool, which is the deepest in the UK, will reopen very soon, having been closed since 2022 for a £8.75 million upgrade. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Hilsea Lido has been closed since 2022 4 The lido has been popular with Hilsea locals since the 1930s Credit: Portsmouth City Council The Hilsea Lido first opened in the 1930s and is the deepest in Britain at 4.6 metres. It closed its doors back in 2022 for a refurbishment - thanks to the Government's Levelling Up programme, the outdoor pool benefited from £8.75 million worth of investment. Along with a fully functioning pool, there will be new changing rooms, benches, tables, and a fountain. The CGI plans also reveal grass areas with sun umbrellas and sunbeds for relaxing next to the pool. According to Portsmouth News, "a considerable amount of work has already been completed." At the moment, locals can't see the works as there's a protective tent over the site. There are heaters underneath keeping the temperature at 8 degrees which is crucial for the rendering to cure. Finishing touches are being made like the tiling, the pool base has been stabilised, and the original lagoons have been restored. To keep the pool going and without further need for work, a modern filtration system has been installed. Parts of the original lido have been removed, like the spectator stand which was declared unsafe during the upgrade. New £4million lido to open in UK next year 4 Hilsea is the nation's deepest lido and upgrades have been made to maintain it Credit: Facebook The mural has also been removed, but the government website says that the artist will return to paint another once the lido is up and running. It's not the first time Hilsea's lido closed its doors - the first being in 2007. Local residents then formed a charity called Hilsea Lido Pool for the People who took over its management. The lido re-opened its doors in 2014. After the current closure, the original plans said that the lido would reopen for its 90th anniversary, which is on July 24. No official opening date has been revealed just yet, but there is more information on the Portsmouth City Council website. It reads: "The project is set to reopen in early autumn 2025, which is the same year the lido will celebrate its 90th anniversary." The opening of this UK lido has been forced to delay its reopening date after a £6.8 million restoration. And here are the UK's best outdoor water parks and lidos for the summer months.
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Brexit food control post at Portsmouth ‘may have to be demolished', says port director
A £25m post-Brexit border control post in Portsmouth may have to be demolished if the UK government's deal with the EU removes the need for health and veterinary checks on food imports, according to the port's director. Mike Sellers had already spoken out last year about how more than half of the site would never be used because planned checks on EU food and plant products had been pared back since it was designed, leading to the building being called a 'white elephant'. The hi-tech facility at the UK's second busiest cross-Channel terminal was one of more than 100 border control posts (BCPs) around the country built to government specifications to handle post-Brexit checks on imports subject to sanitary and phytosanitary checks, such as meat, fish, dairy products, fruit and vegetables. Under Keir Starmer's deal with the EU announced on Monday, some routine checks on animal and plant products would be scrapped completely. 'Anything that would smooth the movement of trade as well as passengers around the port is welcomed, although the devil is in the detail,' said Sellers. 'Based on Monday's announcement and the information that has been provided, we believe that then negates the need for the border control post,' he added, leaving it with two costly choices. Sellers said the port's owner, Portsmouth city council, could either 'repurpose the facility and see whether we can get another use out of it, or demolish it to give us some more operational land'. Boasting 14 lorry bays, Portsmouth's 8,000 sq metre (86,000 sq ft) border site was designed to allow inspection of low- and high-risk goods in air-lock quarantine zones to prevent cross-contamination. However, it has been heavily underused since it began operating in April last year, after the previous Conservative government's changes to its post-Brexit import regime, known as the border target operating model, which significantly reduced the number of tests required. An average of three checks have been carried out each day at Portsmouth's BCP in the 12 months since it began operating, Sellers said, compared with the 80 a day for which it was built. It and other ports have also been unable to earn the expected amount of money from levying charges on importers for the goods checks. Portsmouth, along with 40 other ports, received £200m in government funding for the new control posts. However, the port infrastructure fund was oversubscribed, meaning the ports themselves had to spend an estimated £120m to cover the remaining building costs. Sellers' port received £17.1m from the fund after applying for £32m, forcing the council to take out a loan to cover the shortfall. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion The British Ports Association (BPA) has welcomed the new deal between the UK and the EU, but is reiterating its call for compensation for ports that were forced to build now-redundant border infrastructure. 'The sector is out of pocket by £120m in infrastructure costs and ongoing costs,' said Richard Ballantyne, the industry body's chief executive. 'It is very expensive to repurpose and modify the border facilities, and in some cases it will be more cost-effective to demolish them. We are left in a precarious situation of not knowing what to do, but ultimately the cost will need to be passed on as port operations can't continue taking a hit.' The BPA estimates that the running costs for a larger BCP, such as Portsmouth, with about 15 lorry bays will be £200,000 a year, to cover energy, cleaning, insurance and business rates. Smaller BCPs may have running costs of about £100,000 a year. Portsmouth is backing the BPA's call for compensation, and said the local authority had been left about £6m out of pocket. 'We have been left with this huge white elephant,' said Sellers. 'We are not blessed with a lot of operational land, and this took up acres of land and the opportunity cost around that. We were unable to handle some of the potential new business that could have come through Portsmouth.'
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Historic swimming pool set to be transformed into waterpark with kitesurfing, paddleboarding & restaurant among plans
A HISTORIC swimming pool is set to be demolished - with plans in the works to replace it with a packed-out water sports facility. The location has seen over a century of British history, providing a training ground for World War II heroes. 3 Eastney Swimming Pool was first built in 1904 and operated for over a century before closing its doors in 1904 Credit: Portsmouth City Council 3 The historic structure was labelled as 'outdated' and 'in dangerous condition' by the local council Credit: Portsmouth City Council Eastney Swimming Pool in Southsea, Portsmouth closed its doors in 2020 during the Covid pandemic and has never re-opened. Portsmouth City Council described the building, which first opened in 1904, as outdated and in a dangerous condition, citing structural issues with the walls and roof. Plans were officially approved earlier this year to demolish the historic structure. A £23.4 million project at nearby Bransbury Park will see a new leisure centre facility replace the former pool, featuring a swimming pool, gym, and GP surgery. However, the fate of the Eastney Swimming Pool site remains less certain. The demolition could potentially make way for a new water sports centre, says The hub would include facilities for kite-boarding, kayaking, and paddle-boarding. And of course, kayaking is deeply rooted within the site's history, as the Cockleshell Heroes are reported to have trained there. Most read in News Travel The iconic mission saw 13 Royal Marines attempt to paddle in kayaks to blow up German ships in the occupied part of Bordeaux in 1942. These men are believed to have trained for the stealthy mission in part at the former pool. The perfect Haven holiday park for a kid-friendly break - with direct beach access, indoor waterpark and neighbouring seaside theme park Only two of the marine survived the partially successful raid. Historic England declined to support listing the pool as a protected structure over its association with the mission. Portsmouth City Council has allocated £100,000 for the historic pool's demolition. The pool was also one of the first venues to host underwater hockey - octopush - matches. A new water sports venue on the site could provide a centrepiece for Portsmouth's Seafront Master Plan, most recently updated in 2021. This Heated Lido Is In The Middle Of London This outdoor pool is next to a popular London tube station... Less well-known than other lidos in London like Brockwell Lido, London Fields Lido and Located on Endell Street, the Oasis Sports Centre is just a five-minute walk from Known only to locals and There are also three squash courts, a sauna, and a large rooftop terrace on the site. The plans for the water sports hub include facilities like changing rooms, storage, and showers. "It has been an ambition of the council to provide a facility like this for many years, so it's great news that we can start to move forward on this project," said Councillor Steve Pitt, leader of Portsmouth Council. "We have a real opportunity to create something that enhances this very unique environment, so we need to make sure we get this right. "This is why we are consulting early, so we can get a clear understanding of what sports should be provided for and what other facilities should be provided in any new centre." Read more on the Irish Sun One of the And an abandoned Victorian church that was turned into one of the 3 A new leisure centre is currently being constructed at the nearby Bransbury Park to replace the outdated facilities Credit: Portsmouth City Council
Scottish Sun
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Historic swimming pool set to be transformed into waterpark with kitesurfing, paddleboarding & restaurant among plans
A HISTORIC swimming pool is set to be demolished - with plans in the works to replace it with a packed-out water sports facility. The location has seen over a century of British history, providing a training ground for World War II heroes. 3 Eastney Swimming Pool was first built in 1904 and operated for over a century before closing its doors in 1904 Credit: Portsmouth City Council 3 The historic structure was labelled as 'outdated' and 'in dangerous condition' by the local council Credit: Portsmouth City Council Eastney Swimming Pool in Southsea, Portsmouth closed its doors in 2020 during the Covid pandemic and has never re-opened. Portsmouth City Council described the building, which first opened in 1904, as outdated and in a dangerous condition, citing structural issues with the walls and roof. Plans were officially approved earlier this year to demolish the historic structure. A £23.4 million project at nearby Bransbury Park will see a new leisure centre facility replace the former pool, featuring a swimming pool, gym, and GP surgery. However, the fate of the Eastney Swimming Pool site remains less certain. The demolition could potentially make way for a new water sports centre, says Portsmouth City Council. The hub would include facilities for kite-boarding, kayaking, and paddle-boarding. And of course, kayaking is deeply rooted within the site's history, as the Cockleshell Heroes are reported to have trained there. The iconic mission saw 13 Royal Marines attempt to paddle in kayaks to blow up German ships in the occupied part of Bordeaux in 1942. These men are believed to have trained for the stealthy mission in part at the former pool. The perfect Haven holiday park for a kid-friendly break - with direct beach access, indoor waterpark and neighbouring seaside theme park Only two of the marine survived the partially successful raid. Historic England declined to support listing the pool as a protected structure over its association with the mission. Portsmouth City Council has allocated £100,000 for the historic pool's demolition. The pool was also one of the first venues to host underwater hockey - octopush - matches. A new water sports venue on the site could provide a centrepiece for Portsmouth's Seafront Master Plan, most recently updated in 2021. This Heated Lido Is In The Middle Of London This outdoor pool is next to a popular London tube station... There's a heated outdoor swimming pool in central London that gets missed by most tourists. Less well-known than other lidos in London like Brockwell Lido, London Fields Lido and Tooting Bec Lido, the Oasis Sports Centre is arguably a quieter place to visit on a hot summer's day. Located on Endell Street, the Oasis Sports Centre is just a five-minute walk from Covent Garden Tube Station. Despite being in the heart of central London, the outdoor swimming pool isn't well-known among holidaymakers. Known only to locals and lido enthusiasts, the outdoor pool stretches for 27.5m and is heated throughout the year. Because it is set inside a sports centre, there are other facilities at the central London lido too, including an indoor pool and gym that operates a range of classes. There are also three squash courts, a sauna, and a large rooftop terrace on the site. The plans for the water sports hub include facilities like changing rooms, storage, and showers. "It has been an ambition of the council to provide a facility like this for many years, so it's great news that we can start to move forward on this project," said Councillor Steve Pitt, leader of Portsmouth Council. "We have a real opportunity to create something that enhances this very unique environment, so we need to make sure we get this right. "This is why we are consulting early, so we can get a clear understanding of what sports should be provided for and what other facilities should be provided in any new centre." One of the country's oldest Edwardian swimming pools is set for a multi-million pound renovation. And an abandoned Victorian church that was turned into one of the UK's most beautiful swimming pools.
