Latest news with #lido
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Victorian seaside town home to MASSIVE abandoned lido is being brought back to life in £6.8million makeover
A PICTURESQUE seaside town plans to give its promenade and abandoned lido a £6.8 million revamp. Victorian town Grange-over-sands has managed to keep much of its charm and elegance, despite many coastal resorts in the UK falling in to disrepair. 4 4 4 The popular resort, located near the Lake District in Cumbria, is packed with quaint cafes and a bustling promenade. Grange-over-sands doesn't technically have a beach, as it is a salt marsh, but in times gone by this was not an issue as holidaymakers headed to the town's lido to soak up the sun. However, despite the holiday resort having its own micro-climate its popular lido was closed back in 1993, and fell into disrepair. Since its closure, the Grade II listed building has become filled with stagnant water, with weeds growing uncontrollably around the poolside. A local charity group called Save Grange Lido has now been formed, with locals desperate to get the attraction back up and running. "Grange Baths became a focal point for the community with bathers coming from far and wide by train on the Furness Line – a part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway," the group said. "The pool hosted many events over the years including beauty contests, competitive galas and synchronised swimming. "It was the place to be seen on a summer 's day." Back in 2023, work began on restoring the lido to its former glory, as well as giving the 2.4 mile long promenade a facelift. Almost £5 million has been allocated to transforming the pool, which will be given a temporary infill so that it can be used as a 'multi-use' public space. I left iconic UK seaside town to live on tiny Scottish island with just 60 people However, the lido's return is currently dependent on the council being satisfied by the business case, amongst other criteria. The rest of the money is being used to transform the promenade. "Work on the 1,900m-long promenade will include the removal of unstable sections of the sea defence wall; the application of a durable coating to the upper surface of the promenade; and, a combination of pre-cast and in situ concrete repairs to the upper edge 'bull nose' and sea-facing elevation of the sea wall," Westmorland and Furness Council said. "The work also includes connectivity works to link the promenade to the town; public realm furniture; signage; improvements to railings; and a new child's playground area." In February 2023, the council said that the refurbishment would take 14 months to complete, however it has been hit by a number of delays, including problems with concrete. Last month, the council announced that it is "unlikely" the project will be finished this summer, and revealed that a new opening date will be announced this week. "While it is frustrating that the construction phase must be extended due to further assessment of the repairs required to complete the project, it highlights the complexity of working with historic assets of this nature," Councillor Jonathon Brook said. "It is important that we get this right, understanding that the lido project seeks to restore this important structure after more than 30 years of closure and several previous attempts to bring it back to life." But for those desperate to visit the idyllic town before the lido is completely, there are plenty of other attractions nearby, such as a visit to Holker Hall and Garden - an award-winning stately home with beautiful gardens, woodland walks and a deer park. Cartmel Village is known for its famous sticky toffee pudding and it's also a short drive away from Grange-over-Sands. Other neighbouring attractions include The Lakeland Motor Museum, Yewbarrow House Garden and Sizergh Castle and Garden.
The Sun
01-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Unique Victorian lido with outdoor lazy river to reopen with new £250k splash zone
THE only remaining riverside tidal lido in the UK is reopening soon with a new 'splash' feature following a £250,000 refurbishment. The Strand Lido and Leisure Park in Gillingham, in Kent, has reopened with a new splash pad. 5 5 5 The lido's new splash pad is designed for children between three and 11-years-old. The new water feature has 30 sensor-activated waterjets in a beach-themed play area, as well as new bins and railings. The existing paddling pool has reopened, too. Overall, the leisure complex includes an outdoor leisure pool, six 25-metre lanes for swimming, a 300-metre lazy river, a café and play areas. There is also a pool inflatable shop on site, a poolside cafe, changing areas and toilets. The Strand Park, more widely, is home to a miniature train ride, four newly refurbished tennis courts, an outdoor gym, riverside walks, a picnic area and access to the pebbled beach area. The Strand originally opened in 1896 and is now the only remaining riverside tidal saltwater pool in the country. Last year it was officially recognised as being 'historically significant' after gaining membership to Historic Pools of Britain. Speaking previously, Councillor Nina Gurung, Medway Council's portfolio holder for heritage, culture and leisure, said: "We are proud to have invested in this exciting project to improve the already great offering and add a brand-new fun feature for our children and families to enjoy both this summer and for years to come." To access the pools, sessions need to be booked online. Historic 'on-of-a-kind' lido has three heated swimming pools Adult admission costs £7.20, whilst it costs £4.75 for juniors and seniors. According to Clare Short, from Historic Pools of Britain, The Strand Lido is a "pool that epitomises the spirit of lidos as a place for fun and wellbeing, which it has been providing to its community and visitors for over 120 years, and that is historically significant as the only remaining riverside tidal saltwater pool in the country." In addition, the pool is Medway's only open air swimming pool or lido. After heading to the lido last year, one visitor said: "[Strand Lido] felt a bit like being on holiday and the kids loved it. "We played in the lovely park after and done the little train ride - kids enjoyed that. 5 "The fair was on too. [It] was as a nice little day out and local too." Another added: "Just loved this place so much to entertain our two-year-old. [A] sand pit, train, swings, slides, paddling pool, pebbles, water … everything a little person could want." A seafront English lido named one of the best in Europe has also reopened with £4.5million revamp to be unveiled in weeks. Plus, the European 'pleasure island' with lido, flumes and wave pool gets new TUI flights from the UK. 5
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.
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Lead on, Macduff: how the tide turned for Aberdeenshire's art deco lido
The vastness of Tarlair lido is hard to comprehend. Just a mile east of the town of Macduff, in Aberdeenshire, the lido's three bodies of sea water are supplied by a tidal filling system and divided by a concrete wall, slippery with seaweed. The water's reflection announces a striking mint-and-cream art deco pavilion, and a cinematic sea view. From the pavilion's roof terrace, where dandelion-coloured tables and chairs are set out, it's easy to lose a few minutes gazing beyond the salty outcrops to a northerly horizon. Originally commissioned by Macduff town council in 1929, the pavilion and pools – a paddling pool, boating 'lake' and swimming pool – were designed by architect John C Miller and opened two years later as one of only three art deco lidos of their kind in Scotland. The site reopened in late March after 30 years of closure and a decade of work costing approximately £2m. Momentum is building around the pavilion's heavily anticipated summer comeback and it is hoped that the pools will eventually be able to welcome swimmers again, too. Tarlair trustee Reg Connon fondly remembers swimming here as a child in the late 1950s. 'We used to come down as a family on weekends. We'd arrive at 10 in the morning and that was us until five at night … weather permitting,' he laughs. Gala days, swimming championships and even concerts catapulted Tarlair into a top leisure destination between the 1950s and 70s, serving communities and visitors alike as an attended pool from May until late August. It kept up its reputation until the 1980s and, on occasion, the water was emptied to host crowds for bands such as Jethro Tull, Wet Wet Wet and Celtic rockers Runrig. However, the early 90s saw a mass transfer of staff to an indoor pool in neighbouring Banff, which led to the lido's gradual closure. Then, as rival attractions held sway, it crumbled into an abandoned playground until 2012. 'The indoor pool at Banff changed everything,' Connon says. 'Around the same time cheap flights abroad became available and it was never the same again.' In the high season, Moray Firth tourists were ushered instead to Speyside whisky distilleries, bottlenose dolphin lookout points and lifeguard-monitored beaches. Tarlair's revival has been an arduous and inspirational 12-year effort by the Friends of Tarlair, a loyal band of 34 volunteers with the sole aim of restoring this once-thriving marine haven. The pavilion renovation project is a finalist in the Scottish Design Awards. Overseeing a pot of cullen skink for the pavilion's lunch menu, Pat Wain, a former art teacher and chair of the trust, reflects on the process. 'We've been messing around here for 12 years, but seriously trying to gain funding for 10 and, in that, many attempts were thwarted,' she says. A decade of funding has been granted by the Scottish government and Aberdeenshire council, rooted in the conservation of its status as an A-list property, but several conflicts meant its future was threatened continuously. 'At one point two proposed outcomes were to turn it into a lobster hatchery or do nothing,' Wain laments. 'I was just so incensed that doing nothing could be an option that three of us got together and formed the beginnings of the committee.' Registered charity status for the Friends of Tarlair followed in 2013, after the trio were told they couldn't officially speak at a district meeting. They eventually acquired a 99-year lease on the pavilion and haven't looked back since. It took a further eight years for a feasibility study to become a priority on the council's agenda, with tireless campaigning from the trustees to keep the lido. 'We carried on doing other things – keeping the rights of way clear, weeding the roads in the bay area, even though the road down here was well broken.' Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion In 2020, Tarlair caught the attention of London-based architect, swimmer and author of Sea Pools Chris Romer-Lee. He visited on a bleak day in February and quickly became fixated on the site. A year later, Pat called, asking if he and a business partner at Studio Octopi, James Lowe, would take on the pavilion renovations. Closed since 1996, the mesmerising pools are now a visual spectacle only, and stand next in line for extensive renovations. Planning permission for their restoration will be submitted this summer. It's still early in the day, yet streams of visitors circumnavigate the water, their curiosity – like mine – piqued. As a whole, the space is a crater of sorts, nestled below a jagged face of quartzite and limestone, framing a natural inlet once known as Loch Craig. It's haunting, serene, saturated with nostalgia – a panoramic portal to another time and almost enough to make you forget your train of thought. Yet we're all wondering: when can we get in? Cold-water swimmers have been a feature of this bay for centuries, gathering at Salmon Howie, an enchanting sandy cove on the inlet's edge. 'The lido – it's as if it grew from the rock,' says Pat, who volunteers on the site six days a week. 'Swimmers were always meant to be here.' Tarlair lido pavilion is open daily, 9.30am-2.30pm,
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cheltenham's historic Lido celebrates 90 years
A Grade II listed lido is celebrating its 90th year of Parks Lido, in Cheltenham, which first opened in 1935 under the ownership of Cheltenham Borough Council, will offer half-price entry to visitors on Sunday to mark the will also be relaunching their buy-a-brick scheme, which allows individuals to purchase personalised bricks that will be placed in the pedestrian walkway leading to the Sergeant, CEO of Cheltenham Lido, praised the site's dedicated community and said their "huge customer base who are passionate about the lido" has "kept it going" over the years. Now managed by the charitable trust Sandford Lido Limited, Ms Sergeant said that the lido - which is hailed as "ultra-modern" - has remained open every year since its inauguration, even throughout World War Two."The reason for that was because it had heating, chlorine gas, and filters," she said. "If you go back 10 years before that, pools were literally just tanks of water filled at the start of the week," she 1936, the pool had about 89,000 visitors, whereas it now has more than 200,000 annual lido hopes to have more than 1,000 people per swim session on Sunday. While maintaining its traditional style, the lido has continually sought to 2024, the Lido was given more than £300,000, from the English Sports Council, to improve energy efficiency which helped to "keep the facility open". "We don't have a roof, but we have redesigned the car park, by putting in car ports with solar panels on top which will generate 93% of their electricity usage," said Ms Sergeant.
