Campaigners push forward plans for a community lido in Bristol
More than 2,000 people have shown their support
Campaingers in Fishponds are calling for a new community lido in Eastville Park.
More than 2,000 local residents have shown their support for an affordable outdoor pool, with almost 100 people writing to councillors.
Members of the Eastville Park Lido group say the pool should be built on the site of a former bowling green, which is now closed and overgrown.
They believe a pool would boost the health of the local community, with a lack of alternative facilities nearby.
"We know there aren't any community lidos that exist in Bristol at all and there's a huge appetite for it - a lot of people wonder why it hasn't happened already!
"There's lots and lots of young primary school kids who can't swim, particularly from different ethnic backgrounds.
"I'm from Sri Lanka originally and I didn't learn to swim until my 30s and I love it now.
"We know it makes a huge amount of difference for people's health and wellbeing," Shanks added.
Written statements from members of the public asked the public health and communities policy committee to consider the proposals on 27th June.
Liam Cavanagh said: “How good would it be to swim in Eastville Park? Under the blue sky surrounded by lush trees? We need better swimming opportunities for everyone. After years of austerity and the current bleak climate — let’s have some local, positive news for once.
“As a person who comes from New Zealand and Australia, the UK needs more investment in swimming culture. Many of the local facilities are atrocious and could be so much better. I don’t even need to tell you the huge health benefits it would bring to people, their lives, and all the run-on effects when residents have access to these things.”
Sophie Rhys-Williams added: “There is nowhere in Bristol that is accessible enough for people to swim, and it would be a dream to have a lido so central in Bristol. Just this weekend, during a heatwave, I was not able to access anywhere local to swim, as I do not drive, and it was baking hot. It would be amazing for us to have access to something right on our doorstep.”
Swimmers have few options in Bristol to swim outside, despite rising demand due to the hotter climate. The exclusive Henleaze Swimming Club is for members only and getting a membership is notoriously difficult. The Bristol Lido in Clifton has access for non-members but the expensive prices, starting at £25 for a two-hour session, exclude many poorer people in the city.
Since a trial last year, swimmers can take a dip in the harbour for £7, but only on certain Saturday mornings with no entry after 9.45am. Conham River Park is a popular option, but swimming is officially banned due to the risk of getting hit by a boat, and the River Avon is sometimes dangerously full of sewage.
Eastville Park had an outdoor swimming pool, built in 1905, but the site was closed decades ago and remains fenced off and overgrown. Campaigners would prefer the new pool to be built on the old bowling green, next to a play park. Swimming could also help tackle rising levels of obesity and cardiovascular disease in Bristol.
The plans include a 25-metre pool, changing rooms, sauna, gym, café and event space. More than 3,400 people have signed a petition launched two years ago. Councillors now say they will consider the proposals, but there are a “lot of steps” to take before a pool can be built.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Stephen Williams, chair of the public health committee, said: “It’s not a council proposal, it’s just an idea at the moment which will have a long journey before it potentially comes to fruition. I met the proposer of this idea several months ago and told her that she would need to speak to our parks officers and a meeting is going to take place next week.
“We’ll have to consider other issues such as a community asset transfer as well. This is at an incredibly early stage, it’s a concept, but it’s not in the council’s formal decision-making pathway at this stage, and it may not get that far. We’ll have to see how it develops.”
Green Cllr Ed Fraser, representing Eastville, added: “I would personally like to see there be a viability study and we’ll see if things make it to that stage. There’s clearly such overwhelming public interest and it feels like something we should be considering seriously. But before anything could get built, there’ll be a lot of steps to go through.
“I expect there’ll be some difficult conversations that need to be had. I’ll do my best to listen to residents and help them take their questions forward to the council. Thank you to everyone who has written into the public forum today and contacted me separately. Please do continue to reach out to me regarding the lido proposals.”
As well as the derelict Eastville pool, Bristol used to have more swimming spots that have since closed down. These include the Barton Hill Baths, Bristol North Baths on Gloucester Road, Jacobs Wells Baths in Hotwells, and Speedwell Swimming Pool. Just outside the city, Abbots Pool was a popular outdoor swimming spot until North Somerset Council closed it in 2020.