Stratford Park lido could open this summer
Stroud District Council agrees way forward for essential repairs
Stroud’s much-loved Stratford Park lido could reopen this summer as civic chiefs have agreed to look at doing the essential repairs needed to make it safe as soon as possible.
Opening the outdoor swimming pool for this summer in its current state is deemed to be too dangerous for its users.
However, Stroud District Councillors agreed a way forward which could see the site open in time for the school summer holidays.
Three major hazards were found during a risk assessment conducted at the site in February this year.
These include several cracks in the concrete on the poolside directly beneath and next to the diving board. And the survey found excessive corrosion in the pipework and the pool tank.
Council chiefs estimate a £5.1 million upgrade is needed to make the lido sustainable for the long term.
And their initial plans would have involved not opening the site for the upcoming season.
But, after mounting public pressure, councillors have agreed to seek a way to reopen Stratford Park Lido this summer, reversing the direction set by the community services and licensing committee last month.
Dozens of residents gathered outside the council offices at Ebley Mill and chanted “only a fool would close the pool” ahead of the crunch strategy and resources committee which discussed the lido.
Many proceeded to pack the public gallery and hear questions and answers on the issues affecting the pool and proposals for its future.
The meeting heard how preliminary findings from further investigations suggest the foundation of the diving board area is sound.
And council chiefs stressed they want to keep the lido open but it needs to be made safe to do so and a long-term solution will still be needed.
Labour group leader Katy Hofmann (Rodborough) proposed an amendment which sought to explore ways to repair and open the lido in time for the summer. This was seconded by committee chairman and Green Party council leader Chloe Turner (Minchinhampton).
Cllr Hofmann said one of the main reasons for bringing the amendment to the original motion “didn’t seem to reflect the strong desire by the public and members of this committee to find a way to open the lido this summer.
“I felt it didn’t reflect a desire to act quickly to develop a plan to identify costs for the repairs that are needed if the pool is to open this year,” she said.
Cllr Turner said she would very much like to support the proposals and said: “We’ve worked together to hopefully give us the mechanisms we need to move as quickly as possible.”
She went on to say that officers have been working “absolutely flat out” behind closed doors and she echoed Cllr Hofmann’s comments.
“There is no question of people sitting on their hands here,” she said. “We will go as fast as we possibly can.
“We are acutely conscious of the fact that when the normal lido opening season starts, when the school holidays start, and we are throwing everything at this, because it is absolutely a priority. But we can’t open the pool until it’s safe.”
The committee agreed to call on officers to work with qualified specialists to get quotations and a cost timetable identifying the minimum essential works needed to bring the lido back into safe use as soon as possible.
They would also look for a costed timetable for a more comprehensive plan for the site’s refurbishment and a schedule of the further works identified that will need to be built into a long-term refurbishment and maintenance plan for the lido.
Councillors agreed that if the costs needed to bring the lido back into use as soon as possible are up to £900,000 in capital costs and £200,000 in revenue costs that work starts immediately.
If the costs are estimated to be higher, a report would be taken to the next council meeting, or an extraordinary meeting would be convened, to consider the extent and cost of works needed.
The committee also agreed that they will continue to work with the local community and voluntary organisations and set up a working group with the aim of securing a sustainable long-term future of the lido.
Conservative Councillor Lindsey Green said during the meeting that she had constituents in her ward of Berkeley contact her about the lido.
“The lido does need to be open,” she said. “It fits in with our health and wellbeing plan and everything we stand for.
“We need to try and find a way forward.”
She said she would like to see more robust timeframes around things if possible.
The committee agreed to give fortnightly updates on their progress to councillors and the community.
And Councillor Elizabeth Stanley (L, Cainscross) said with the motion it felt like “the sun’s come out from behind the clouds” and that it was “collaborative working” and a “positive way forward”.
She also said the council could have been making these “positive suggestions” in March had better information been presented to the community services and licensing committee.
Councillor Martin Brown (G, Bisley) said everybody wants to see the lido open as soon as possible and when it is safe to do so.
He said the amended decision shows a way forward and they have a strong commitment to implement it.
“If it is safe to do so, when it is safe to do so, the lido will be open,” he said.
“Let’s hope it can be open be by school holidays this summer, if not before then.”
Councillors voted unanimously to approve the proposals.