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| Lido booms but refit soaks up
the cash |
THE Corporation of London has admitted it cannot afford to complete
the renovation of Parliament Hill Lido.
More than 4,000 swimmers – a record for the Lido – flooded
through its turnstiles on Sunday as temperatures soared to 30 degrees
Celsius at the Grade II-listed 1930s’ outdoor pool where a
metal lining was fitted over the winter.
But the crumbling building and terracing around the pool are still
in need of urgent work.
A £1.4 million plan to shore up foundations and improve the
changing rooms now relies on funding coming from outside the Corporation.
Lido bosses hope London’s successful 2012 Olympic bid will
improve its chances of receiving a cash windfall from bodies like
Sport England and the Lottery Heritage Fund to finish the work.
The tight Heath budget means the Corporation cannot afford an £85,000-a-year
loan to pay for the work over 25 years, according to a report approved
at a meeting of its Heath Management Committee on Monday.
But Heath superintendent Simon Lee has hailed Sunday’s record
attendance as a seal of approval for the new-look Lido.
He said: “The metal lining of the pool has restored the symmetry
to the design of the building and, despite complaints about problems
with the shared showering facilities, the first stage of works has
been a success.”
Mr Lee announced that the Lido’s opening hours are to be extended
into the evening on Thursdays. The pool, which usually closes at
6.30pm, is to stay open until 9pm.
The pool will shut briefly in the late afternoon so lifeguards can
install lane ropes for keen swimmers to use until 9pm.
Entry will cost the same as it does for early-morning swimmers:
£2 for adults, and £1 for concessions.
Mr Lee said: “We have had numerous requests for the Lido to
be open a bit longer in the evenings, particularly in the summer,
so people can have a swim after work.” |
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