Calls for Peterborough Lido season to be extended into winter
Current plan is for outdoor pool to close at the end of the month, with opening hours being reduced from Monday
There have been calls for the Lido to remain open longer this year – as the city waits for news on a replacement for the Regional Pool.
According to Vivacity’s website, the outdoor pool is set to close for the year on September 27.
However, that would leave the city with no public pool in the city centre.
In her column for The Peterborough Telegraph, cllr Heather Skibsted said the same arrangement should happen this year as well – to enable everyone in the city to carry on swimming. She also called for the pool to be heated until the end of the month.
“We are so lucky to have the Lido and should be treasuring the benefits that it brings to the city."
She said: “Last year the Lido stayed open (and heated) until December because of the closure of the Regional Pool.
"It is still closed, so why penalise those who wish to continue to swim and maintain good health?
"If keeping it open is not possible this year due to budget pressures, surely there is a way to utilise this fabulous facility more effectively in future years while we are waiting for a new pool?
“I am a regular user of the Lido, and have always been appreciative of a facility most cities don’t have – open air swimming.
"The lido is for everyone. It has an amazing history and is the only pool we still have which is just about affordable for everyone. This means families, not just hardy swimmers. We are so lucky to have the Lido and should be treasuring the benefits that it brings to the city.
"With the closure of the Regional Pool last year, the only other option apart from two school pools (Stanground and Jack Hunt, which have limited opening times) is Premier Fitness at Hampton.
"Premier Fitness is far too expensive for most people and not that easily accessible. So, we are looking at a situation where only the healthy and wealthy can afford to swim. For the majority, the Lido is their only option.
"Surely we should be encouraging people to swim to help stem the pressure on the already stretched NHS?”
Opening hours to change on Monday
Opening hours for the The Lido are set to alter this weekend, with reduced hours being introduced on Monday, September 9.
A spokesperson for Peterborough Limited confirmed the pool would close at the end of September – and would be heated until it shuts.
The city council and MP Andrew Pakes have both spoken of trying to find a long term solution for a replacement for the Regional Pool – but no concrete plans have been revealed as yet.
The full column is available to read in this week’s Peterborough Telegraph, which is available to buy in shops now