Disappointment at decision to keep Peterborough Lido closed for 2020

The Lido has not been able to open this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, restrictions on outdoor pools and leisure facilities were lifted earlier this month.

Former mayor and council leader John Peach called for the Lido to re-open, even offering thousands of pounds to pay for work that needed to be done to get it ready for visitors.

However, today Peterborough City Council said the pool would not re-open this year.

Mr Peach said: “I believe with a little bit of ingenuity, persistence it could’ve been opened this, obviously with some restrictions like they have at the Lido in Cambridge.

“I urged both the City Council and Vivacity some weeks before the government announced outdoor pools could re- open to get everything ready for when the starting gun was fired. This sadly did not happen losing a lot of potential weeks when with nice weather as we see at the moment the lido should’ve been open, particularly for Peterborough residents who could either not afford a holiday this year or have had their holidays cancelled. Let’s hope we don’t see any youngsters drowning in the rivers this summer.

“Only yesterday I met with the local MP Paul Bristow, and another person who has come forward wanting to help out with the Lido and we are in the process of arranging a meeting with council officers. Over the last few months I have talked to many people with a desire either to help or use the Lido this year.

“I’ve had meetings and conversations with others who are willing in some way shape or form to put their own, their organisations, some from the charitable and voluntary sector, to use to get the Lido open. Hopefully this will be possible next year.”

A Peterborough City Council spokesman said: “This year has been a challenging one for Peterborough Lido and due to this, it will not be opening for the 2020 season. We have received offers of funding, however these have not met the cost of filling and cleaning the pool for the last three weeks of the season, which is the earliest it could be achieved. On making this decision, both the council and Vivacity also had to be mindful of the current levels of Covid-19 in the city. This is a decision that is supported by the Friends of the Lido and we will be working with them on a grand re-opening for Spring/Summer 2021 instead.”