Saltdean Lido is in worse state than feared (From The Argus)
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Saltdean Lido is in worse state than feared
11:40am Thursday 13th September 2012 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
Saltdean Lido – picture by Paul Zara
Historic Saltdean Lido is in a worse state of repair than originally feared – and will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to bring back into use.
The Grade II* listed lido has been shut all summer after Brighton and Hove City Council seized back control of the seafront site.
To ensure it meets basic health and safety requirements, the local authority is due to agree the spending of £130,000 for urgent work.
However, this does not include the cost of repairing the art deco building, which in July 2011 was estimated at about £260,000.
Local authority bosses admitted they were still not sure who would take over the running of the 1930s attraction.
Geoffrey Bowden, chairman of the economic development committee, said: “We have inherited a building in a worse state than we or anyone else anticipated.
“Like so many residents, both locally and across the city, we dearly want the lido returned to a good condition and opened to the public.
“The debate is about how that happens, not whether it should happen.”
The council took full control of the building from Dennis Audley, the holder of a 125-year lease, on June 6. Since then the majority of the building has been closed to the public.
Money for the urgent repairs, which include insurance costs, fire risk assessments, asbestos removal and upgrading utilities, are expected to be approved at a town hall meeting on Thursday, September 20.
Future options
Some of the funding for the extra repairs could come from the £335,000 Section 106 planning contributions made by the developers of the Ocean Hotel scheme.
Longer term, the council is considering three options – running the lido in-house, seeking a not-for-profit external operator, or handing it to a commercial firm. A number of informal meetings will be held in the coming weeks with potential operators.
However, the council reminded interested parties there was a need to balance the rights of third parties, such as the Saltdean Community Association, who are sub-tenants of the site, and White Rooms Beauty Therapy Rooms.
Rebecca Crook, of the Save Saltdean Lido campaign group, said it was ready to take over the running of the building.
She said: “We have developed a strong and robust business plan and have a clear and sustainable vision of how the pool, art deco building and external grounds can be restored to become an exciting and vibrant destination for the people of Brighton and Hove.”
But Coun Bowden said: “Some people are suggesting simplistic solutions that ignore the law and rights and obligations of third parties. The council cannot simply hand the keys over to an interested party.”
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Comments(16)
maxiboy_
says...
11:53am Thu 13 Sep 12
jamesdevonport
says...
12:07pm Thu 13 Sep 12
mustaphaLeeko
says...
12:10pm Thu 13 Sep 12
It's as jimmys rabbit says, wrong place and wrong time!
Maybe enclose the pool with a retractable roof and heat it during the winter so that it can be used year round and not just a couple of months a year...
If not, sell it off to the local community and let them pay for it and NOT have the majority of people in Brighton pay towards something they will NEVER use anyway as it currently is !!!!!
Wiggsy
says...
12:54pm Thu 13 Sep 12
The Lido's in London continue to be popular, if the Saltdean Lido had the right amount of money invested in bringing it up-to scratch and including facilities one expects this day and age, then why not.
Just because its on the coast doesn't mean it can't attract people to visit - the paddling pool in the children's play area near the West Pier is always busy on summer days - its just needs the right marketing strategy if and when the work is complete.
olebut
says...
1:29pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Whatever happens the building must be saved at put back as an operational Lido as an icon of the area
rolivan
says...
2:04pm Thu 13 Sep 12
BiggerH
says...
4:30pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit
says...
5:32pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Wiggsy wrote:I wondered when someone was going to bring up the London Lidos. When you think about it you'll realise why the LONDON ones are still there and ones by the coast have largely disappeared.
Disagree.
The Lido's in London continue to be popular, if the Saltdean Lido had the right amount of money invested in bringing it up-to scratch and including facilities one expects this day and age, then why not.
Just because its on the coast doesn't mean it can't attract people to visit - the paddling pool in the children's play area near the West Pier is always busy on summer days - its just needs the right marketing strategy if and when the work is complete.
And if you look at the history of the Lido you'll see that it's always struggled since it was first built. One of the main reasons is it's location; as you point out the paddling pool by the West Pier is always busy, but the Lido is not actually in Brighton and is a bus ride away from all the other attractions. No amount of investment will change that.
Worthing Lido is a good example of 'life after swimming', and I think we all agree it would be a shame if the building went the same way as Black Rock.
PETE OF QUEENS PARK
says...
7:01pm Thu 13 Sep 12
jondonnis1980
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1:27pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Dr.Draconian
says...
6:08pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Fill in the pools & put a Starbucks inside!
lillylou
says...
6:42pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Dr.Draconian
says...
10:58am Sun 16 Sep 12
Terry K
says...
12:18pm Sun 16 Sep 12
rolivan
says...
12:53pm Sun 16 Sep 12
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit says...
11:52am Thu 13 Sep 12
It's time has passed. By all means preserve the building, but it will NEVER be a success as a simple swimming pool. Never.