OUTDOOR swimming pools were allowed to reopen as lockdown restrictions eased on Saturday.

Pells Pool in Lewes had been desperate to open for months. But after the Government’s sudden announcement, the pool needed more time to get ready and it aims to reopen next week.

There will be limited numbers, ticketed sessions paid for in advance and socially distanced swimming – mostly in lanes.

Spokesman Rob Read said it would be a very difference experience for those used to visiting Pells Pool.

The days of lounging on the grass and swimming from the moment the pool opens until closing time are gone.

There will be short sessions with 40 to 50 people in the pool at a time.

Rob said: “I’m glad we’re allowed to reopen. We’re happy to be in a position where we’re working out how we can reopen rather than not opening at all.

“It would have been nice if we could have done so sooner – if we’d been told in mid-June we could have been ready in advance.”

Along with Swim England, the national governing body for swimming, Rob has been campaigning to see pools allowed to reopen for months. He was disappointed the decision had not come sooner.

He said the period of closure had been challenging – with no income, Pells Pool had to dip into its cash reserves to prepare for opening next weekend.

He said: “There are several pools across the country that can’t open – there’s too little time left in the season for them.

“We’re going to lose money this season but we’re in a financial situation where we can cope and would rather be operational and be there for everyone.”

He hopes that with fewer people holidaying abroad, the pool will see more businesses and this could lighten the financial blow.

Indoor pools are expected to be given permission to open on July 25.