CAMPAIGNERS in Kenilworth are calling for the town’s outdoor swimming pool in Abbey Fields to open this summer.
Kenilworth Lido Campaign Group say Warwick District Council (WDC) took the decision not to open the pool before officials had time to consider government guidance on keeping swimmers safe.
Campaigner Jo Hall has sent an open letter to WDC and pool operator Everyone Active.
She said: “With the school holidays about to start and the long range weather forecast looking favourable, and given that families have had to cancel their summer holidays, many people will be keen to take advantage of the facility”
“This is a public facility for the benefit of Warwickshire residents. Given the possible imminent loss of this facility, we would request that every effort is made to open the pool for what is left of the season”
Having seen recent photographs of the dilapidated outdoor pool, Mrs Hall’s letter also offered the campaign group’s volunteer support for a second time to assist with the preparations needed to ready it for use by families and other swimmers during the remainder of the summer.
The campaign group noted Stroud District Council and Everyone Active had previously accepted the use of volunteer support to open its Lido in Gloucestershire.
And they noted Wychavon District Council had recently allocated a £55,000 funding package to enable Droitwich Spa Lido in Worcestershire to reopen after the lockdown.
Mrs Hall added: “If other authorities are able to put such arrangements into place why not WDC? Compared to the vast sums of money paid by WDC to its consultants for a project hopelessly behind schedule, with seemingly no tangible return and no agreed end date in sight, this seems like a drop in the ocean for something that would be a welcome benefit to much of the wider community.
“It is becoming very apparent that the coronavirus outbreak has played into the hands of WDC which has been determined to get this much loved public facility shut once and for all at any cost, despite the fact that the majority of people who responded to the original consultation were in favour of outdoor swimming in Abbey Fields being retained.”
The Observer has contacted WDC for a comment.
