REPAIRS TO London Fields Lido have got off to a bad start or, to be precise, no start. Days before the date, Wednesday 30 November 2016, scheduled for the pool’s closure, owner Hackney council has not appointed a contractor.

Tenderers have been told to be ready to start early next month December on essential work. But finding a contractor able to fix the decay of tiles and other problems that have developed over the 10 years since the heated open-air lido’s reopening has proved difficult. As recently as today Monday the council was yet to choose a firm.

The danger is that the 50-metre pool may be dry for longer than the council’s vaguely expressed “spring 2017” . Anyone who has ever hired builders to do even a small job will sympathise with the council, while worrying about a repeat of the negligence that closed the pool for almost 20 years.

Rumours sloshing around the communal poolside showers claim they may be moved inside the main building. At present they are great for socialisation, although few users go to the extent of the millennial who occasionally showers without her cossie.

Hackney’s lido webpage details no changes to showers.

The council and its pool operator, Better/GLL (Greenwich Leisure Ltd), have been accepting late comments on the proposed changes. Try emailing julie.simpson2@hackney.gov.uk

David Altheer 211116

* Customers will be able to swim at other Hackney council and Better/GLL-operated pools, including the London Aquatics Centre at the Olympic Park and the newly refurbished Charlton Lido; Clissold pool; Britannia pool; King’s Hall.

* Backstory: Hackney’s off-the-wall horror; Happy, smiling high-paid elite of Hackney Town Hall; Let us spray, says Hackney; Hackney pulls plug on Haggy Baths hopes; Hackney chronicler wades in to save baths; Investors flood in for pool; Hackney washes its hands of heritage site; London Fields Lido lights up; Wetsuits in Hackney lido; Swimming may return to the Haggy; London Fields hipster heaven costs council £140,000 

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