THE CLOSURE of London Fields Lido is off. The popular Olympic-length heated pool will not go dry on Wednesday 30 November 2016.
Hackney council, the leaky lido’s owners, has indefinitely postponed the emptying of the pool so a contractor can start work on essential repair.
The Town Hall admitted at the 11th hour that it has failed to find a firm to solve the long-running tile problem.
The council told Loving Dalston: “Despite a comprehensive tendering process, a contractor capable of delivering the high standard of work required did not come forward. The council has therefore decided to put both the tiling and refurbishment work on hold.”
Many swimmers will rejoice at the news, as they will at this site’s revelation that the council is to provide more communal showers outside the main building and possibly a sauna.
Community services councillor Jon Burke told Loving Dalston: “I have asked the architects to develop a new design that maintains separate male and female changing areas, but also significantly improves current facilities through the inclusion of lockers, individual shower and changing cubicles, and group changing areas for families.
“We also received some other useful suggestions from users, including providing more outdoor showers, a poolside sauna and the use of solar panels to provide heating. We are, however, delighted to announce that we will be delivering the additional outdoor showers requested as part of the current refurbishment works.”
While the the lido stays open, Better/GLL (Greenwich Leisure Ltd) will have to monitor the condition of the pool tank and walls and undertake necessary works, which may require closing the lido at short notice.
Burke added that though planning requirements for a sauna and renewable energy were complex, they would be examined in the hope that both could eventually be incorporated.
Any members with frozen or suspended lido membership who would like to reactivate it until the closure period is reset should email nicola.flaherty@gll.org
David Altheer 230816
* Hackney’s lido webpage
* Backstory: Hiring a contractor is not going swimmingly; Lido’s off-the-wall horror; Hackney pulls plug on Haggy Baths hopes; London Fields Lido lights up; Wetsuits in Hackney lido; Hipster heaven costs Hackney £140,000
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