Lido fans splash-happy as watershed moment goes swimmingly for saviour Hackney council

California dreamin’: new outdoor showers fit with the West Coast art-deco look

Glinting under the winter sun, the repaired lido pool awaits its long-suffering fans

* Update 040118: London Fields Lido opened early today and a steady stream of users arrived throughout the day, praising the improvements. Opening hours 6.30am-9pm (under floodlights)

LOVING DALSTON was given a sneak preview of London Fields Lido this morning, Wednesday 030118, a day before it is officially due to open.

For almost a year, fans of the capital’s finest outdoors pool have had to accept unexpected postponements of their chance to use it again after repairs budgeted at £1.5 million fell behind schedule. Users will be crossing their flippers in hope that no last-minute problem arises before the watershed moment tomorrow 4 January 2018.

Reworked entrance hall looks clinical but comfy waitingroom seats will appeal

Change (Changing, surely?): another success for the transgender lobby

As they dip into the 27deg Celsius pool, swimmers are likely to be pleased with the poolside improvements, notably more sensibly arranged lanes, better changing rooms, with under-floor heating and lockers; the retention of the small changing cabinets and new small changing cabinets for those who prefer privacy; good disabled-user facilities; comfortable seats in the entrance hall; and of course facilities for transgender users. Outside locker keys come one black wristbands, the interior changing-room keys with white.

This kind of seat makes showering easier for a disabled person

David Altheer 030118

* Backstory: Reopening in January 2018; Absurd lido panic; New swim date sinks without explanation; Lido nears end of repairs for serious leaks; Lido repairs going well, says contractor; Late reprieve for lido; Hiring a contractor is not going swimmingly; Lido’s off-the-wall horror; Sell Haggerston heritage says Hackney

Rosalind Redhead loved her swim on lido-reopening day but was dismayed her rooftop solar-power suggestion was not taken up

* Emboldened underscored words in most cases indicate a hyperlink, a reader service rare among websites. If a link does not work, it is probably because the site to which the URL refers has not been maintained.

Changing rooms, in this pic the women’s, are well-appointed and have more showers

North end: at this side of the Olympic-length pool is a ramp for easy access

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