'City lido will not close because of budget cuts'

The lido will remain open, the leader of the city council says

A city's lido will not be shut amid budget cuts, a council leader has said – but he has urged more people to use the facility.

Last month, Peterborough City Council announced proposals including mothballing the city-centre lido to cut its budget deficit.

The news was met with "devastation" and "anger" from the lido's users.

On Friday, the council said a range of measures to reduce its operational costs – including reviewing charges and lowering the temperature of the water – might be introduced as an alternative course of action.

'Use it to support it'

Previously, the authority had proposed temporarily closing the lido while it looked for external funding.

It said its predicted budget gap for 2025-26 had increased from £3m to more than £20m due to rising demand for services and higher costs.

The council said officers would be tasked with trying to attract grants and other income to cover the lido's running costs, and measures such as installing a pool cover and improving the refreshments on offer would be on the table.

Council leader Dennis Jones said: "We will work with the Friends of the Lido, who have been supportive, to keep this wonderful art deco facility open.

"I urge people to use it, as this will support us in reducing the operating costs. The more people who use the facility, the better chance we have of getting to the point where it covers its costs each year."

Council members Dennis Jones (left) and Alison Jones with Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes

Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes launched a petition last month calling for the outdoor pool to be saved, and it received more than 2,500 signatures.

He said: "This is welcome news for swimmers and the city. The lido is an iconic part of city life and we all need to be working together to keep it open and sustainable for the future."

A meeting of the council's joint scrutiny committee will consider feedback to the budget proposals at a meeting on Wednesday 29 January.