Lido fundraises for 'challenging' solar plan

Assistant Manager Joe Berry said the project, which will see Sanford Parks Lido car park transformed, will cost more than £500,000

A popular lido is raising funds to transform its car park with solar panels on stilts, bike storage and EV charging points.

The project at Sanford Parks Lido in Cheltenham will cost more than £500,000 and has already received more than £300,000 from Sports England and Cheltenham Borough Council.

Once installed the solar panels will generate enough electricity for the entire site - meaning costs will be at zero.

Electricity prices have doubled at the lido in recent years - partly due to the energy price shocks experienced after Russia invaded Ukraine.

It forced the business into putting ticket prices up during the off season in order to balance the books.

Once the Lido closes its doors in November it hopes to start transforming the car park.

Sanford Parks Lido first opened in Cheltenham in 1935

It is hoped the ability to generate their own electricity will make the business more sustainable long term.

Assistant manager Joe Berry said the fundraising will be a "challenge".

"But we'll get the payback from the solar and within 10 to 12 years the project will pay for itself because of the free electricity we're generating," he added.

The importance of lidos recently came up in parliament with the new Cheltenham MP Max Wilkinson submitting an early day motion calling on the government to offer more support to the pools.

"I'm hopeful the government will be able to look at this and take a view on what they can do that might be a little bit extra to help heritage lidos," said Mr Wilkinson.

"It's not for me to be prescriptive about what I think the solutions are, but I'm hopeful that by raising the issue we can do a lot more to help."

The motion is yet to be debated.