Work to reopen swimming pool still not started

A project to restore a 1930s lido that has been shut for decades has still not started.

The Grade II listed Broomhill Pool in Ipswich, Suffolk, closed in 2002, and plans to renovate it were repeatedly stalled due to a lack of funding.

Ipswich Borough Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Fusion Lifestyle then came together to agree a deal to save the lido, but the work was postponed when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

The project has seen continuous delays since then, which Mike Read, president of Broomhill Pool Trust, said was "heartbreaking".

At the end of last year, the council had to consider a second planning application around the project after the initial permission expired.

It was approved despite Fusion Lifestyle, which is leading on the project, stating the month before, there was a "small funding shortfall" that it was working to bridge.

Six months later, the project still has not started after the National Heritage Lottery Fund wanted to perform financial due diligence on the project.

Broomhill Swimming Pool opened in 1938 and cost £17,000 to build

"No one is in disagreement with due diligence, it's just part of the timing which is so frustrating," Mr Read said.

"[Fusion Lifestyle] is a company that has already worked with the National Lottery Heritage Fund on several occasions, so we might have hoped that would count for things.

"But what I feel is the most important question is not what it is costing, but is this investment good value for money?"

Mr Read said the project was a good investment and could help teach children lifesaving water skills.

He appealed to all parties involved to start work on the project, otherwise he feared Ipswich could lose "a wonderful historical icon".

The project is expected to cost £10m, with £6.8m coming from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, £3m from the council and the rest from Fusion Lifestyle.

It was hoped building work could start early next year before the pool opens that summer.

A spokesperson for Fusion Lifestyle said it remained fully committed to the project.

"We recognise that the past few years have brought significant challenges," they said.

"In response, Fusion is actively collaborating with a range of partners to carry out further robust due diligence, ensuring the project is both viable and set up for lasting success."

A spokesperson for the council added: "Ipswich Borough Council remains committed to the refurbishment of Broomhill Lido as evidenced by our £3.3m financial commitment to it."