Temporary closure planned at pyramid-shaped pool

The pyramid-shaped building is a familiar feature of Bedford

A pyramid-shaped pool with an uncertain future will undergo a "planned suspension of use", council officials said.

The Oasis Beach Pool in Bedford is currently being operated by Better, a charitable social enterprise, and is on the market.

All activities at the site will cease from 3 November.

Bedford Borough Council said it would explore "sustainable options for its future" during the closure.

The pool opened in 1991 but became expensive to run as it entered its third decade.

It closed for "necessary repairs" costing £330,000 in November 2023 and did not welcome another paying customer until May 2024.

The facility has a lazy river, small pool, leisure pool and jacuzzi

The Conservative-run council said the pool had recorded more than 117,000 visits since the reopening.

It added that recent months had seen a range of activities taking place, including inflatable fun swims and swim-a-song classes.

Despite its popularity, the pool is still costing the council about £900,000 a year to maintain.

The 6.5 acre (2.6 hectare) site was put on the market last month, with the agents saying the council would consider proposals that involved repurposing or demolishing the buildings, as long as they were replaced by an alternative leisure facility.

Sarah Gallagher, the council's portfolio holder for leisure and culture, said: "This planned pause, which is driven by the high running costs of the site, allows us to maintain the facilities during the quieter winter period, while we explore sustainable options for its future."

The opposition leader, Henry Vann, a Liberal Democrat, said he did not know whether "closing or keeping it open is the right thing to do".

"What isn't the right thing to do," he added, "is to spend nearly £400,000 revamping it and doing a massive, snazzy relaunch, and then basically closing it and saying you're thinking about other options."

The centre will close from 3 November

Users who have a membership card will be able to transfer, change or cancel their memberships.

A spokesperson for GLL said, "We have appreciated the return of customers to this popular and iconic facility and thank them for their custom.

We are happy to answer any queries about customer memberships and signpost to alternative facilities in Bedford Borough."