Kenilworth Lido group wants outdoor pool at Abbey Fields to be re-opened this summer

Group members have expressed concern that Warwick District Council (WDC) took the decision not to open the pool before officials had time to consider government guidance on keeping swimmers safe.

WDC has said the pool will remain closed because of the severe financial impact of ongoing closures, strict health and safety protocols and the furloughing of the staff of leisure centres operator Everyone Active.

In an open letter to WDC and Everyone Active, group member Jo Hall said: “With the school holidays about to start and the long range weather forecast looking favourable, and given that families have had to cancel their summer holidays, many people will be keen to take advantage of the facility”

“This is a public facility for the benefit of Warwickshire residents. Given the possible imminent loss of this facility, we would request that every effort is made to open the pool for what is left of the season.

Having seen recent photographs of the dilapidated outdoor pool, Mrs Hall also offers the campaign group’s volunteer support for a second time to assist with the preparations needed to ready it for use by families and other swimmers during the remainder of the summer.

To date, no formal response has been received.

The group has said: "We note with interest that Stroud District Council and Everyone Active has previously accepted the use of volunteer support to open its Lido in Stratford Park.

"Furthermore, Wychavon District Council has just allocated a £55,000 funding package to enable Droitwich Spa Lido to reopen after the lockdown.

"If other authorities are able to put such arrangements into place why not WDC?

"Compared to the vast sums of money paid by WDC to its consultants for a project hopelessly behind schedule, with seemingly no tangible return and no agreed end date in sight, this seems like a drop in the ocean for something that would be a welcome benefit to much of the wider community.

"It is becoming very apparent that the Coronavirus outbreak has played into the hands of WDC, which has been determined to get this much loved public facility shut once and for all at any cost, despite the fact that the majority of people who responded to the original consultation were in favour of outdoor swimming in Abbey Fields being retained."

At the beginning of the month, WDC made the announcement that the pool would be closed for the rest of the year.

Councillor Moira-Ann Grainger, portfolio holder for “We have made every effort to see if it would be feasible to open the outdoor pool, but with no set date from the government as to when we can reopen and the implementation of social distancing measures would not make the facility viable for such a short period.

"We would have normally begun preparing the outdoor pool in April but, due to lockdown, this could not take place as colleagues were on furlough.

"We will, however, be introducing measures to offer a revised programme in the three indoor pools and gyms across the district.”

Further updates on details of reopenings will be posted on www.warwickdc.gov.uk and www.everyoneactive.com