Ealing Council leader Councillor Peter Mason has reaffirmed his pledge to have a lido offering an outdoor swimming facility in the borough by 2026.
When asked a question during a recent Ealing Council cabinet meeting on the council’s progress in a number of areas from Ealing Liberal Democrat opposition leader Councillor Gary Malcolm, Councillor Mason said: “No doubt we are going to deliver that Lido. We’re not going to deliver it overnight unfortunately but we will be opening a lido in the London borough of Ealing at some point in the not too distant future.”
Councillor Mason had previously expressed interest in having a lido in Ealing when he tweeted in 2021: “Wouldn’t it be great if Ealing got its own outdoor swimming venue?” following news that Hull City Council at the time was planning to spend £4.6m to update and reopen its lido.
The lido in Hull is now set to open later this summer following a £10.5m upgrade which included both an outdoor and indoor pool.
The Great Lido Revival.
Wouldn't it be great if Ealing got its own outdoor swimming venue? #EalingLidohttps://t.co/DBFEytqZQ8— Peter Mason (@_petermason) March 15, 2021
The plan for a Ealing lido is still at an early stage as the council is doing a feasibility study into where it could be located.
Plans for a lido come despite existing swimming and leisure centre Gurnell remaining closed as the council decides on next steps for the centre.
Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of Ealing Liberal Democrats told EALING.NEWS more details of the lido need to provided by the council. He said: “It would great to have a lido especially if summer’s will be warmer but we need to see the details of where it might be sited and how it can be afforded?”
In the 2022-26 Ealing Council plans, it says among a number commitments during the four years “Deliver new, state of the art leisure facilities at Gurnell and renew Dormers Wells, deliver a new outdoor swimming Lido in the borough, and invest £2m in new and renewed playgrounds.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “The delivery of a lido is an administration pledge and is in the council plan 2022-2026. There will be a plan in place to deliver by 2026 and council officers are currently undertaking a feasibility study that will identify a possible location or locations.”
