follow us: @_EalingNews
call us: 07488 352 974
email us: news@ealing.news

Ealing Council leader visits Hillingdon lido “to see what it offered its residents” as plans reveal Perivale Golf Course as possible location

Ealing Council has said its leader Councillor Peter Mason and Councillor Polly Knewstub, cabinet member for thriving communities have been to neighbouring borough Hillingdon and its lido “to see what it offered its residents”. 

The visit earlier this week follows the council’s pledge to have a lido offering an outdoor swimming facility in the borough by 2026.

One area of Ealing identified by the council in its long list of locations for the lido is Perivale Golf Course which it is proposing to close in 2024.

Councillor Mason said: “Just as we promised in May 2022, we are going to deliver a lido for Ealing – a welcome addition to our great sporting facilities, and I know it would be a great benefit to families and anyone who enjoys the opportunity to swim in the open air.”

Councillor Knewstub said: “These are early days, but we would like to properly examine the feasibility of the creation of a new lido, as well as look into where such a facility would best be located in the borough.”

Councillor Knewstub added: “We want to create a new community swimming facility which is accessible to all, family orientated, promotes health and wellbeing and has sustainability at the heart of the project.”

The visit to Hillingdon to see the lido comes after a Ealing Council cabinet meeting in July when Ealing Liberal Democrat opposition leader Councillor Gary Malcolm questioned the council’s progress in a number of areas. 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 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 be 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 previously, 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.”

Are you an Ealing resident with a story to share? Or spotted something we should know about?
Get in touch with us by emailing: news@ealing.news or contact us on X @_EalingNews

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TO THE EALING.NEWS NEWSLETTER

GET OUR GREAT NEWS, FEATURES, REVIEWS AND MORE DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX

SUPPORT JOURNALISM IN EALING

LATEST EALING.NEWS UPDATES

MORE FROM EALING.NEWS