You might’ve seen the news that this spring was the UK’s sunniest ever. Or you might’ve just gone outside in the past few months. Either way, all this warm weather probably has you in the mood for a swim, but you won’t be able to do that at Grange-over-Sands Lido in Morecambe, which has pushed back its opening date.
The 1930s lido has been closed since 1993 because of the high cost of repair and low numbers of visitors. It lay completely empty and unused for nearly twenty years before it was granted Grade II listed status in 2011. A decade and a half later, it is still not back in business – but work has begun on a £6.8 million restoration project.
When the project began back in April 2023, the plan was to have the lido up and running for summer 2024. Unfortunately, as so often happens with projects like this, cracks were deeper than they looked, and extra repairs had to be done to ensure the structural integrity of the pool and the surrounding areas. Local councillor Jonathan Brook explained ‘While it is frustrating that the construction phase must be extended due to further assessment of the repairs required to complete the project, it highlights the complexity of working with historic assets of this nature.
‘With the vast majority of work on the lido and promenade completed, they look fantastic, and I can’t wait to open the Lido to the public after decades of it being lost to the community.’
Some of the work it is already complete. For instance, a brand new play park has already been constructed as well as an accessible entrance to the beach promenade and a temporary infill of the swimming pool. When the project reaches phase two, the plan is to empty the pool and, eventually, return it to working order.
As of right now, there is no date for reopening. According to the council ‘A revised programme of works will be received in the coming weeks following a detailed assessment. Once finalised, a new opening date will be confirmed.’ Although it will be a wait, we’re sure that this refurb, 30 years in the making, will be worth it when the time does eventually come.
Looking for some cracking beaches?
If you are in the mood for a swim, we’ve got our roundup of the best beaches in the UK, and our list of the best beaches in the world if you're looking for sandier shores. We’ve also got a guide for places in the UK that don’t look like the UK, if you want excitement on a budget.
Did you see that tourists are being urged not to do one thing when visiting Giant’s Causeway?
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