Over 50 residents gathered outside Ebley Mill to urge Stroud District Council to reconsider the temporary closure of Stratford Park lido, a cherished open-air swimming pool that attracted 30,000 visitors in 2025. The council has raised safety concerns and estimates that £5 million is needed for essential repairs and upgrades, forcing a decision to keep the 89-year-old facility closed for the 2026 summer season.
Extensive assessments reveal severe deterioration in key structural areas, including the diving board base, pool surface, and outdated plant equipment such as pumps and filters—all original to the lido. Council officers emphasized that due to the complex, interconnected nature of these issues, all repairs must be completed simultaneously, making a 2026 reopening unfeasible.
The community services and licensing committee recommended maintaining Stratford Park according to a four-year development plan and suggested the lido’s temporary closure. This hiatus is intended as an opportunity to collaborate with local groups on fundraising efforts aimed at securing third-party investment. To support this, the council proposed allocating £900,000 from the lido’s capital funds to match external contributions if adequate funds are secured by January 2028.
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Additional measures include setting aside £650,000 for gym refurbishment at Active Lifestyles Stroud and exploring further improvements within existing budgets. These proposals await final approval from the strategy and resources committee and full council.
During the meeting, Strategic Director Keith Gerrard highlighted numerous health and safety risks, citing cracks in critical areas, unsafe pool surfaces, and aging infrastructure. He stressed that opening the site without comprehensive repairs would pose unacceptable dangers and potential legal liabilities for the council.
Leisure Services Manager Darren Young underscored the lido’s value to the community and acknowledged significant public support for fundraising, though he noted that no low-cost solution exists to ensure safety.
The packed public gallery erupted with cries of “shame” when Labour Councillor Shyama Ananthan questioned the dramatic rise in estimated repair costs—from £370,000 a few years ago to the current £5 million. Officers clarified that previous estimates were based on limited visual inspections, while recent reports involved detailed evaluations by external experts and include a contingency buffer.
Councillors debated extensively, with some expressing reluctance to close the facility but ultimately agreeing that short-term closure might secure the lido’s future. Green Party Councillors proposed further structural reviews and called for transparent communication and a clear funding strategy.
Community members, including Caroline Molloy, voiced frustration over the lack of comprehensive condition surveys until now and questioned the council’s prior maintenance efforts, emphasizing that the lido’s issues appear longstanding.
Despite the controversy, the council moved forward with recommendations to temporarily close the lido while pursuing community-driven restoration and sustainable future operation plans, aiming to preserve this historic amenity for generations to come.