Stroud’s beloved open-air swimming pool, Stratford Park Lido, faces an uncertain future as the council prepares to discuss critical options in upcoming meetings. Due to serious health and safety concerns, the lido is unlikely to reopen until essential repairs are completed, stirring strong public demand to preserve this treasured community asset.
A recent risk assessment highlighted major hazards including significant concrete cracking by the diving board, structural instability possibly linked to corroded iron pipework, and widespread deterioration of the pool tank itself. These issues have forced Stroud District Council to acknowledge the urgent need for an estimated £5 million investment—funds currently unavailable.
Council members will review four distinct proposals at their Strategy and Resources Committee session on April 16 at Ebley Mill.
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The first option focuses on the minimum necessary repairs to restore basic operation: replacing aging pipes with modern PVC plumbing, upgrading filtration, renewing heating and plant systems, relining the toddler pool, and improving accessibility with softer landscaping, pool depth reduction, and installing a hoist. This plan, costing around £5.1 million, could boost income by approximately £218,000 but would require the lido to remain closed for about a year during renovations.
The second proposal builds on the first by enhancing visitor experience and family appeal. It includes transforming the toddler pool into an inclusive splash pad, converting the old canoe store into a new café, and increasing greenery to improve aesthetics, drainage, and biodiversity. Estimated at £7.9 million, this approach promises greater commercial return, potentially raising revenue by £1.63 million over five years.
A third, more ambitious option envisions Stratford Park Lido as an outdoor wellness centre. It upgrades core infrastructure while introducing a wellness garden with heat rooms, hydrotherapy pools, ice baths, and relaxation spaces in place of the toddler pool. The main 50m pool would be replaced by a more efficient 25m heated pool, complemented by a large splash pad with a removable canopy for year-round use and extensive landscaping to position the site as a destination for health, wellbeing, and tourism. This plan would require £10 million investment with an income potential of £2.7 million.
Finally, the council may choose to keep the lido closed beyond the 2026 season and collaborate with the local community and voluntary groups to explore fundraising and matched capital investment. This strategy focuses on long-term sustainability and keeping the site protected, with no immediate costs projected over five years.
Whichever option the committee recommends, the ultimate decision will be made by the full council at their meeting on April 30, with local residents anxiously awaiting the outcome for their cherished lido.