Stroud’s iconic Stratford Park lido faced an uncertain future, but a powerful community turnout at St Laurence’s Church on April 20 has injected new hope for its revival. More than 200 residents came together to engage with council officials, campaigners, and swimming experts, united in calling for the lido’s preservation and transfer to the Town Council.
Currently closed due to safety concerns, the lido was initially slated to remain shut this year while long-term plans were developed by Stroud District Council. However, rising public pressure and the efforts of the campaign group Save Our Lido Stroud prompted councillors to approve essential repairs aiming for a summer reopening. They committed up to £200,000 in revenue funding for urgent maintenance and signaled willingness to borrow up to £900,000 for future enhancements. The historic 50-yard pool, in operation since 1937, now faces critical decisions about its long-term management as local government reorganisation approaches, with the District Council due to be abolished.
Tim Temple, South West Development Manager for Locality, a national expert in community ownership, outlined four possible management models: continuation by the District Council, leasing to an operator, community ownership, or a hybrid partnership. The panel also heard from Alan George, founding director of Wotton Swimming Pool Ltd, who shared the successful story of Wotton-under-Edge pool’s transfer and community-driven management by the Town Council—a blueprint that could benefit Stratford Park lido.
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Martin Brown, chairman of the District Council’s community services committee, affirmed that all options, including ownership and operational models, are under thorough consideration. Deputy chief executive of Stroud Town Council, Heath Gunter, expressed the Council’s openness to taking on the lido, referencing their successful stewardship of assets like the Subscription Rooms as a promising precedent.
Caroline Molloy, coordinator of Save Our Lido Stroud, welcomed the council’s revised stance and urged a formal commitment for timely repairs starting by May. She emphasized the importance of handing over the lido as a functioning facility, not a mothballed asset.
Communities Director Keith Gerrard highlighted the urgency and feasibility of initiating repair work within weeks, contingent upon receiving an accurate cost plan.
Residents actively contributed motion proposals during the session. Notably, Megan Sheer’s motion to prioritise transfer of the lido’s freehold to the Town Council before the local government reorganisation received overwhelming support, underscoring the community’s resolve to safeguard this cherished amenity.
District Council leader Chloe Turner, personally connected to the pool through family heritage, expressed willingness to explore asset transfer discussions, aiming to place the lido in the most capable hands.
Additional community-backed motions called for collaborative efforts to ensure the pool’s safe reopening, ongoing development into a high-quality facility, ample resources for a smooth transfer or hybrid ownership model, and transparent disclosure of the financial state of local assets.
The Town Council is set to review these non-binding motions at their upcoming meeting on April 27, marking a pivotal moment in the campaign to rescue Stratford Park lido and secure its future as a vibrant, community-centered landmark.