They may yet have to convince Bath and North East Somerset Council AND the Heritage Lottery Fund that it’s a piece of Bath’s heritage worth saving but at least the Cleveland Pools Trust have finally been given the keys to the historic lido site beside the River Avon.
Now at least they can store spades and cutting equipment at the country’s only Georgian open-air swimming pool still in existence – instead of having to take them away every time they do clearance work.
The Pools – funded by a public subscription – were opened in 1815 and swimming continued there right through to 1984 when – after a brief life as a trout farm – the complex has lain derelict.
The Trust has already held a corporate launch and is also planning a community one. They have former Olympic champion Sharron Davies on board too. This week-end – Friday to Sunday September 13th until the 15th – the lido will be open for the public to take a look around.
I asked Ann Dunlop – the Chair of the Trust – what having the keys to the door meant.
