 First, a word from me: Since the project to save Saltdean Lido began 9 years ago, volunteers from our community have striven to return Saltdean Lido to its former glory and to make it a place of which we can all be proud. Saltdean Lido is ultimately the symbol of where we live, and a Saltdean with a block of flats in place of its historic lido would have been a travesty! The project has taken a lot longer than any of us could have ever imagined, but whilst we have support for the lido’s restoration, we will not stop until the job is done! People often ask the volunteers how we have the determination to continue when there have been so many highs and lows with this project. Well, I can tell you that there are two very simple motivations for this project: 1. At three packed meetings in 2010, when the community voted overwhelmingly to stop the former lease holder building 102 apartments, our Save Saltdean Lido campaign team (now the Community Interest Company) promised to do all it could to save the pool and building and give it a sustainable future. 2. The community in Saltdean, Peacehaven, Rottingdean and wider city of Brighton, not to forget the supporters from around the UK, are fantastic. From attending our fundraising events, supporting us by buying a brick in our ‘wall of fame’, pledging donations for our all-important crowd funder last year, and sending us well wishes when the chips are down, this support is incredible and gives us the hope and inspiration to carry on. So, what’s happening now? We are currently waiting to achieve permission to start from the Heritage Lorry Fund (HLF) - our biggest funders. Only once plans for the phased building project and how it is to be delivered is signed off by the council, HLF, and Historic England, will works finally begin (hopefully this autumn). The build project will take approximately 2 years, so we are potentially looking at unveiling the restored Saltdean Lido building in the winter of 2021. There is lots to do until then, including raising more money, and a consulting with the community centre’s current stake-holders about how the new community wing is to be used. However, we are hopeful that all of these elements can begin very soon. The Pool For members of the community who’ve seen various works happening in the grounds over the past few months, you may be interested to know that repairs were being made to a leak in external pipes and infrastructure. These have now all been put right by Aqua Platinum (the contractors who built the pool), and the grounds are now being put back in place ready for the opening.  We have also been making huge changes to the changing rooms, with brand new flooring, walls, suspended ceiling and cubicles. We’re very pleased about these new changes, which finally give Saltdean Lido the beautiful facilities it deserves (we’ll give ZONEZINE a sneaky peak as soon as its ready). Tickets Because of all of the above works, the opening date maybe now delayed slightly but details will be announced next week. However, season tickets are on sale now via Fusion’s website... https://fusion-lifestyle-news.com/t/SC6-68864-CAP0LC1FF5/cr.aspx  Deryck Chester
Director Saltdean Lido CIC Comments are closed.
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