Save our Lido campaigners say they are scrutinising councillors’ commitments following the Strategy and Resources Committee meeting at Stroud District Council, expressing dismay that no firm timetable was agreed despite what they describe as a long history of delay and inaction laid bare during the discussion.
“We hope the council meant what it said when it expressed an intention to reopen the Lido this summer. However, we remain concerned by the lack of urgency and clear timescales — particularly as the debate revealed just how much the council has already run the clock down,” said Mark Sweeting of Save Our Lido Stroud.
“A fully costed, expert-backed plan has already been submitted showing the pool could reopen by the school holidays for around £120,000 — but this now requires immediate action. Ultimately, the council will be judged by what it delivers in the coming weeks.”
Campaigners have also expressed their frustration on the reliance, once again, on reports submitted too late for real scrutiny.
“Councillors were talking about closing the lido a year ago – but claim to have only come to that conclusion in the light of health and safety reports, which – for the second time – were not revealed until it was too late for scrutiny or public questions. The reality is that very little has changed since they opened it last year, and they need to stop wasting time and get on with the fixes they’ve been talking about for years but not doing, the most important of which, could be done in time for the summer holidays if they get a move on,” said Julian Fiddes, an engineer who has been inside the pool in March, and is also a member of Save Our Lido Stroud.
“The timeline and minutes submitted as an Appendix A to the Lido report, showed that the leadership was privately discussing a range of options all of which appear to have included closure of the Lido at least for 2026 if not longer, as early as 14 May 2025, and that the Chair of the Community Services and Licensing Committee was due to make a recommendation on these options within a week (of the meeting in May 2025). Questioned at the meeting, the CSL Chair said that he did not remember being asked to make a recommendation as a result of these discussions, or what that recommendation had been.”
Save Our Lido Stroud also released a fuller statement: “We will be looking very closely at what was said and agreed at the Strategy and Resource meeting, considering our next steps, and taking advice.
“Whilst councillors on the S&R did express positive intent towards doing the work to get the lido open this summer, it is worrying that despite our urging, they refused to put any timescales on getting the work scheduled, quoted for, and completed.
“We heard at the meeting how the council has already repeatedly run the clock down over the Lido, how they ignored the fact they had already authorised more than adequate spending on a whole overhaul, and instead waited until the 11th hour before announcing that they couldn’t afford the wildly over-specified plans that they had come up with instead. And we heard how this had taken place over a long period of time and out of the sight of any democratic scrutiny.
“We are also unimpressed that the council published a report that it leaned on heavily to justify its actions, just a day before the meeting, meaning that there was no opportunity for the public to submit questions.
“One month ago, the people of Stroud were told – out of the blue – that our beloved outdoor pool would close this summer, and remain closed indefinitely. Some councillors, in more than one party, were revealed in the papers to have been aware of the plan for nearly a year, though memories seem vague.
“We hope that the significant shift in tone from councillors last night will be matched by a shift in pace. The council could be getting on with works, today. For all their warm words last night, we will judge the council by its actions.
“The fact there is even a chink of light for the Lido, is thanks to the amazing energy shown by the community, and we urge people to keep on writing to their councillors – our website makes it very easy – and to demand the council stops delaying and follows the plan submitted by Save Our Lido Stroud.”
A Stroud District Council spokesperson responded: “We are working as fast as we can to try and open Stratford Park Lido safely.
“We are fully committed to identifying the minimum repairs required to reopen as soon as possible, how much those works would cost, and how long they would realistically take.
“The health and safety of everyone who uses the Lido and works there is paramount
“The condition survey was published on the Council’s website just after 5pm on Tuesday, April 14 and can be read here: condition-survey-stratford-park-lido-april-2026-final.pdf
“The structural survey is due very soon and due to the procurement rules that the council must abide by, the underground survey is not expected until June.
“We will continue to take an active role working collaboratively with the local community and voluntary organisations, including facilitating a Working Group that has been set up to explore match funding options, with the aim of securing the sustainable long-term future of the lido.”
