Campaigners are calling for urgent clarity after the estimated cost of repairing Stratford Park Lido reportedly jumped from £1.8million to as much as £5.1 million, amid concerns that cheaper, established repair options have been sidelined without proper public debate.
Papers uncovered by Save Our Lido Stroud reveal that “a large part” of a jump in cost from £1.8million to over £5 million to refurbish Stroud’s 1930s Lido, was caused by the hiring of consultants who recommended buying a “state of the art” pool solution, relining the whole pool in stainless steel. The solution was to be purchased from Italian company Myrtha, whose website states they provide “iconic” pools to “world-class competition venues” and “breathtaking leisure and hospitality pools”. Past projects include the pools for the Paris and Toyko Olympics.
In 2024 engineers specified refurbishment cost for £800,000, which Stroud District Council had earmarked budget for, which included refurbishing the concrete pool liner, for a much lower cost. Most Lidos – including both Stroud and Cheltenham – have a concrete pool lining.
Campaign group Save Our Lido Stroud (SOLS) is urging Stroud District Council to ensure that more cost-effective options remain under consideration.
Caroline Molloy of Save Our Lido Stroud said: “Why would you go for this kind of ultra shiny, top of the range high end solution – and then say because we can’t afford it, the pool has to close all together? And why was none of this ever discussed in publicly minuted meetings, until the last minute, last month?”
She added: “Why did the council simply keep ordering reports, pushing the cost up from £0.8 million, which they had, to £1.8 million and then £5.1 million, but never actioning them? And why did councillors not push back and ask for the simpler, more down to earth solution, of simply maintaining the concrete, that Stroud could actually afford?”
On potential next steps, she said: “They need to make amends by getting the pool fixed in time for summer – which they could do affordably.”
She also said: “They haven’t explained how on earth the supposed cost of repair can possibly have jumped from £0.8 million two years ago, to £5.1 million three weeks ago – nor why this situation was kept so quiet for so long.”
And further: “There are serious questions to be asked about who knew what when – and what they’re going to do about getting the really necessary repairs done – using just a fraction of the money they’ve already set aside.”
Some councillors have also expressed concerns about the information available to them when making decisions.
Elizabeth Stanley, councillor for Cainscross, said: “I was told that a recent risk assessment had highlighted a danger from cloudy water which would reduce visibility if someone got into difficulty in the water. So I voted for closure on that basis (and I did ask why we were even voting if the risk assessment said it was unsafe). The risk assessment was published online the following day and made no mention of cloudy water. I am not at all happy about this. I feel I was misled.”
Councillors voted in March to recommend closure of the Lido.
Save Our Lido Stroud says analysis conducted with engineers suggests that essential works could potentially be completed at significantly lower cost and in time for the summer season.
Campaigners are calling on Stroud District Council to ensure that all viable options, including lower-cost repairs, are fully considered before final decisions are made.
The proposals will be discussed on Thursday at the Strategy and Resources meeting at Ebley Mill. Campaigners are asking the council to ensure there is a fifth option, that of keeping the pool open with essential and affordable works, on the table for discussion.
A spokesperson for Stroud District Council said: “We appreciate how much Stratford Park Lido is valued by the community and we are continuing to work with everyone who wants to see it enjoyed by swimmers now, and by future generations.
“Senior councillors requested an option appraisal for the future of the Lido which was presented to them, and it proposed three possible solutions as part of a wider leisure options appraisal.
“The £5.1 million was the lowest cost prior to any value engineering and cost certainty, and the higher figure is an upper limit of potential cost.
“More surveys including a structural and subterranean survey would be required to get more certainty on costs, and additional assessments are taking place to guide what happens next including a health and safety survey which is expected to be published very soon.”
