Stroud's 89-year-old open air pool will not reopen for the summer season in 2026, with £5 million of essential works needed for it to welcome back swimmers long-term.
With Stroud District Council unable to cover the cost of the repairs in their entirety, local residents, charities and community groups are now being asked to help fundraise to secure the pool's future.
The council says the condition of the much-loved Stratford Park Lido means that ongoing maintenance is no longer enough to keep it operational, with essential structural and mechanical works required and much of the equipment needing to be replaced.
Due to the scale and interconnected nature of the site, experts have advised the council that the work will need to be completed in one go, rather than in phases.
It comes after the council approved a £2.7 million five-year programme of upgrades for the lido and adjoining leisure centre in 2024. The council says that programme was approved after two condition surveys were carried out before it took over the running of the facility; and that since then, it has come to fully understand the scale of the work required.
The authority says that if a viable solution to pay for the works is not found, all it will be able to do is protect the site from 'further deterioration' before the new unitary authority takes responsibility for Stroud under the local government restructure.
Councillor Martin Brown, chair of the council's community services and licensing committee, said: 'Stratford Park Lido is an iconic and much-loved place in our district’s history, and we are determined to give it every chance of a sustainable future.
'We would gladly borrow the £5 million needed if it were financially viable, because we understand what this pool means to so many people. But the reality is that not enough people use the lido each summer to repay a loan of that size, and the council would have to stop funding other essential services to cover the costs.
'That’s why
we are asking our community, charities and partners to work with us.
We remain hopeful that together we can find a solution that protects
this wonderful site for future generations.'
The council has approached Friends of Stratford Park Lido, the volunteer group that supports the running of the facility, to help take the next steps forward.
Anyone who wishes to get involved with fundraising efforts can find out more information on the council's website.
