A UK seaside town once famed for its bustling outdoor Lido has unveiled ambitious plans to transform the area after it fell into disrepair. However, the £6.8m project has been hit with several delays
An ‘idyllic’ seaside town surrounded by unspoilt countryside aims to refurbish the abandoned lido that’s been tarnishing its image.
Tucked away in rural Cumbria, and just a stone’s throw from the acclaimed Lake District, lies Grange-over-Sands – a coastal gem that has managed to preserve its Victorian and Edwardian elegance despite much of the UK coast falling into demise. It boasts a 2.4-mile-long promenade, stretching from Blawith Point to the railway station, and a vibrant range of cafes and restaurants.
Despite tempting views of golden sands and refreshing waters, Grange-over-Sands’ beach is actually a wide expanse of salt marsh. Walking on here isn’t advised due to patches of dangerous quicksand – but it still makes for an Instagram-worthy snap. For years, a soft-sand beach and swimmable sea wasn’t really needed – as the town lured in swathes of holidaymakers with its iconic lido.
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However, in 1993 – the outdoor pool closed and fell into repair. Images of the Grade 2 listed building show how the site has become somewhat of an eye-sore, filled with stagnant water and patches of uncontrollable weeds that seem worlds away from its glory days.
“Grange Baths became a focal point for the community with bathers coming from far and wide by train on the Furness Line – a part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway,” explained Save Grange Lido, a charity group calling for the pool to be brought back to life. “The pool hosted many events over the years including beauty contests, competitive galas and synchronised swimming. It was the place to be seen on a summer’s day.”
Luckily, in 2023 work began on restoring the Grange Lido and Promenade, as part of a huge £6.8 million fund. Almost £5 million was allocated to opening the lido up to the public again – but with a temporary infill to the pool that would allow the area to be used as a ‘multi-use’ public space for the local community and visitors.
Those wanting to don their Speedos and have a dip will have to be patient, as the future of the lido’s pool return still depends on the council being satisfied with several pieces of criteria. This includes the necessary capital costs being raised and a ‘robust and viable’ business case.
“Work on the 1,900m-long promenade will include the removal of unstable sections of the sea defence wall; the application of a durable coating to the upper surface of the promenade; and, a combination of pre-cast and in situ concrete repairs to the upper edge ‘bull nose’ and sea-facing elevation of the sea wall,” Westmorland and Furness Council said. “The work also includes connectivity works to link the promenade to the town; public realm furniture; signage; improvements to railings; and a new child’s playground area.”
In February 2023, the council confirmed the works would take 14 months to complete and would begin towards the end of March or the beginning of April – later than the February start date put forward by Councillor Jonathan Brook in 2022. Last month it was revealed that the refurbishment had been hit with even more delays due to problems with concrete repairs. Westmorland and Furness Council said the additional setbacks meant it was ‘unlikely’ the project would be completed this summer – and that a new reopening date will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
“While it is frustrating that the construction phase must be extended due to further assessment of the repairs required to complete the project, it highlights the complexity of working with historic assets of this nature,” Cllr Brook added. “It is important that we get this right, understanding that the lido project seeks to restore this important structure after more than 30 years of closure and several previous attempts to bring it back to life.”
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