Councillors back £3m investment plan for ‘much loved’ Tooting Bec Lido
Wandsworth Council Press release
Last night (Thursday) councillors on the environment and community services overview and scrutiny committee voted in favour of the proposal, bringing this extensive refurbishment of the much-loved lido a step closer.
They agreed to back plans to replace both pump houses at the lido into a single building with UV filtration system with new pipework, pool liner and electrical substation.
An initial programme of works to deal with the subsidence issues affecting the south pump house and the replacement of its filtration system were originally approved in July of last year at a cost of £867,000, but further investigations have shown a need for a more comprehensive package of works to safeguard the pool’s infrastructure for an estimated further 50 years.
Councillors have therefore agreed to support these extra works at an additional cost of just under £2.1m.
The lido, which dates back to 1906, is the largest open-air freshwater pool in the UK. It occupies a unique position in the history of British lido’s due to its size and the era in which it came into being. It is regularly described as the “jewel in the crown” of Wandsworth’s sports, leisure and fitness facilities.
Over many years a series of remedial works have been carried out by the council to keep the lido open, clean and safe for swimmers.
This has included the underpinning of the foundations to the two pump houses as a result of structural movement in 2000; the replacement of the pool liner in 2007; the addition of a new pavilion in 2017; and further underpinning work to the south pump house in 2019.
Every year the number of visitors to the lido totals around 133,500. The South London Swimming Club, which is based at the pool and is a well-established supporter and partner in the lido’s day to day management, continues to grow in popularity, rising from 1,549 members in 2018 to 2,717 members in 2021. The majority of members are aged between 40 years and 60 years of age with a female to male membership ratio of 59 per cent to 41.
Competitions have been held at Tooting Bec Lido since the pool first opened. A significant number of competitions, ‘scratch races’ and events take place throughout the year for either South London Swimming Club members or as open competitions. The lido hosts the National Cold Water Swimming Championships every two years, with guest teams from several countries competing and enhancing the pool’s international reputation.
Wandsworth’s community services spokesman Cllr Steffi Sutters said: “People describe the lido as the jewel in the crown of London’s open air swimming pools and they are quite right to do so. It is a much-loved local amenity and the plans we have unveiled should keep it open and in good shape for the next 50 years.
“Last year we approved a set of works that will cost just under £870,000 to keep the lido in good operational condition.
“Since then we’ve identified some additional works which make sense to carry out now. Not only will it be more cost effective to do the job now, but it will mean less disruption to the public’s use of the lido while safeguarding its future for many decades to come.
“I’m delighted that careful management of the council’s finances means we are now in a position to carry out such a comprehensive and far-reaching refurbishment programme.”
A report from the borough’s director of environment and community services states: “In summary, these works will preserve the future of Tooting Bec Lido by advancing investment ahead of any expected replacement programme.
“It will be advantageous to invest in a new and compliant facility, operating efficiently, saving on long-term maintenance costs and a facility that importantly continues to provide exceptional facilities for at least the next 50 years.”
The council’s executive will now be asked to endorse the committee’s decision when it meets next month. If these senior councillors vote to support the scheme, planning consent will be sought for the new combined pump house building.
