Abandoned English lido forced to delay reopening date after £6.8million restoration
WORK to upgrade the Grange Lido in Morecambe Bay began two years ago - but it's now missed its second opening date.
The salt-water lido overlooking Lakeland Fells has been closed since 1993 with plans to refurbish it with £6.8million worth of funding starting in April 2023.
When work began on the Grade II listed site at Grange-over-Sands, the project was expected to last 14 months.
However the original reopening of summer 2024 was delayed, and it has been set back once again.
The first phase of the restoration is to reopen the site with a temporary infill of the pool to create a new multi-use public space.
The Westmorland and Furness Council said it was sorry to "disappoint" residents and it would announce a new reopening date in the coming weeks.
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There is good news though as council leader Jonathan Brook said most of the work on the project had been completed and it looked "fantastic".
He 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."
Completed works at the lido include an upgrade to the pavilion building as well as an accessible entrance from the promenade.
The changing rooms have been upgraded, and works to the roof and terraces has been completed, along with security upgrades, cleaning, and external decoration.
The lido fell into disrepair in 1993, so significant structural and architectural works have been undertaken - including concrete repairs to the diving board.
A new playground area has also been installed on the site.
The Grange Lido is one of only four remaining listed coastal lidos in England, it was constructed in 1932 and remained open for 61 years.
It was closed in 1993 due to low usage and rising repair costs. It remains the earliest and most complete 20th-century listed sea water lido in England.
In 2011, the lido was granted grade II listed status and in the same year, the Save Grange Lido group was formed.
The group has grown in strength with 18,000 people signing a petition calling on the council to include reopening of the pool in any plans to restore the lido.
During the second phrase of the restoration project, the infill will be removed.
The 50m pool will eventually be restored, fitting out changing rooms, and extending the central pavilion.
This seafront English lido has been named one of the best in Europe.
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