It has become clear during the latter phases of the Grange Lido project that the concrete repairs require further assessment in order to complete the investment in this much-valued asset. As a result, the restoration project has missed its original opening date.
With the majority of work now completed, the Council is working with the contractor, RH Irving Construction, to fully assess the necessary works required to bring the project to conclusion. Unfortunately, this means it is unlikely that the Lido will open this summer. A revised programme of works will be received in the coming weeks following a detailed assessment. Once finalised, a new opening date will be confirmed.
Clearly, this will be disappointing to residents of Grange and the various interest groups; however, the Council remains committed to ensuring that the Lido receives the investment needed to safeguard its use for the future.
Cllr Jonathan Brook, Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “The Lido is a significant and unique asset, recognised not only in Grange and around Morecambe Bay, but across Westmorland and Furness and beyond. 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. 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.
“With the vast majority of work on the Lido and promenade completed, they look fantastic, and I can’t wait to open the Lido to the public after decades of it being lost to the community.”
Work on the £6.8 million Grange Lido and Promenade restoration project began in April 2023, with the aim of reopening the Lido site with a temporary infill of the pool, creating a new multi-use public space from what had become a derelict and deteriorating Grade II-listed site.
The project protects the site’s significant social and cultural heritage in a way that does not preclude the future reopening of the pool. The temporary pool infill uses materials that are both removable and recyclable.
Completed works at the Lido include an upgrade to the central and focal pavilion building, creating flexible and adaptable space suitable for future occupation and development by a partner. Additional works include the creation of an accessible entrance from the promenade and the insertion of a removable landscaped feature within the former pool area. The male and female changing accommodation has been stabilised, with works to the roof and terraces completed, along with security upgrades, cleaning, and external decoration.
Significant structural and architectural works have also been undertaken, including strategic concrete repairs to the diving board structure.
Work on the 1,900-metre-long promenade included the removal of unstable sections of the sea defence wall, application of a durable coating to the promenade’s upper surface, and a combination of precast and in-situ concrete repairs to the upper edge “bull nose” and sea-facing elevation of the sea wall.
A new playground area has also been installed.
Promenade users may have noticed colours on the railings – an innovation aimed at helping to pinpoint the location in the event of an emergency.
The idea was suggested by Jane Strawbridge, chair of Grange Community First Responders, who said: “Essentially, it is a simple solution that, following a 999 call, will help the emergency services and callers to effectively identify the location of a casualty along the mile-long promenade. Over the years, Grange First Responders and ambulance crews have lost valuable time trying to locate patients. A swift response is vital in life-threatening situations involving cardiac arrest, breathing difficulties, or serious injury.
“By dividing the promenade into four sections based on access points, each section will be marked with a small block of a specific colour on the railings. Once the work is complete, we will notify the North West Ambulance Service of the colour assigned to each section, enabling emergency teams to use the appropriate access point in response to a 999 call.”
One of only four remaining listed coastal lidos in England, the Lido was constructed in 1932 and remained open for 61 years until its closure in 1993, due to low usage and rising operational and repair costs. It remains the earliest and most complete example of a 20th-century listed seawater lido in England.
Failure to repurpose the site and carry out essential structural repairs would have left future administrations liable for significantly higher costs in preserving the listed structure.