A campaign to save a seaside lido is gaining momentum in Grange-Over- Sands to stop it vanishing forever under tonnes of concrete.
So what? Well, it's the last remaining lido in the north of England after the demolition and infilling of similar structures at Blackpool, Scarborough and Morecambe. And outdoor swimming has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years.
Developer Phil Bradby says the lido is only one of a handful remaining in seaside resorts in the UK. Other local authorities have restored their lidos, but the one at Grange is likely to be lost.
"They are all date from the 1930s and were part of a great movement to encourage health and fitness," Bradby says of the surviving lidos.
Unusually, Grange lido's impressive diving platform is intact - most original diving platforms have been taken down for health and safety reasons. The pool is mushroom shaped and from the side resembles a ship - in a classic Art Deco design.
A swimming pool in Grange, called Berners Pool, closed in July 2006 with debts of £200,000, just three years after it opened.
It was partly funded by Sport for England, cost £3.5m but quickly fell into financial difficulties despite being opened amid a great fanfare.
Bradby says it seems bizarre that rather than restoring the lido the council is now promoting and financially supporting a plan to build what would see the third swimming pool within 100 yards.
"It's hard to see any logic in council's plan to demolish the Art Deco lido and the award winning swimming pool built just a few years ago and spend money on yet another pool right next to the two old ones," he says.
Bradby, who runs Mango Homes that specialises restoring historic buildings, says he used to swim there as a child with his brothers and cousin. A keen swimmer he loves outdoor swimming.
Mango Homes has restored textile mills in Yorkshire, a small village in St Ives and have won awards or their work.
"We have a 100% track record in finding viable uses for all our buildings and am sure that we could develop a sympathetic scheme to fully restore Grange Lido."
He said at points, the Lido is three metres deep and he would remodel the pool basin to bring it into line with current health and safety guidelines and insulate it so it can be heated. On the upper levels unused buildings would be converted into apartments for holiday lets.
Bradby says: "We have been stonewalled by the council and two councillors in particular have gone out of their way to try to slate our proposals but the overwhelming majority of local people want to see the Lido restored and are opposed to it being filled in. "
The support has led to a Facebook page – Save Grange Lido. More than 460 people have liked the campaign, with many posting supportive comments on the wall. An application has been made to English Heritage to have the lido listed – which would safeguard it if it is successful.
English Heritage confirmed that it has received a listing application for the site.
A spokeswoman said: "Our role will be to undertake an assessment of the site, based on its architectural and historic interest, and provide a recommendation. That recommendation then goes to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport who will make a decision, based on the advice we provide.
"Regardless of the outcome of the listing application, the lido is an important historic asset and English Heritage would welcome any viable proposals that retained the lido and rejuvenated the site."
The authority has already agreed a development deal with Berners Vision Partnership, which plans to fill in the lido and turn it into an ornamental garden.
But South Lakeland district council said there was "overwhelming support" for the development proposal when it went to public consultation three years ago.
In an update on its website last month, South Lakeland council said the comprehensive redevelopment of the site continues to move forward.
It says: "The economic climate has inevitably meant that some changes have taken place to the original scheme that was conceived by the Berners Vision Partnership."
Jonathan Denby, Chairman of South Lakes Hotels, part of the Berners Vision Partnership, said: "The people of Grange gave their enthusiastic support to our proposals, which include building a new leisure centre and the redevelopment of the Lido as a public space. We remain fully committed to these proposals and we are looking forward to fulfilling them."
So what? Well, it's the last remaining lido in the north of England after the demolition and infilling of similar structures at Blackpool, Scarborough and Morecambe. And outdoor swimming has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years.
Developer Phil Bradby says the lido is only one of a handful remaining in seaside resorts in the UK. Other local authorities have restored their lidos, but the one at Grange is likely to be lost.
"They are all date from the 1930s and were part of a great movement to encourage health and fitness," Bradby says of the surviving lidos.
Unusually, Grange lido's impressive diving platform is intact - most original diving platforms have been taken down for health and safety reasons. The pool is mushroom shaped and from the side resembles a ship - in a classic Art Deco design.
A swimming pool in Grange, called Berners Pool, closed in July 2006 with debts of £200,000, just three years after it opened.
It was partly funded by Sport for England, cost £3.5m but quickly fell into financial difficulties despite being opened amid a great fanfare.
Bradby says it seems bizarre that rather than restoring the lido the council is now promoting and financially supporting a plan to build what would see the third swimming pool within 100 yards.
"It's hard to see any logic in council's plan to demolish the Art Deco lido and the award winning swimming pool built just a few years ago and spend money on yet another pool right next to the two old ones," he says.
Bradby, who runs Mango Homes that specialises restoring historic buildings, says he used to swim there as a child with his brothers and cousin. A keen swimmer he loves outdoor swimming.
Mango Homes has restored textile mills in Yorkshire, a small village in St Ives and have won awards or their work.
He said at points, the Lido is three metres deep and he would remodel the pool basin to bring it into line with current health and safety guidelines and insulate it so it can be heated. On the upper levels unused buildings would be converted into apartments for holiday lets.
Bradby says: "We have been stonewalled by the council and two councillors in particular have gone out of their way to try to slate our proposals but the overwhelming majority of local people want to see the Lido restored and are opposed to it being filled in. "
The support has led to a Facebook page – Save Grange Lido. More than 460 people have liked the campaign, with many posting supportive comments on the wall. An application has been made to English Heritage to have the lido listed – which would safeguard it if it is successful.
English Heritage confirmed that it has received a listing application for the site.
A spokeswoman said: "Our role will be to undertake an assessment of the site, based on its architectural and historic interest, and provide a recommendation. That recommendation then goes to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport who will make a decision, based on the advice we provide.
"Regardless of the outcome of the listing application, the lido is an important historic asset and English Heritage would welcome any viable proposals that retained the lido and rejuvenated the site."
The authority has already agreed a development deal with Berners Vision Partnership, which plans to fill in the lido and turn it into an ornamental garden.
But South Lakeland district council said there was "overwhelming support" for the development proposal when it went to public consultation three years ago.
In an update on its website last month, South Lakeland council said the comprehensive redevelopment of the site continues to move forward.
It says: "The economic climate has inevitably meant that some changes have taken place to the original scheme that was conceived by the Berners Vision Partnership."
Jonathan Denby, Chairman of South Lakes Hotels, part of the Berners Vision Partnership, said: "The people of Grange gave their enthusiastic support to our proposals, which include building a new leisure centre and the redevelopment of the Lido as a public space. We remain fully committed to these proposals and we are looking forward to fulfilling them."
