history – Broomhill Pool Trust

Your chance to register your support for Broomhill Pool on the Ipswich Cultural Strategy Survey.

Let the Ipswich Cultural Strategy team and the Ipswich City of Culture team know what you think. https://eu.jotform.com/260363418648058

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An image of the entrance to the Broomhill Lido. It appears in a debilitated state with large bushes growing at the front of it and the doorway boarded up. — Image caption,Broomhill Lido opened to the public in the 1930s but has been closed since 2002

George King

BBC News, Suffolk

The future of a historical and abandoned outdoor swimming pool has been plunged into doubt after millions of pounds worth of funding was withdrawn.

Broomhill Lido, in Ipswich, was shut down in 2002, having provided families and swimmers with a place to cool off and take a dip since the 1930s.

Since then, attempts have been made to restore the Grade II listed open-air pool to its former glory, but the plans have repeatedly stalled due to funding issues.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which pledged £3.8m to the project in 2018 and a further £3m in 2023, said it had now made the “difficult decision to withdraw” after work had not started.

“Unfortunately, despite this support, work has not yet begun on site,” a spokesperson added.

“We understand this will be disappointing news as we recognise the significance of Broomhill Pool to the local community, both as a cherished historic site and a place filled with fond memories.”

An artist's impression of how Broomhill lido would look like. There is a large pool and white buildings. — Image caption,Plans to rejuvenate the abandoned outdoor swimming pools have been in the pipeline for some time

The National Lottery Heritage Fund had joined forces with Ipswich Borough Council and Fusion Lifestyle to save the lido about eight years ago.

The work was postponed when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, but then continued to get delayed, to the point where planning permission had to be granted a second time last year.

Six months later, with the £10m restoration still not underway, the National Lottery Heritage Fund said it wanted to perform financial due diligence on the project.

But, according to Ipswich Borough Council, Fusion Lifestyle “had been unable to provide assurances about their financial position”.

The authority said this raised concerns and brought “into question their ability to deliver the project, which received planning consent last year”.

Broomhill lido pictured in 1969. Blue tiles in the shape of a whale can be seen at the bottom of the pool. There are people sitting around the edge of the pool. — Image caption,Broomhill Swimming Pool opened in 1938 and cost £17,000 to build

A spokesperson for the council said: “We are disappointed, but we remain committed to the restoration of the much treasured Broomhill Lido and pledge to find a way forward.

“We also have a meeting scheduled with the National Lottery Heritage Fund next week to look at how we might be able to progress the project.

“Importantly, the council’s £3.3m financial contribution for the project will remain ringfenced for the restoration in our budget.”

‘Seeking to engage’

Fusion Lifestyle said it was both “surprised and disappointed” by the decision, having “only been made aware in the last 48 hours”.

“We are actively seeking to engage with the National Heritage Lottery Fund to find a solution that ensures local residents can still benefit from this much-anticipated restoration project,” a spokesperson told the BBC.

A head and shoulders image of Mark Ling - he is wearing a navy blazer over a smart shirt. He is looking directly into the camera — Image caption,Mark Ling, chair of the Broomhill Pool Trust, believed the lido still had a future

Mark Ling, chairman of the Broomhill Pool Trust, believed there was still an appetite to turn the fortunes of the swimming pool around.

“It is disappointing, but I think there’s still a will and a commitment to make Broomhill happen and Ipswich Borough Council remains absolutely committed,” he said.

“We can get an art deco Grade II listed lido, one of the finest pools in the country, open here in Ipswich, which will bring great credit to Ipswich.”