Broomhill Pool
Ipswich: Broomhill Pool talks start - but with a warning
By PAUL gEATER
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
12:00 PM
TALKS have now started about putting a package together to re-open and develop Broomhill pool, but there was a warning that finance could be a major problem.
Ipswich council and its partner Fusion Lifestyle have opened negotiations with the Heritage Lottery Fund to find the money needed to complete the £5million pool restoration.
The company and the borough have both earmarked £1m each – with the rest of the money coming from other sources, including a lottery bid.
However the HLF has warned that any money it gives could only be used to restore the existing pool, it could not be used to develop any extra facilities.
Fusion Lifestyle wants to develop a fitness centre on the site which could be used 12 months a year in addition to the open-air pool which would only ever open during the summer.
The company and council remain upbeat about the talks.
Tim Mills, Director of Business Development at Fusion, said: “It is a particularly challenging and competitive climate for gaining external funding at the moment, but we are continuing to meet with potential funders and to review our scheme proposals so as to create a sustainable solution for the site.”
Mark Ling, from the Broomhill Trust, said it was always understood that any HLF money could not be used to develop new facilities.
He said: “A new fitness centre would cost £1-£1.5m and there is already the commitment from the borough and Fusion which would cover that. There may need to be some changes to what is planned at Broomhill, but it is encouraging that there is progress being made.”
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6 comments
To have the lido open again would a real asset to Ipswich, especially to the people around Broomhill. The lido is next to Westbourne Library which serves as a community hub; the lido would complement this well. The lido is on green belt land so if knocked down nothing else could be built there. No horrid private flats to spoil a lovely green space open to all. I hope the Olympic enthusiasm persists for swimming and diving. The lido would provide facilities for this, water polo and probably a gym and cafe too.
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Mrs Evans
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Ahh I remember back in the day when it was open, urine laced changing rooms, cigarette butts all over the floor, dirty water
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TrollFace
Thursday, September 6, 2012
The "pool option" can certainly work under Fusion as they would be adding all-the-year round facilities to support and enhance the lido's attraction. Have a look, for instance, at the Brockwell Park Lido website to see the changes that have been made there. There has been a lido revival over the last decade with some pools such as the London Fields Lido in Hackney achieving outstanding success.
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Sally Wainman
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
To the opinion man: Loved your first couple of comments - spoken like a true Ipswich councillor!! However, as to the reason behind the decline of the pool, it was mainly due to the (Labour) council first reducing the opening hours, last minute daily closures cos of lack of lifeguard cover excuses etc. putting people off planning a trip there, and then not spending any money on upkeep. All intended to make the Crown Pools more viable as an expenditure back then.
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Sarky Sage
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
THIS IS A HOUSING AREA ,, AND THAT'S WHAT SHOULD BE BUILD ON THIS SITE , WAKE UP FOR GODS SAKE..
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MIGUEL100
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
They should knock this place down and turn it into one of the following 1) Cheap parking with car hand wash 2) Tesco Express 3) More unoccupied over priced flats If the pool option would work it would have never closed down before and fallen into disrepar
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the opinion man
Wednesday, September 5, 2012