IPSWICH'S much-loved lido - which campaigners hope will be restored to its former glory - has been given national recognition by English Heritage.

Richard Cornwell

IPSWICH'S much-loved lido - which campaigners hope will be restored to its former glory - has been given national recognition by English Heritage.

Broomhill Pool, already a grade two listed building, is now on the prestigious Pastscape database of National Monuments.

“Lidos are a unique facet of England's built heritage, epitomising a much-loved past time and a way of life,” said Robin Page, PastScape project manager at English Heritage.

“That's why we have included Broomhill Pool in the PastScape database, a web resource with nearly 400,000 records of archaeological and architectural sites derived from the National Monuments Record, the public archive of English Heritage.

“Although this doesn't confer any extra legal protection than it already has, it does mean that its special interest is highlighted and made available for anyone to study.”

Mark Ling, press officer for the Broomhill Pool Trust, said Ipswich Borough Council's executive is due to decide the fate of the pool in late October.

“So, this is a welcome accolade, at a critically important time,” he said.

“In our opinion, not only is a Broomhill Pool a nationally recognised building, it is an existing, low cost, solution to Ipswich's acknowledged, swimming needs.

“Fully restored, it would deliver genuine community cohesion - and access to healthy pursuits - in a deserving area of Ipswich.”

The council is looking at the future of Broomhill as part of work currently taking place on a culture and leisure needs analysis to help develop the council's cultural strategy for the next 15 years.

Is it worth spending millions on refurbishing the lido? Write to Star Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.