Redbridge Council is planning to open the outdoor lido in Valentines Park in Ilford next summer
The recent September heatwave has sent Londoners scrambling for a spot at one of the city’s lidos and it seems our collective fondness for outdoor swimming has inspired Redbridge Council to provide more space for us to do so. The council has drawn up plans for a new lido and fitness centre to be built in Valentines Park in Ilford, which would include a 25-metre six-lane pool, a children’s splash pad, changing facilities, a gym, a dance and exercise studio, a cafe and a picnic area.
There had been an outdoor pool in Valentines Park for several decades but it was closed in 1995 because of the upkeep costs, so councillors are planning to make sure that this new one is sustainable and cost-efficient to run. As Councillor Kam Rai, Deputy Leader of Redbridge Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration said “Our borough is a great place to live, work, and visit, and we’re continuing to invest in leisure facilities so local families and visitors can access everything they need right on our doorstep. The new lido will provide a sustainable, fun, and social place for people to exercise in the great outdoors, while boosting our local economy and restoring the heritage of Valentines Park.”
The plans and designs of the pool are currently undergoing public consultation, so it doesn’t have the go-ahead just yet but hopefully come next summer (fingers crossed we get a sunny one) there’ll be a new pool to cool off in.
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