We are delighted to see that the Society’s campaign and accompanying report “Farewell my Lido” (published twenty years ago, back in 1991!) remains relevant today and has actually gained momentum: Saltdean Lido (Brighton; RWH Jones, 1938) was upgraded to Grade II* earlier this year (the first Lido to achieve this status) and yet another lido at Grange-Over-Sands in Cumbria (Bernard Smith, 1932) was listed in August. Now, even more wonderful news reaches us from Broomhill Pool, Ipswich, Suffolk (1938, Grade II), put forward for listing by the Society in 2001.

Last Tuesday Ipswich Borough Council‘s ruling Executive Committee gave the green light for the Broomhill Pool Trust’s favoured operator to work towards the re-opening of Broomhill lido – a highly commendable and very brave and far-sighted decision in the current difficult times. The Council also renewed their pledge to give £1 million to the project, which will, they hope, help to attract other funding. The operator, which has expressed a strong interest in restoring the pool and changing rooms and building a new fitness suite on the site, will now be asked to develop detailed plans for the £5 million project – which will also need Heritage Lottery Funding in order to succeed.

It has always been a great pleasure for the Society to support this great cause, and we remain committed to it, but the full credit goes to Broomhill Pool Trust! Our congratulations to them for this great result and for their incredibly hard work on this project for many years. There is of course still a lot more to be done at Broomhill, but this latest news gives us confidence that both BPT and IBC will see this through and deliver a restored lido to the people of Ipswich!