Lidos see surge in popularity but many remain closed
Lidos across the UK are experiencing increased popularity, yet many remain closed, prompting calls for water companies to contribute to their upkeep and reopening.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Lidos across the UK are enjoying a surge in popularity this summer, as scorching heat drives people to outdoor pools. But the revival comes against a backdrop of long-term decline: once more than 300 public outdoor pools existed, and now only about 125 remain. Many have closed over the years due to financial pressures or the rise of foreign travel in the 1960s and 1970s.
At Droitwich Spa Lido in Worcestershire, managers report their busiest summer since reopening nearly 20 years ago. In July alone, the pool welcomed 6,000 more swimmers than the previous July. The manager, Seb Parker, attributes the success to diversification: the lido now offers classes and cold water swimming, and stays open all year round rather than just for a few summer months. He also credits the local community, which rallied to reopen the pool after it closed in 1998 and reopened in 2007. A friends group now helps with fundraising and publicity.
The popularity of lidos is not universal, however. Many remain closed, and a group of MPs is calling for water companies to be made to contribute to the cost of maintaining and reopening these facilities, to give people a clean and safe place to swim. The call reflects a wider concern about access to outdoor swimming as temperatures rise.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| A group of MPs is urging water companies to help fund lidos. | |
| Droitwich Spa Lido reported 6,000 more swimmers in July than in the previous July. | |
| The number of public outdoor pools in the UK has fallen from over 300 to an estimated 125. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focuses on the resurgence of lidos, using Droitwich Spa Lido as a positive example. It highlights the role of community groups and diversification in keeping lidos open, and ends with a political call for water companies to help fund them. The tone is upbeat and human interest, with a clear sense of nostalgia for a British tradition.
- “There's something about swimming in an outdoor pool, isn't there, that kind of makes you feel like you're on holiday.”
- “They're just special places to come to. I mean, look at the environment. We're in the middle of a park, surrounded by woodland. You could be on holiday.”
- “We can't just rely on it just being a swimming pool for the summer. We rely massively on the sun. So when it's not out, we are quiet. So we introduce classes, cold water swimming.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.