Join the Campaign for a West London Lido.
WHO?
The campaign for a WEST LONDON LIDO is a volunteer group. Our ambition is to build support, find a location, help to raise money and create a new, beautiful and sustainable public lido for west London.
What better investment can we make than in the health, happiness and wellbeing of people who live and work here?
It might not be quick or easy, but we believe it's possible. We'd love your support. Take the splash, come and help us make the WEST LONDON LIDO happen!
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WHAT?
Imagine if our area had a lido like Gospel Oak, Brockwell park or London Fields. A life-enhancing, purpose-built, well-maintained, beautifully designed lido. Affordable and accessible for the whole community. Open all year round. A place really used, loved and supported by a wide range of people. That’s our aim for the WEST LONDON LIDO.
The ambition is for a lido 50m by 25m, with ground-sourced heating, poolside changing rooms, a sun terrace, a splash pool for children and a cafe. Additional facilities might include a roof-top gym, exercise studio, a spin studio, yoga rooms and community meeting rooms.
A mix of revenue generating activities is will be needed. The WEST LONDON LIDO should be self-sufficient, not a new burden on council tax-payers.
WHY?
Open air swimming is good for physical health, fitness and mental wellbeing, and all round resistance. It can help combat obesity, diabetes, arthritis and depression. A quick splash or a couple of lengths is good for the body and the soul. At a lido, you can swim or sit and read, meet friends, have a coffee. Or just enjoy the play of sunlight on water.
The threat from Climate Change means we need new alternatives to cheap flights abroad. Longer hotter summers and milder winters make an all year-round lido more viable.
COVID has altered our patterns of work and play. Perhaps this moment of uncertainty could be one of new opportunity? We need more than expensive flats and new offices. It is good to spend time outdoors, and in the company of others.
WHERE?
If you live in White City, Shepherds Bush, Acton, Chiswick, Hammersmith, Fulham, North Kensington, Kilburn or Willesden, the nearest purpose-built, public lidos are 10 miles away or more.
The lidos at Tooting Bec, Charlton, Hampton Court, Brockwell Park, London Fields and Hillingdon are fantastic but hard to get to if you don’t have a car, if you have a young family or you’re a senior citizen.
We are looking at various sites in west London. We need a good location that can win the backing of as many people and stakeholders as possible. One potential area is the southern, built-up edge of Wormwood Scrubs. The Scrubs is a wonderful green space, 'more wild than tamed', protected by law. There are meadows, grassland, woodland, and nature trails and seven areas designated as Local Nature Reserves. It's home to a wide array of birds, insects, butterflies, reptiles and 250 species of wildflower. A lido near Scrubs would have to respect and fit in with this remarkable ecology. Perhaps a lido here could include an Ecology Centre? Let us know what you think.
Thanks to the Wormwood Scrubs Act of 1879 the Scrubs is open to all for recreation and exercise. Go there any day of the year and you see people walking, running, cycling, picnicking, flying a kite or playing football . There’s baseball, Gaelic football, rugby, lacrosse. Could the WEST LONDON LIDO add to this?
The Scrubs is the proud home of Thames Valley Harrier, one of the UK’s oldest athletics club and the Linford Christie Stadium. Could a lido in this area build on this wonderful sporting and community spirit?
WHEN?
In 2022 we are looking to consult widely, build support and find the best possible location. When we have a location we will look to raise funding from a wide range of sources. If we can get a great site, planning permission, proper funding and a solid business plan, the WEST LONDON LIDO could be built and open within three years. It might be done quicker or it could take longer.
HOW?
Making the WEST LONDON LIDO a reality will be a challenge. We need a location that gains widespread support. We need to raise £15 million to build the lido. We will need a solid business plan so the lido pays for itself.
At this early stage, we'd love your support and input. Please send us your thoughts, comments and ideas.
If you support the idea of a WEST LONDON LIDO, add your name and address to our supporters list, Like and Follow us on Facebook. . Spread the word to friends, family, neighbours and colleagues.