Pool vision Campaigners say lido could open within four years

An outdoor swimming pool could open in four years in a Bristol park as a campaign has ramped back up. Campaigners want to open a lido in Eastville Park on the site of an old bowling green but are facing hurdles such as raising money and convincing City Hall chiefs and some locals too.

- Alex SEABROOK

The idea for the Eastville Lido was first sparked six years ago, and the campaign has quietly run in the background since then. Then last month, almost 100 people wrote to Bristol City Council's public health and communities policy committee, urging councillors to get behind the lido plans.

Sarah Moore, one of the directors of the Eastville Park Lido community interest company, said the next steps are rewriting a business plan, with a hope of opening the pool in four years.

She said: "We came together as a steering group in January and decided we had to push forward this year, or just leave it. We've been working on it since 2019 and we've had quite a few lumps and bumps along the way, not to mention Covid.