Saltdean Lido - update.

The Lido now

Since last December, when the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company (SLCIC) were awarded a 60 year lease, they have commissioned numerous surveys and studies of the Lido. These revealed that the state of the building and pool are in a far worse state than previously thought. Now the likely cost of full restoration is in the region of £10 million, more than double first estimates. The SLCIC is still confident of raising this amount but are prepared for it to take longer.

Initial grant applications for £2M and £500,000 have been submitted to two funds and in October an application for £4.8 million will be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund. SLCIC have also approached a number of corporations to see if they would be interested in getting involved.

This work is very time-consuming and, going forward, the hope is to employ a professional fund-raiser. To this end regular fund-raising events continue unabated with a car-boot sale on the lido car-park on 27th September and a Gala Ball at the Grand Hotel on 4th October.

The HLF has emphasised that the restored Lido must be self-financing. Revised plans for generating the required income stream are being shared with the Council this month and a public exhibition of the latest plans will be held in December.

Next year a Community Share Option will be launched to enable  supporters to buy into the Lido heritage and so help to secure its future. A similar scheme has been successful in helping to restore burnt-out Hasting's Pier.

The old plant room