Peterborough City Council is exploring options to rebuild the local swimming pool after its demolition due to safety concerns. Discussions are ongoing about funding and future plans.
Peterborough: The city council is working on plans to rebuild the local swimming pool. The pool was demolished due to asbestos and other safety issues found in the building.
The demolition started in January 2025. First, they did a soft strip of the site. Full demolition will begin in spring. Since the announcement, many have called for a new leisure center with a pool.
On January 29, the council discussed rebuilding the pool at a joint meeting. Council leader Dennis Jones said they are exploring several options, but none are cheap.
Former leader Councillor Wayne Fitzgerald raised concerns about the budget. He noted there’s no money set aside for this project.
Adrian Chapman, the council’s executive director, said they are working on a detailed proposal for a new pool. He mentioned it would be very expensive.
Chapman explained that they hope to create a business model that doesn’t require council investment. They are still figuring out land contributions.
He assured that more information will be shared soon as they finalize their plans. The Lido, an 88-year-old pool, is currently the only public swimming pool in the city center.
Initially, the council planned to close the Lido to save money, but they changed their minds after residents protested.
During the meeting, Cllr Samantha Hemraj asked if the Lido could stay open year-round. Cllr Alison Jones said they are considering various options to improve the Lido’s use.
They are looking into how long to keep it open and if they can add covers to maximize its use for the community.