On Air Now Nick Osborne 10:00am - 3:00pm Haddaway - What Is Love Schedule

Outdoor Swimming In Lewes's Pells Pool? Wait — Let's Be Safe, Say Bosses

Pells Pool, Lewes (photographer: Rob Read)

After the government announcement permitting outdoor swimming pools to reopen, the oldest continuously operating lido in the country, Pells Pool in Lewes, is delaying welcoming swimmers, to ensure it's properly ready.

But the pool's leading staff members have given broad approval to the announcement from Downing Street, though it arrived with only two days notice.

In a letter to supporters, issued within minutes of the government's easing of lockdown measures on Thursday (July 8), Pells Pool's officials thanked all who campaigned to tell Downing Street about the safety and appropriateness of outdoor swimming as the coronavirus pandemic diminishes.

They've explained why the pool cannot be ready in a short amount of time:

"We are urgently now assessing how quickly we can open - since it takes a good number of days to empty, clean and refill the pool, as well as to put in place all the other necessary health and safety arrangements.

"While we have got the pool as ready as can be so far, it would not have been wise or safe to keep our open air pool clean and filled over the weeks when we have been forced to stay closed and any opening date unknown."

They've promised an update on an opening date as soon as practically possible.

There was also a word for organisers behind many other pools across the country, which cannot open this year after a long wait for a change in government policy:

"We note that all the same safety arrangements could have been ready for earlier opening for pools this season, and regret this unnecessary delay has already meant some pools will not open at all in 2020, and we stand in solidarity with them and their communities."

More from Sussex News

Comments

Add a comment

Log in to the club or enter your details below.

Your News

It’s easy to get in touch with the More Radio News team.

Add you phone number if you would like us to call you back