Kenilworth's mayor spoke on the future of the lido in Abbey Fields at last night's annual assembly with the overall message being that the "district council does not appear to be wishing to change its approach."

Alongside a report of the council's work over the past 12 months, and a reflection of life in the town during Covid, Cllr Richard Dickson answered residents' questions on the short and long term future of Kenilworth's outdoor pool.

A planning application for the demolition of Abbey Fields Leisure Centre is currently being processed by Warwick District Council.

If approved it would see the lido replaced with a second indoor pool.

The district council is also yet to make a decision as to whether the lido will reopen in 2021 for potentially the last time.

This year will mark the 125th anniversary of outdoor swimming in the town.

Reopening in 2021

The first question, from Joanne Hall, asked in brief what steps the town council would be taking to ensure that the lido does in fact open in 2021.

In response Cllr Dickson said: "Town councillors who are also district councillors have, at both committee meetings and full council meetings, asked the district council to consider opening the outdoor pool.

"They will be continuing to push for that to happen because we are mindful that other outdoor pools in the UK have opened and are attracting visitors for exercise."

He said that a motion for the town council to take steps as a collective body could not be put forward until its June meeting.

"All I can say at this stage is that some town councillors will be individually making those representations."

Long term future

A second question, from Ruth Colgan, addressed the long term future of the lido. She asked whether, given the pandemic has shown how important outdoor exercise is for both physical and mental wellbeing, whether the plans to knock down the lido should therefore be readdressed.

Cllr Dickson replied: "At the moment I can advise that the district council does not appear to be wishing to change its approach in this matter.

"But I am sure that there are certain town councillors and district councillors who wholeheartedly would concur with your sentiment that it is time for a rethink on that."

When probed on whether town or district councillors had taken proper consideration of the tourism benefits of the pool Cllr Dickson agreed that there had not been enough consideration of this matter at the district level.

"The district council's proposals were purely from a leisure perspective, and did not take into account the tourism benefits that arise from having what is a unique facility in the county.

"Anybody who's ever stood in the queue outside the swimming pool during the summer months just has to hear the accents that are being used and know that its bringing people into Kenilworth, who quite possibly wouldn't have come in had it not been for the outdoor facility."

He added, however, that as the future of the lido was in the hands of Warwick District Council he was unable to comment much further.