Members of the Kenilworth Lido Campaign group have this week launched a crowd funding page to pay for an independent report on the benefits of keeping an outdoor pool in Abbey Fields.

The independent report will be delivered by sports and leisure industry experts FMG Consulting. The report will include a professional review of all relevant documentation, expert advice and recommendations on key points. This will then be shown to Warwick District Council to say why they should pause the current Kenilworth leisure project, create a revised plan and hold a formal Feasibility Study.

Donations may be made following this link.

The campaign to retain outdoor swimming in Kenilworth has now been running for four years following Warwick District Council's (WDC) decision to end over 120 years of open air swimming in the town by closing the outdoor swimming pool and replace it with a second indoor pool.

Led by a small, but enthusiastic team, support for outdoor swimming in the town is now as great as it has ever been despite the outdoor pool remaining closed this year.

With a resurgence of outdoor swimming nationally and the current COVID situation, the campaign group maintains that the case for retaining and developing the outdoor pool in Kenilworth has never been stronger. Furthermore, they argue that the case for creating a second indoor pool in Kenilworth now seems weaker than ever, given the number of new indoor pools that have opened in close proximity since the campaign began.

In support of this Thomas Bates of Studio Bates Architectural Consultancy, a former Kenilworth resident, has produced a design which fits the present site.

The group's chairperson Ruth Colgan says "Thomas Bates' design complements the local surroundings, ensuring the lake and view to the castle creates a sense of being part of the environment and will include the best eco credentials. This would give the town outdoor and indoor swimming for the twenty-first century, with minimal impact on the environment and a community space we can all be proud of".

Alongside the new crowd funding initiative, the Kenilworth Lido campaign group is working on a second strategy. A new petition has been created and will be presented to WDC calling upon it to carry out Kenilworth Town Council's appeal to pause the current Kenilworth leisure project and create a revised plan.

This will hopefully include a feasibility study into the viability of an outdoor pool based on the Bates design.

So far, the petition has gathered over 1100 signatures.

Outdoor swimming in Kenilworth is part of the town's history. Kenilworth's is one of the oldest lidos in the country, the furthest from the sea and currently the only safe public outdoor swimming facility within 30 miles.

The pool's heritage is highly valued, but change is in its history. The original pool has already been rebuilt twice.

The campaign urges that now is the perfect opportunity to create a modern lido; with the latest chemical-free filtering, together with the best 21st century design and eco credentials at a fraction of the cost of what is currently planned.

Indeed author, journalist and outdoor swimmer Joe Minihane has voiced his support for the campaign, emphasising the current importance of outdoor swimming.

He said "saving Kenilworth's outdoor pool is absolutely vital. Moving it indoors is an act of civic vandalism, especially at a time when we need to spend more time outdoors".

Leaving a comment on the campaign group's Just Giving page Jo Perkins, a local supporter says, "The physical, social and mental health of the community and future generations will benefit from an outdoor swimming facility".

Further information about the work of the campaign group can be seen by following this link to their website.