Warwick District Council has announced today that the Abbey Fields Lido will not reopen in 2021.

This year would have been the 125th anniversary of outdoor swimming in Kenilworth.

WDC has said that it would cost too much to reopen the lido for a short period of time, and that there is not the demand for outdoor swimming lessons in the town.

Portfolio holder for culture, tourism and leisure, Cllr Liam Bartlett commented: "As we have stated previously, we have been assessing the viability of reopening the pool against a number of criteria; the latest national position regarding Covid restrictions; the cost of the extensive repairs required to bring the facility to a safe operating condition; the additional operating costs against the predicted footfall for the remainder of the season and most importantly fulfilling the added need and availability of water space and trained staff for swimming lessons during what are still very difficult times for our leisure centres.

"In contrast to lidos found in other areas of the country, the layout and the condition of the Kenilworth outdoor pool built in the 1980s, does not lend itself to the type of swimming session the majority of users are currently seeking.

"Therefore, in the coming weeks, our priority will continue to be the safe running of the indoor facility. The most recent government announcement also now means the local community can enjoy the centre's facilities without many of the previous operational restrictions in place."

Given the proposed demolition of the Abbey Fields Leisure Centre, it may be that this is the end of outdoor swimming in Kenilworth.