Key facts
- A report by the Fabian Society proposes making water companies responsible for funding public swimming places like lidos.
- The proposal suggests including a duty in the water bill for companies to facilitate public access to safe outdoor swimming.
- Lidos, popular in the 1930s, saw a decline, with two-thirds derelict or demolished by the late 1980s.
- Outdoor swimming visits increased by 30% in the summer of 2025 compared to 2024.
- Several Labour MPs are campaigning for the restoration and reopening of lidos in their constituencies.
A coalition of 20 Labour MPs, alongside the Fabian Society, is advocating for water companies to finance the restoration and reopening of derelict lidos across the United Kingdom. This initiative aims to provide accessible public swimming spaces, particularly relevant during increasingly hot summers.
The Fabian Society's new report proposes that the forthcoming water bill should impose a duty on water companies to promote and facilitate public access to safe outdoor swimming within their operational regions. This could involve cooperation with local authorities to ensure a minimum provision of swimming facilities, such as refurbishing existing lidos or creating new ones.
Lidos, which were popular public outdoor pools built in the 1930s, have seen a significant decline, with many falling into disrepair or being demolished. Historically, these art deco structures offered affordable recreation and health benefits. However, by the end of the 1980s, nearly two-thirds had been lost, and the trend has continued, though many communities have fought to save their local pools.
Andrew Pakes, the Labour MP for Peterborough, is spearheading the campaign. He highlighted the success of his own constituency's lido, which was saved from closure and neglect and has since flourished. The campaign is supported by other MPs, including Anna Turley, who is interested in opening a lido in Redcar. The popularity of outdoor swimming is growing, with the largest public swimming operator, Better, reporting a 30% increase in visits to lidos and outdoor swim spots in the summer of 2025 compared to the previous year.
Several MPs are actively involved in specific restoration efforts. Worthing MPs Beccy Cooper and Tom Rutland are seeking funding for their seafront lido, while Simon Opher in Stroud is campaigning to repair a lido closed due to high refurbishment costs. In Ipswich, a £10 million restoration is underway for Broomhill lido, aiming for a 2026 reopening.