A community group is fighting to save Teignmouth Lido after councillors proposed to close the outdoor pool and sell off the land.

Save the Lido – Teignmouth has been developing plans to secure the pool’s future for the past 14 months after Teignbridge included the pool in a list of assets it wanted to offload as part of the Modern 25 programme to save money.

At the time, Teignbridge councillors said there was no desire to close the popular pool, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

However, councillors are now recommending that the Lido remains closed this summer, saving Teignbridge £74,000, and they are now proposing that the site is sold on the open market with no restrictions on future use. A decision is due to be made at the Teignbridge District Council Executive meeting on Tuesday (February 10)

Save the Lido – Teignmouth said it has been working behind the scenes for over a year and is poised to take over running the Lido this year and that it is progressing with plans to generate the support and resources it needs to secure the facility for the community long-term.

The group will be organising a public meeting within the next couple of weeks for anyone interested in helping retain the pool for the community.

Led by a number of local residents, including Paul Burgess, who was instrumental in setting up Teignmouth parkrun and Teignmouth Pride, and Daniel O’Connell, who runs the MT Tums café and takeaway in Teigngrace and was previously involved in the committee at Kingsteignton Swimming Pool, Save the Lido - Teignmouth is setting up a community interest company to manage the pool and help with raising funds.

‘We’re really want to protect this valuable asset for the community,’ Daniel said. ‘Looking at the success of other Lidos; we’d be foolish not to try,’ he added.

Last year, under the name Teignmouth4Leisure, they ensured the Lido was registered as an Asset of Community Value after a previous listing expired. This means that any community group has the right to bid for the Lido if it is put up for sale.

A survey on the Save the Lido - Teignmouth Facebook group revealed that 83% of respondents wanted to see the Lido run by the community rather than the council. None of the respondents wanted to see the council sell the pool off.

‘Teignmouth Lido is part of the history of the town. The health and wellbeing benefits of swimming are universally acknowledged, and we want to help future generations by keeping the Lido open,’ Paul commented.

‘There is also an economic argument that keeping the Lido open will generate significant visitors to Teignmouth,’ he added.

Save the Lido – Teignmouth is considering a range of ideas to ensure the facility can break even including longer opening hours and the provision of a wider range of activities.

They are urging anyone who feels that they can make a valuable contribution to the project to get in touch via email: [email protected] and they are encouraging supporters to join the Save the Lido - Teignmouth Facebook group.