SWIMMERS fighting to save Teignmouth’s Lido have been thrown a lifeline.

Campaigners packed the Richard Newton Hall in Teignmouth at a meeting to discuss the future of the town’s lido.

Teignbridge Council’s overview and scrutiny committee de-camped from its usual venue at Forde House for the occasion, and members heard how the swimmers were ready to take the plunge and run the pool themselves.

Last month the council’s powerful executive committee declared the pool surplus to requirements and voted to sell it on the open market.

They also decided not to open it for the 2026 season while the sale was sorted out, saving themselves £74,000 into the bargain.

The lido has been flagged up as part of the council’s ‘Modern 25’ money-saving strategy.

More than 9,000 people used it in 2025, but the council says numbers would need to double to meet the £74,000 shortfall.

But the lido off Eastcliff Walk is designated as an asset of community value, meaning the community has six months to come up with a plan to take it over. The meeting heard pleas to open it as normal for the 2026 season.

Cllr Mike Ryan (Ind, Buckland and Milber) said the council was ‘penny-pinching’ over saving £74,000 and Cllr Andrew MacGregor (Ind, Bishopsteignton) said the council was concentrating on the price of the pool and not its value.

“The people of Teignbridge deserve better,” said Cllr Richard Daws (Ind, Ambrook).

The meeting heard that the number of people using the lido was declining, but campaigners said more people would use it if it was better advertised, open for longer and hosted innovative events, all of which the community could do.

Daniel O’Connell, of the Save The Lido group, said the community wanted to work with the council to take over the pool.

He said 440 pools had gone from council to community ownership across the country.

“People in Teignmouth are crying out for this asset to remain open,” he said. “We want the opportunity to show that the people of the town can and will support the lido.”

Cllr Colin Parker (Lib Dem, Buckland and Milber) told the meeting: “We are at a crossroads regarding one of Teignmouth’s most valuable assets. In a climate of belt-tightening a heated outdoor pool can be a luxury we cannot afford.

“However, there is a value beyond the balance sheet. Let’s give Teignmouth a chance to show that this pool is not a drain on resources but the heart of the town.”

The meeting also heard that the forthcoming local government reorganisation would mean the end of Teignbridge Council in favour of a larger unitary authority that might not see an asset like the lido as a priority.

“The clock is ticking,” said Cllr David Cox (Lib Dem, Teignmouth Central). “Teignbridge will soon lose its powers.

“Let’s give the lido back to the people of Teignmouth.”

Councillors voted unanimously to ask the powerful executive to reverse its earlier decision not to open the pool for 2026 and to work with the community to explore ways in which the pool can be operated this year.

The lido’s future is now back in the hands of the executive committee, which meets next week (March 10). It will have to consider the recommendations from the overview and scrutiny committee before taking the next steps.