THE DEADLINE for submissions to take over Teignmouth Lido has now passed.

Bids had to be submitted to owners Teignbridge Council by September 4.

The next stage of the process to decide the future of the iconic seafront pool will involve a panel looking at each bid in detail.

All qualifying proposals will go to the next stage of the process and be assessed through what the council says is a ‘fair, transparent and robust evaluation’.

The experienced panel will consider a range of factors, including: price, ability to deliver, proposed timescales, social value, the quality of design and sustainability.

The pool recently closed for the winter after a busy summer season.

Earlier this year, the council’s executive committee decided the popular pool was ‘surplus’ and initially agreed to keep it close this summer to save £74,000.

Following a huge public backlash, there was a u-turn by the ruling executive committee and the pool was open this summer but was to be disposed of on the open market with no restrictions on its future use.

Commercial agents Bettesworths were appointed to market the pool as the only selling agent.

The lido is registered as an Asset of Community Value.

A council spokesman said: ‘All received bids will be assessed against the same criteria.’

Teignmouth Lido Community Trust, which was formed after the council announced it would have to keep the pool closed this summer and sell it on the open market, has confirmed it has submitted its bid to take over the pool.

Its goal is to run it as a community-owned asset with longer seasons, sustained by volunteers, grants, and increased visitors.