Droitwich Lido History

Success of the Lido

The Droitwich Guardian of 9th October 1959 reported "Droitwich Borough Council on Monday made a rate of 9s 2d. in the £ for the second half year September 30th to March 31st. This is sixpence less than originally proposed and due to the bumper season at the Lido." It was agreed that just over a half penny in the £ should be retained against future contingencies so that the new general rate for the whole year will be 18s 11d. In the £. The Chairman of the Finance Committee Councillor W.J.O.Bartlett, moving that the rate be adopted said "I feel I must emphasise the fact that this reduction has only been made possible by the bumper season we have enjoyed at the Lido. It would be extremely dangerous and misleading to construe this specific reduction as heralding a continuing relief from the financial burden we have to bear. I deplore the necessity of bringing gloom upon a happy occasion but I feel I must reiterate the warning I gave when I introduced our budget for this year. I have no confidence that we shall be able indefinitely to sustain the stability of our rate poundage and I believe it to be incumbent upon us to reinforce our determination when making our annual budget and throughout the year in our spending committees, ruthlessly to eliminate all but essential expenditure" he said.

Answering a query by Alderman Dr. E. Shirley Jones, Councillor Bartlett said £3,500 would remain in the Lido fund to provide for repairs and maintenance. Alderman Mrs J.M. Addenbroke congratulating Councillor Bartlett on a very lucid explanation of the borough finances had "always felt estimating in the Council is extremely exact and is seldom exceeded". Councillor Bartlett in his financial review said that during the last 6 months things had changed for the better.