Droitwich Lido History

The End?

The Lido closed in September 2000, without warning to the public, who understood it had attained its targets and would re-open. Owners Wychavon District Council decided it should stay closed while being offered to private companies. German company Calypso asked for extra time then pulled out, as did Thermae (despite being given 6 months extra to prepare their plan). It was also decided not to proceed with the more modest proposals produced by Wychavon Leisure, the company that ran the lido on behalf of the council prior to closure. By way of a stay of execution, the campaign group fighting to reopen the lido Save A Lido Today (SALT) were asked to produce a business case. After ten months of intensive work proposals were put to Council. These were ultimately rejected in February 2005 and Council passed a resolution that committed Wychavon to incorporate the lido into the park as a matter of urgency.

Following Wychavon Councils shock decision, the SALT campaign group reorganised, restructured and quickly brought the plight of the lido to the attention of both local and national media. At the same time local residents voted to hold a parish poll to give Droitwich Spa residents their say on the future of the lido. Wychavon District Council also issued plans for their new 21st century lido showing a fish shaped pool with wet play areas. Nearly a quarter of the electorate came out to vote a remarkable turnout considering polling stations were only open for five hours in the evening, there was no postal voting and the boundaries had changed meaning a considerable number of voters did not know where to go and vote. All but 71 voters out of 4014 were in favour of restoring the lido to its former splendour and making the attraction fully operational. The result stunned both the media and the public.

Following the Parish poll Wychavon District Council revamped their plans and issued concept plans of the lido, featuring the rectangular pool of original size with a walk in beach sloping area, of dilute brine water and a wet play area with fountains and water cannons alongside. A free smaller childrens wet play area is to be constructed outside in the park. This has been accepted by the council and a short public consultation period up to 31st October 2005 is taking place, with a view to reopening in Summer 2006.

Droitwich Spa Sea Water Bathing Lido has served the health and recreation needs of the area since the troubled years of the thirties, through the years ravaged by the world war, in times of unemployment and times of prosperity. Local people love the lido. Families who do not have the time or money to get to the coast take the children to the lido and recuperate there. People have business meetings poolside. It is a good place to socialise and meet friends. Local farmers report that after hay harvest they took helpers to the cafe to picnic and relax in the pool and it was idyllic, wonderful, and now unavailable.

Rightly the lido has been called the seaside of the West Midlands. It is the icon for Droitwich Spa the last remaining jewel in the crown. Sufferers of painful joints insist they are healed in the pool and people who holiday all over the world will, even today, say "I love the lido! There is something so exotic about it and it is here, on our doorstep.