The Cleveland Pools site in Bath, which opened to much fanfare in September 2023, is set to remain closed for the foreseeable future due to serious damage caused by flooding.
The Cleveland Pools in Bath | Photo © Anthony Brown
The site has been closed to the public since January 2024, when floodwater entered and caused considerable damage to the pools’ operating plant and machinery in its plant room.
Extensive investigations have been ongoing into the incident, with damage now revealed to the surrounding areas of the main pool.
In a statement on the Cleveland Pools Trust website, it says the focus of ongoing investigations is on the “nature and extent of damage to the pool structure itself” and connecting pipework.
Paul Simons, Chair of the Cleveland Pools Trust, said: “The Cleveland Pools trustees regret the prolonged closure of the pools following the flooding in January 2024.
“The Trust is most grateful for the continuing support of the public and in particular the loyal volunteers who continue to support the project in whatever ways they can.
Swimming in the Cleveland Pools | Photo courtesy of Kitty Dimbleby
“The Trust, with the assistance of its professional advisers, is looking at all its available options for recovering the cost of remedying the damage to allow the pools to reopen.
“Unfortunately, at this present time, the Trust is unable to put a timescale on this.
“The Trust shares the frustration of the public that the pools remain closed, but wishes to reassure them as a registered charity run and managed by volunteers, it continues to use its best endeavours to find a solution to allow the pools to be brought back into use as soon as is practically and viably possible.”
The opening of the Cleveland Pools in 2023 followed a 20-year campaign and restoration project to save the historic Georgian lido for future generations.
The £6.5 million project was made possible thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund along with support from Historic England, Bath & North East Somerset Council, the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund, WECA, individual donors, charitable trusts and foundations, and crowdfunding.
