A packed public meeting heard calls for a community takeover of a seaside lido after councillors agreed to reconsider a controversial decision to close the facility.
Teignbridge District Council’s executive voted in February to shut Teignmouth Lido in a bid to save £74,000 a year, prompting strong opposition from residents and swimmers.
However, a special meeting of the council’s scrutiny committee heard repeated pleas from a packed public gallery to keep the pool open and explore transferring it to a community group.
Councillors voted to formally ask the executive to reconsider the decision.
The council’s deputy leader said it was good to see “democracy in action” and confirmed the executive would listen again to the evidence before deciding whether to overturn the closure.
Campaigners later held a public meeting at Teignmouth Rugby Club, attended by more than 200 people, to outline plans for a volunteer-led trust to run the pool if the council allows it.
Daniel O’Connell, from the Save the Lido group, said the turnout showed how important the facility was to residents and businesses.
Daniel said: “We have got more than 200 people here, which hopefully shows the importance of what the lido means to the community in Teignmouth and the surrounding towns and villages.
“It is not just about the people who live here. For businesses, the lido is a great selling point. Hotels and B&Bs can promote the fact there is a lido here as part of the visitor experience.”
Earlier the same day, councillors discussed the closure decision during a scrutiny meeting.
Daniel said: “The decision has now gone back to the Teignbridge executive next week for them to reconsider their decision.
“A few councillors from the executive came to us afterwards and said they might have made a mistake. They were surprised by the level of support.”
The outdoor pool reopened in May 2023 after being closed for three years while £800,000 of renovation and decarbonisation work was carried out.
Campaigners believe the upgrades could allow the facility to operate for longer each year.
Daniel said: “That system should generate enough energy to keep the pool open for longer hours than the current season, which usually runs from the end of May to the end of August.
“We often have great weather in September and October, so we would like to explore extending the season.”
A working group was formed around 14 months ago to explore options for protecting the pool if closure was proposed.
Daniel said: “We spent time gathering information and monitoring the situation behind the scenes. Then in January the council agenda showed they were considering closing the lido and disposing of it, which was when we formally came together as a group.”
The group has secured “asset of community value” status for the site, giving communities time to prepare a bid if the property is put up for sale.
Daniel said: “That status means the council cannot dispose of the asset on the open market for up to six months.
“It does not give us the right to buy it, but it gives the community a chance to come forward.”
Campaigners believe the facility could be run by volunteers alongside paid staff, similar to other community-run lidos across the country.
Daniel said: “There would still be paid roles. We cannot expect people to lifeguard for free all the time. But volunteers could help with other roles and support the operation.”
Supporters at the meeting also heard from members of the proposed management team, including lifeguards, swimming instructors and volunteers with experience in operations, governance and construction.
Adrian Eastman said he had previously helped a community group take over a lido elsewhere.
Adrian said: “The council had let the pool run down and said it was not viable. The community took it over as a trust and it became extremely successful.”
During the meeting, Penny Lloyd said local MP Martin Wrigley supported the campaign but had been unable to attend.
Penny said: “Martin Wrigley is totally behind the whole scheme and wanted everyone to know that. If he had not been in Westminster dealing with international matters he would have been here tonight.”
Campaigners are considering launching a crowdfunding scheme if they are given the opportunity to operate the pool.
Daniel said: “What we do not want is a ‘give us your money’ campaign. The idea behind crowdfunding is that people receive something in return.
“For example, if someone donated £20 they might receive a free family swim ticket or a ‘Save the Lido’ T-shirt.”
He said the group’s aim was to demonstrate the pool could at least break even if it was run differently.
Daniel said: “If at the end of the year we make £1, that is a win.”
