“A COMMUNITY might be able to swim again at an East End baths that was forced to close in 1986 because of high running and maintenance costs. Campaigners fighting to bring back Poplar Baths held a community-planning weekend at the Salvation Army Hall.”

(Via Tower Hamlets Recorder Going to great lengths in baths plan: .)

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“I wish this book had come out 15 years ago, because then the lido at Margate might have been saved. I started going there when I was eight and it was just so exotic. It made Margate seem like the Mediterranean. Not like an English seaside town, but somehow incredibly glamorous. It had a diving board that made me think of Elvis Presley.

We should be saving them, and building more. So here’s to Liquid Assets. Let the nation swim!

‘Liquid Assets: The lidos and open air swimming pools of Britain,’ by Janet Smith, is published this week, at £14.99. To order, tel 01761 452 966, AMAZON

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a trial of the Heath lido opening late one night a week is to be started. The more popular it is, the more likely it is to be a permanent feature (at least in the Summer). Any help in publicising this would be greatly appreciated folks so get forwarding folks.

In response to popular demand, the newly renovated pool will open on Thursday evenings from July 28, throughout August, primarily for lane swimming.

We visited as a family on Saturday, two adults and four children, £16.90 - it was beautiful and roidgreat view from the Alwynne tower was a tonic. Did we say how brilliant the pool-deck staff are there - we wouldn’t do that job for a gold pig and they do it excellently.

check out the press release
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“BATHERS taking an early morning winter dip in the Hampstead Heath ponds will have to pledge that they are good swimmers and of sound mind. Swimmers must sign a legal agreement that they understand the risks of early morning winter bathing without lifeguar”

(Via Ham and High Express Heath swimmers’ sanity questioned: .)

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