The London Fields User group have spent 3 years developing a proposal to re-open the lido, working with the Environment Trust and Market Sports.  This would cost Hackney nothing, but the partnership cannot progress without the lease of the site - which the council say they cannot discuss until their parks strategy is published in October.

Meantime Hackney Council have announced they are spending £25,000 on a report on London Fields Lido*, without consultation with the user group.  Mike Martin, chair of the London Fields User Group says "We have, with our partners just been through a 4 months long struggle to try and convince the Council to allow the redevelopment of the London Fields Lido. We required permission and a lease before the end of March to obtain funding from Sport England before their cut off date. This process has run out and we can do nothing further until the Council has been through yet another expensive internal review and reappraisal of strategic plans for future parks development.  This is the fourth Strategy for Parks and Open Spaces in 10 years". ...more ---> ...

| London Fields Lido | 6 September 2004; 3:50:04 PM |# | | |