Emergency funding success for Cleveland Pools

28th September, 2020

Cleveland Pools Trust has been awarded £56,300 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to assist with the impact of Covid-19 on its construction project.

The Cleveland Pools in Bath is the UK’s oldest surviving public outdoor swimming pool, first opening in 1817 as a river-fed pool and having a colourful history until closing to swimming in 1984. Cleveland Pools Trust formed in 2005 to rescue the pools from deterioration and its listed status raised from Grade II to Grade II* recognising its unique history and design.

The restoration project, to create the UK’s first naturally-treated open-air pools, has already received £4.7m lottery funding.

Paul Simons, Chair of the Trust said: “The Cleveland Pools Trust is immensely grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its continuing support and confidence in the project team in its efforts to move forward and deliver this unique project. We are all working in unprecedented circumstances and the Trust is delighted with the encouragement and assistance that it is receiving from its major funder.”

The Trust has taken the decision to delay the planned start of works on site until spring next year to minimise the risk to adverse weather on the project. But the plans are still for the Cleveland Pools to reopen for swimming in summer 2022, when it will certainly be a welcome addition to the UK’s outdoor pool scene.

 

Justine Harvey