London Fields Lido finally gets reopening date – after end of summer

London Fields Lido. Photograph: Peter Smith (Wikicommons)

London Fields Lido is set to reopen at the end of September – after a refurbishment job that took months longer than planned.

The pool was originally scheduled to reopen in the summer after being shut in April, but as reported by the Citizen this was moved to “late summer” following setbacks.

The official date for the return of the ever-popular lido of Saturday 30 September 2017 was announced this morning having been decided over the weekend.

The council attributed the delay to issues obtaining a firm date from contractors and “delays in removing the material beneath the pool tiles and digging out the slab in the changing rooms” according to Cllr Jon Burke.

Cllr Burke took to Twitter last week to reassure residents that refurbishment had been of the “highest standard” and that there would be no backtracking from the now-announced date.

…do things well or quickly (rarely both). The focus has been on delivering the highest standard of refurbishment throughout the project.

— Cllr Jon Burke (@jonburkeUK) August 23, 2017

In a new statement put out by the council this morning, Cllr Burke added the following:

“I am delighted that returning and new users will be able to enjoy better, more modern and accessible facilities when it reopens on 30 September; and obviously we will reopen it sooner if we can.

“I understand that people were disappointed that the Lido had to close, and it is frustrating that some delays were encountered throughout the renovations.

“Delays are not uncommon with complicated building work but we have been working very hard with the contractor to re-open the Lido as quickly as possible. Extra workers and specialist equipment has been brought in and a canopy built over the pool so the works can continue when it rains.

“The highest standard possible”: Mayor Glanville and others survey the work done. Photograph: Hackney Council

“My priority is to ensure the works are completed to the highest standard possible, to provide a long-term, sustainable future for this important community asset.”

In meteorological, astronomical or purely layman’s terms, summer is well and truly over by 30 September, with the September equinox occurring between the 21st and 24th of the month.

However, the same date last year saw highs of 19°C in London, with minimal amounts of cloud and no precipitation – so those hoping for an opening weekend dip may still have a chance of clement weather.