IT is a beautiful scene outside the window as the finishing touches are put on Brightlingsea lido, says trustee Mick Barry.

All being well, the only outdoor pool of its kind in Essex will open to the public on May 28 - Bank Holiday Monday - when hopefully hundreds of people descend on the Promenade.

Since Brightlingsea Town Council, and the charitable incorporated organisation managing the lido took it over, it has been completely overhauled.

He said: “One of the main aspirations we were looking to achieve is to make it accessible and inclusive with disabled changing facilities and ramps.

“The pool has been jet washed and painted with the help of hundreds of volunteers, at least 30 each Saturday.

“There’s been contributions from businesses replacing windows and doors, graphic designers to sign makers and structural engineers, all giving their time pretty much free.

“The contributions from the community has been outstanding.”

Without this outpouring of support, the project simply would not have come to fruition, Mick admits.

“It would’ve cost, I estimate in the tens of thousands if we had to pay to do what they did.

“The budget has been so small compared to other refurbs and we’ve managed it pretty well, but it’s because the community believes in the project.”

Brightlingsea Town Council has foot the bill for the first year leaving the board of trustees to be innovative so the lido is economically sustainable.

There are already ideas on the table to stretch across their five-year plan which Mick anticipates will get a “universally positive response”.

A lack of promotion and attendance last year will be rectified by targeting new user groups.

He said: “We hope to heat the pool next year, or at least take the chill off it, and get children in for swimming lessons.

“Cold water swimming for adults is coming back in fashion and health wise is very good for you.

“Once you get over the shock it’s apparently one of the best exercises you can do for cardiovascular health.

“Given Tendring’s appalling health statistics we would aim to get people doing early morning and late swims, but also looking at swimming lessons for schools and look to make it as accessible as we possibly can.

“Lidos themselves are becoming increasingly popular so we’re glad to have kept it going.”

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Will Jenkins is lido manager and Mick is one of ten trustees from what he describes as an eclectic group, whittled down from meetings which began more than a year ago.

Eleven lifeguards have been hired, from age 16 to 50, so the pool is creating both a buzz and job opportunities.

Observing the evolution of the lido, which first opened in 1932, has become a pastime for everyone in Brightlingsea.

All of Mick’s three children, who are now in their Thirties, have fond memories of the pool having spent summers there.

To have closed it would have been a travesty, he said.

“Everyone has a story about it. We received a cheque from an 88-year-old in Clacton who then sent us a letter about her experiences in the Thirties.

“I’ve lived in Brightlingsea for 45 years and walked past it every day and it always looked a bit sad when closed but now, this looks pretty spectacular.”

School holiday and term time opening hours will govern the pool with adults only sessions most days.

Until then, there is still work to do on the perimeter. Fingers crossed, it will be a great summer, and spark a new generation of modern memories.

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