Ipswich Lido / Broomhill Pool - Urban Exploration in Ipswich, Suffolk
Ipswich Lido / Broomhill Pool
Where - Ipswich, Suffolk.
Visited - 27 January 2007.
The lido in Ipswich, aka Broomhill Pool was opened in 1938. It was thought to be one of the best pools of the time. It closed in 2002 to the disdain of many. There is a campaign to save and restore it though.
Entrance
This was one of the main entrances.
Pools & Diving Board
There are two pools at the Lido - a small child's pool and a larger & deeper adult pool.
They're full of crap.
The deep end of the adult pool has four diving boards. Not the most elegant construction, but hey.
On one side there is a "beach" area, for resting between swims and sunbathing. It's hard to imagine on a cold winter's morning.
Changing rooms
Obviously people needed to get changed, and this is where they done it. Males were in the blue section, and females the pink.
Grandstand & Refreshments
This could hold around 700 spectators. Blimey.
And that's it. Quite a small little explore, but none-the-less, interesting.
Your Comments
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Posted 3 February 2007, 21:00 From sally wainman
Really beautiful photos, particularly the panoramic long one. The fight to save Broomhill is now in its fifth year, with the results of a Feasibility Study due out soon.
Posted 5 February 2007, 23:40 From Niall
I used to go here every summer when I was a kid. It was always packed, and we loved it. I'm really miffed to see it in such a state. I can't believe people stopped going, so I guess the council just decided to shut it so as not to spend any money on it,
Posted 22 February 2007, 18:50 From sally wainman
Niall - don't give up hope. The fight to save it has been continuous and I have just started a new Yahoo Group called Pooling Resources -
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/poolingresources
Posted 3 March 2007, 11:20 From Ian Benfield
Good photos, though sad! Most of the rubbish and weeds were removed during Heritage Open Day last summer and during the Feasibility Study. A full report is now with the council and we members of the Bromhill Pool Trust are hoping for good news soon.
Posted 30 March 2007, 19:20 From sally wainman
Will hopefully be standing in the local elections as independent candidate with broomhill pool as the main issue. If anyone would like to help deliver leaflets after Easter, please let me know.
Posted 21 June 2007, 21:50 From trish
i used to swim here when i was a child, its so sad to see it in this state. will it ever be re-opened?!?!?!
Posted 5 September 2007, 19:00 From sally wainman
The site of Broomhill Pool should be open this Saturday and Sunday 8th and 9th September 2007 as part of the Heritage Open Days.
The times advertised are 11am- 5pm on both days.
Posted 24 January 2008, 17:10 From Ian Benfield
The feasibility study showed there were no major defects at the lido and IBC have pledged £1million towards saving it. In March 2008 the Broomhill Pool Trust will apply for a £1.9 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the total £3.9 million needed. Target date for reopening is 2010.
Posted 12 April 2008, 11:10 From sally wainman
Open Day at the lido on 26th April 2008 to mark Broomhill Pool's 70th anniversary
See main website for details
www save broomhill pool . org
The Heritage Lottery Bid has now been submitted too.
Posted 18 April 2008, 14:10 From Jim
Why has no-one considered alternatives to bringing back this poorly constructed, poorly situated pool. It is away from all major transport links, on a hill (now whoever thought building a massively, heavy construction on the side of a steep hill was a good idea?). No one ever went there except on the sunniest days (I worked there for the 3 of Broomhills last 4 years). It really irks me that people keep saying "I swam their as a child and it's sad to see it in this state", why haven't they been there for 10 or 20 years?!?! The council already shut it temporarily before this recent closure and when it opened again did we see huge visitor numbers desperate to keep the place viable? No.
It was a relatively cheap place to maintain, but if the council want to blow £1 million of our cash please build us a NEW outdoor lido, somewhere flat and easy to get to, maybe even on one of these out of town areas like Next Generation. Or they could pull their finger out and sort out the replacement for Crown Pools that was talked about so much recently and then nothing was done about it.
To sum up, this derelict site is costing tens of thousands of pounds a year more than it did when it was open, and the sooner a decision is made the better.
Posted 18 April 2008, 18:30 From sally wainman
It wasn't poorly constructed at all and has lasted much better than leisure pools built several decades later. The souvenir programme from 1938 gives exact details of the thickness of the concrete, how the pool was designed, the filtration system etc. The "hillside" argument is trotted out on a regular basis but only ever seems to be applied to the pool and not to the houses!
The pool was less popular in its closing years because the Council wanted it to close: they put the prices up so that Broomhill was much more expensive than Crown Pools; they refused to consider season tickets as an option; they made the opening hours erratic and undependable; they made no effort to provide times for serious swimmers to do length training; they did not advertise the pool or promote it - when swimmers went to Crown Pools, for example, there wasn't a single notice up about the lido too.
As for transport links it is a five minute bus ride from the town centre, with buses going up and down the main Norwich Rd at frequent intervals and IBC could have laid on a shuttle bus if they had wanted to promote the lido.
Posted 2 May 2008, 10:30 From sally wainman
Over 500 people attended the Open Day on April 26th 2008, which was the nearest Saturday to the pool's 70th Anniversary on 30th April. The day was blessed with glorious sunshine, in an otherwise rather grey and cloudy month!
An exhibition of the pool's history and hopeful future was on view, along with the impressive archive of six years relentless campaigning. Broomhill Pool closed in the autumn of 2002, so it is something of a miracle that the bulldozers have been kept at bay, so far, by this campaign.
Posted 7 May 2008, 23:20 From lyn
I cannot believe how the place has changed and think its awful it's been closed so long.
I spent long days there as a child in the summers, it was a cheap day out with a pack up (anyone remember the 'easy rider summer passes' for the sports facilities in Ips and free bus travel for kids summer hols?), we cycled there although it was easy to get the bus too and given the state of our local sea (which is hardly inviting) is a fab alternative to going abroad or being cooped up in an indoor pool at the height of summer. When I got older I spent summers working there as a pool attendant and would love to be able to go again for a full day out.
I know in our fickle weather it is easy to say it's costing a fortune to run but agree it was never well advertised - more local word and mouth (and you'd be suprised how many locals don't know it's there!) but to have such a wonderful unique facility in our local community should be used positively, to get people outside, socialising and keeping fit. There are too many distractions to keep us in our own homes these days or simple trips out for a family cost an arm and a leg - maybe this lido can be brought back to it's former glory and when we get those lovely warm sunny summer days it can be used as it was intended and I don't have to wistfully think if only Broomhill was open today!
Posted 24 May 2008, 11:10 From sally wainman
I am walking in the Orwell Walk (25 miles) on 8th June to raise money for the Broomhill Pool Trust - see main website (save broomhill pool) if you would like to sponsor this effort.
Thank you!
Posted 18 July 2008, 20:00 From sally wainman
The Orwell Walk was flooded off this year after torrential rain in the days leading up to 8th June
It will now take place on Sunday 7th September 2008, so if you would like to sponsor the effort to raise funds for Broomhill Pool you still can!
Posted 11 December 2008, 09:10 From Sally Wainman
END OF THE ROAD FOR BROOMHILL POOL?
On 16th December the Executive Committee of Ipswich Borough Council will vote through measures to drain the water from Broomhill Pool, remove the diving boards and fill the pool in.
The project will cost approx £113,000 and involves £20,000 of granular fill for the base of the pool and £55,000 worth of sand or similar material to fill the pool in. It is difficult to see how this will ever be reversible.
Posted 16 February 2009, 22:30 From Paul
That seems like a sad end to the pool. Do you know if this actually happened in the end?
Posted 13 April 2009, 20:40 From Sally Wainman
It looks as if the idea of dumping £75,000 worth of sand and granular infill into the lido has been shelved at the moment. The Council are currently looking at putting boards over the pool, I believe.
The campaign to try and save Broomhill Pool remains ongoing.
Posted 27 June 2009, 10:00 From Rob
Our outdoor lido in Droitwich Spa Worcestershire was closed for seven years and was in much the same condition as yours is now. It re-opened in 2007 after Wychavon council spent 1.5 million on a refurb.It is absolutely fantastic to have it back and would urge whoever is responsible to redevelop your site if at all possible as it would be a great shame to lose it forever. Good luck with your campain.
Posted 16 July 2009, 18:40 From Sally Wainman
Ipswich Borough Council have now applied for Listed Building Consent to install a "temporary" corrugated steel cover over both pools and a temporary steel security screen around the diving platform, plus removal of changing cubicle doors and storage on site.
It is an enormous pity that all their efforts and funding go towards keeping this pool closed, rather than getting it open again.
Posted 4 August 2009, 02:40 From Mr Waverly
Let's hope that IBC get their arses in to gear and get this fascinating example of a lido repaired, made good, and BACK IN USE. I live not far away, and when I was a kid, the sight of literally hundreds of other kids, queueing patiently outside, the line snaking down the hill to Norwich road, told me that the long summer holidays had finally begun! So, Ipswich Borough Council, DEDIGITATE!
Posted 13 August 2009, 16:00 From Anthony Johns
I fought and obtained the grade two listing for this pool. However, unfortunately, this was in vain. I have been a thorn in the side of IBC and local government agencies. IBC will not open this pool for 3 reasons. 1. They never managed the pool safely and successfully. 2. They fiddled the gate cash for years to show on paper that It was not viable. 3. They do not want to see a success made of a venue they used to run at an extreme loss, the same as all venues they mismanage. The public will want to know why? why? Why?
Posted 25 August 2009, 21:10 From valerie giles
I used this pool in the 60s/70s its a rotten shame to see it like this, i have been following the progress and have written 2 letters to the evening star in reply to people who are against this project. They were not printed as i remarked on our so called ambassedor for swimming,/sport,who could have given this project a big publicity airing when on tv and did not even mention it .
Posted 9 September 2009, 07:10 From Sally Wainman
The Broomhill Pool site will be open again for the Heritage Open Days coming up this weekend: September 12th and September 13th 2009
Entrance is free, but donations are of course welcome.
Time 10am - 5pm
For anyone who doesn't know the local area, the entrance is from Sherrington Road and not Broomhill Road.
This September the campaign to try and save this pool moves into its eighth year; this has been fought continuously since 2002 and many people have contributed their efforts in different ways. Getting the pool "listed" was exceptionally important, Anthony, and thanks to everyone who has written letters to the Evening Star or EADT, regardless of whether or not they were printed! You still took the time to write.
Broomhill Pool is now on the NMR - the National Monuments Record - on a website called PASTSCAPE run by English Heritage
Posted 27 September 2009, 13:20 From Sally Wainman
Ipswich Borough Council are currently advertising Broomhill Pool on the Leisure Opportunities website, asking for "Expressions of Interest" in the site.
Posted 21 October 2009, 11:40 From Sally Wainman
The work on covering over the lido has begun - why?
The Council voted through the sum of £113,000 last December (2008) when they wanted to dump sand and granular infill in the pool and even though the cover is possibly going to cost less this still appears to be an absolute waste of money.
The Council has just advertised for Expressions of Interest - if this move is successful then anyone taking over the pool will have to undo this work.
Posted 9 November 2009, 17:40 From Ruth Dugdall
Does anyone know if it possible to visit the pool?
I am a local writer and, as I too spend my teenage summers at Broom Hill, I am using this experience in my laterst novel. The photos are really useful, but a visit to the site would really help.
I hope my book will also highlight the amazing experience a lido can be!
Posted 5 December 2009, 14:10 From Sally Wainman
You need to contact the Broomhill Pool Trust, Ruth. Log onto their website and use the "Contact Us" icon. This will go through to Mark Ling, the Press Officer for the Broomhill Pool Trust.
Posted 5 December 2009, 14:20 From Sally Wainman
The Executive of Ipswich Borough Council will be meeting on December 15th 2009 to discuss future options for the lido - one of their intentions is to withdraw their previous offer of providing £1 million towards the pool's restoration. This officially expires at the end of December 2009 and the Council are using the recession as their reason for doing this.
They are known to want extra funding for their own preferred heritage project (£4 million on Holywells Park) and it will therefore come as no surprise if the million pounds originally earmarked for the Broomhill Lido is seamlessly transferred over to works on Holywells Park.
Posted 12 December 2009, 01:10 From Sally Wainman
The report on Broomhill Pool that the Executive of Ipswich Borough Council will be considering on Tuesday 15th December 2009 contains a statement claiming that there is enough water space in Ipswich.
It doesn't say, however, that there is enough PUBLIC water space.
Sport England combines public and private swimming pools when calculating whether or not there is enough swimming provision and therefore the Council are including pools like the one at David Lloyd health club, even though they cannot possibly take any credit for a private facility like that.
The Executive will almost certainly rubber stamp the decision to take the million pounds away from Broomhill Pool next Tuesday and justify their actions because private and public pools can be combined to prove there is adequate water space in Ipswich.
Posted 12 December 2009, 16:10 From Claire
I loved this pool. I would still go now even tho I used to go loads when I was young. I did think, this year, on the hot days what a shame I couldnt go for a swim to cool off. The prices did go up and so this put alot off from going.
Please open it soon.
Posted 18 December 2009, 10:30 From Sally Wainman
The Executive of Ipswich Borough Council met on December 15th 2009 and took only a few moments to vote the one million pounds, (previously pledged towards the restoration), off the table.
The Executive also considered an All Options report and chose Option 2 which is the possible transfer to an outside operator: the proposed recommendation was that "Executive resolves to support pursuing Option 2, namely the transfer of Broomhill Pool to an alternative provider."
Three possible operators have expressed an interest in the lido but Cllr Terry said they had all been informed that there was no money available to them from the council. It therefore remains to be seen what will happen early next year (2010). The three companies have been given until 10th February 2010 to submit proposals to Ipswich Borough Council.
I personally feel that the advertisement for Expressions of Interest was very carefully timed for the late autumn of 2009, because the offer of the million pounds was due to expire on 31st December 2009. The council must have known that no company could get a bid together before Christmas.
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Posted 28 December 2009, 10:20 From Sally Wainman
Paul Geater's latest articles on Broomhill Pool have been heavily slanted in the council's favour, with the Ipswich Advertiser in particular, really going overboard with its "High Hopes for Broomhill Pool" story in the Thursday December 24th 2009 edition. (Star Advertiser - Ipswich edition)
Where was Mr Geater, for example, when the council were trying to fill the pool in last year (Christmas 2008) with thousands of pounds worth of sand and granular infill? Why is there no journalistic balance to his reporting on this particular issue?
This Grade II Listed pool has now been left deliberately and needlessly derelict by Ipswich Borough Council for over seven years, so vague and fluffy "hopes" that "the pool could be open for business again in the summer of 2013" are meaningless without the backing of a signed and sealed contract with an outside leisure operator.
It is astonishing that the council's decision to advertise for Expressions of Interest is being hailed as some kind of miraculous breakthrough, when this is a course of action that could have been adopted at any point over the last seven years. Ipswich Borough Council could have advertised whilst the pool was still open in 2001/2002 and therefore handed over a going concern to a leisure company.
Instead operators are now being offered a property which has been repeatedly vandalized whilst in the council's care and left neglected.
It is therefore almost certain that the council will have to provide some kind of funding towards the pool's initial restoration if it wants to see the Broomhill Pool saga come to some kind of conclusion.
In the run up to the 2005 General Election the council offered a million pounds towards the pool's refurbishment; in the run up to the 2010 General Election the council have neatly taken that money away again! That may be the Conservatives' idea of progress, but it certainly isn't mine, because in the intervening years the fabric of the pool has suffered further deterioration and attack.
What will 2010 bring for this part of Suffolk's heritage?
Posted 5 February 2010, 07:40 From Sally Wainman
The Council stated that three operators had decided to pursue a bid for the Broomhill Pool site. The "Expressions of Interest" advertisement simply referred to 'recreational use' and not specifically swimming.
The potential operators have until February 10th 2010 to submit their plans and then the Council must examine their options. So this really is a crucial time for the Broomhill Lido.
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