Plans to restore Grange Lido have received a boost with a grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund.
Save Grange Lido Ltd have been awarded up to £14,560 which will be spent on developing the plans to restore the iconic pool on the promenade.
The grant, which is the group’s second from the AHF, will give SGL the chance to continue their progress towards the restoration work at the iconic Grade 2 listed Art Deco Lido in Grange-over-Sands. The funds awarded will be matched by the fund-raising efforts of SGL volunteers who have been working tirelessly in recent months to develop their plans. The grant will go towards progressing architect’s plans and the heritage, transport and flood-resilience reports in preparation for a full planning application.
South Lakeland District Council, the owners of the site, are spending £2m upon the phase 1 restoration, which will see the derelict buildings and structures repaired for use once again, and SGL is working closely with SLDC to ensure that the Phase 1 restoration is soon followed by the full restoration of the pool.
Commenting upon the award of the grant, SGL Treasurer Denise Armstrong said: “It’s huge boost for us to receive a second grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund. It means that we can press on with our plans and demonstrate to the wider community that the Lido can be fully restored for the benefit of everyone in South Lakeland and the surrounding areas.”
Grange Ward Councillor Robin Ashcroft commented: “The award to Save Grange Lido of £14,560 from the Architectural Heritage Fund is really good news for the Lido project. The group have embarked on a challenging task and while it is still early days for them in addressing the four criteria set by SLDC that will enable SGL to progress with their project to re-water the pool this is encouraging news for them. We look forward to continuing to work with SGL as they hone and then bring forward their plans.”
The Head of Programmes and Impact at the AHF, Dr Kelcey Wilson-Lee said: “We are pleased to help this project investigate how to bring the iconic Art Deco lido back into community use.”
Professor John Ashton the former Director of Public Health for Cumbria supports the reopening of the Lido and has many happy memories there: “One of my fondest memories is of a childhood holiday with my parents in Grange in sthe 1950’s. It was the summer when Jim Laker took 19 wickets in the test match at Old Trafford. My father was listening to it on a small Perdio transistor radio while my sister and I played and swam in the Lido. It was one of those endless childhood summers.”
