Peckham Lido: Pool's reopening draws closer after £60k fundraising drive

Peckham Lido: Pool's reopening draws closer after £60k fundraising drive
Studio Octopi + Picture Plane
Jamie Bullen23 July 2016

One of London’s forgotten lidos could reopen after a crowdfunding project raised more than £60,000 towards the project.

More than 1,100 people backed an online campaign by residents to revive Peckham’s Lido after it closed nearly three decades ago.

The pool served swimmers and sunbathers for more than 50 years in an under-used corner in Peckham Rye Common before it fell into disrepair and shut in 1987.

In May, locals Ben Lloyd-Ennals and Jim Glynn founded the Peckham Lido campaign to make the open-air pool the “jewel in the crown” of the area.

The project benefited from a wave of support including major pledges from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Southwark Council to surpass its £63,000 target this week.

Splashmob: Supporters at an event to revive Peckham's lido
Chris Romer-Lee

The council donated £10,000 to the project while the Mayor signed off a cheque for £7,500.

But despite the huge swell of support, delighted organisers admitted they breathed a huge sigh of relief when the figure was raised amid fears they would fall short of their target.

The campaign’s fundraising deadline passes at the end of July.

Architect Chris Romer-Lee, director of Southwark-based Studio Octopi, tasked to draw up plans for the new lido, said: “This time last week we were nervous about the impending deadline and the mountain we had to climb.

“It was looking like a tight finish.

“Pledging to a crowdfunding campaign is by its nature risky so any sort of credibility a campaign can muster provides confidence that the pledge will be well used.

“One week ago we released an endorsement by the Amateur Swimming Association and that also really helped an upsurge in pledges.

“I’m confident Peckham Lido will be the jewel in the crown of one of London’s most exciting and involved communities.”

The money will be used to develop plans for a 50-metre swimming pool, outdoor cinema, gym, roof-top sunbathing area plus a “wild” swimming pool near the River Peck.

A planning application is due to be submitted before the end of the year.

Cllr Mark Williams, from Southwark Council, said: "Peckham is home to some of the brightest stars in London’s creative industries and so it’s no surprise that some of the city’s most exciting projects are being driven by its local community.

“The council is already supporting the fantastic Peckham Coalline project, and we wanted to give the Peckham Lido campaigners the same support to develop their plans."

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