UK seaside town’s beachfront lido set to stay closed this year amid fears it will NEVER reopen
ONE popular lido could be sold to save thousands of pounds – and remain closed for good.
The outdoor pool in Teignmouth is set to close, and locals are worried that it may never open its doors again.
Teignbridge Council recently announced its plan to close the town’s beachfront lido in a bid to save money.
Officials said not reopening Teignmouth Lido could save £74,000 in 2026.
The news hasn’t been well received by locals who want the lido to remain open.
Talking to ITV News, Catherine Brown, a lifeguard supervisor, said: “It has a huge amount of value to people of all ages and all groups, people bring their kids to swim, their grandkids to swim, disabled people can come here to swim.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s raining or sunshine, it’s such a lovely place and everybody comes out with a smile on their face.”
A report said the number of swimmers using the pool was 8,224 in 2024 – this number increased in 2025.
Teignmouth Lido operates as a seasonal site which opens for the May half-term.
It has partial opening hours in June and July and then opens full time for the summer holidays.
The 25-metre pool is heated and holds public swims, fun sessions, as well as water-based activities like aqua fit and aqua circuits.
Four years ago, the pool underwent a refurbishment of £800,000 and then a further £30,000 was spent on repairs, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Members of the council will hold a closed meeting on February 21, 2026.
They will vote on a proposal to dispose of the lido on the open market, without restrictions on its future use – meaning it could no longer be used as a lido.
But if the pool does go up for sale, the local community has an opportunity to draw up a bid to buy it.
This is because the pool was listed as an official Asset of Community Value in 2025.
Save the Lido – Teignmouth is hoping to do exactly that.
Daniel O’Connel, the co-founder of the campaign told ITV News: “We can look now to get things in motion to acquire the asset for the community and the people of Teignbridge.”
One Travel Writer who grew up in the area has her say on the potential closure…
Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding weighs in on the potential closure of the pool…
“Teignmouth Lido is more than just a gem on the South West coast; for me, it’s the backdrop of my childhood.
“For over a decade, my school summer holidays were defined by afternoons spent there with my family – so to hear that the lido could close is heartbreaking.
“With ample patio and sun-drenched patches of grass surrounding the 25-metre crystal clear pool, it was the rare kind of place where parents could relax while kids felt a bit of freedom.
“For local families, it was an affordable but brilliant day out.
“To lose the lido now, after a £800,000 refurb less than three years ago, it wouldn’t just be a loss for Teignmouth and its community but also a tragic waste of money.”
Here’s more on a lido that could potentially open in one seaside town that hopes to bring back a swimming pool 50 years after it was destroyed.
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