Hackney Council boosts fitness by improving swimming pool

Hackney Council has made some changes to its local swimming facilities as part of a drive to boost safety and fitness in the borough, it has been announced.

The Council and its leisure partner GLL has installed new floodlights at London Fields Lido - an outdoor pool popular with members of the public.

In addition, the opening hours of the swimming pool have been extended so swimmers can enjoy the Olympic-sized pool more flexibly.

Work on the phased installation of eight floodlight columns began earlier this month, after the local authority gained approval from the Planning Inspectorate this year. 

In line with requests from residents in the borough, the pool, which includes heated facilities will be open to the public between 6.30am and 9pm, year-round from December.

Commenting on the developments, Councillor Jonathan McShane, cabinet member for Health, Social Care and Culture, said: "We talked to Lido users about how we could improve what has quickly become a much-loved borough asset since we reopened it in 2006 after a major refurbishment. The overwhelming response was that people wanted to swim more often, later into the year, and before and after work or into the evenings - the floodlights mean residents will now be able to do this

"The pool owes much of its popularity to its state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly heating system, which keeps the water temperature at a constant 25C, even in the coldest weather."

As part of the initiative, lighting will also be installed at  the poolside changing cubicles and new LEDs will illuminate the entrance and cycle rack area. The underwater pool lights will also be replaced with new energy-saving bulbs.

The work is expected to be completed by the end of November. Residents were consulted earlier in the year over the plans and Etec Contract Services was awarded the contract following a tendering process.

Published 25th September, 2014

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