This blog will I know probably lead to a flurry of complaints about how the Conservatives closed Surbiton Lagoon, but in any case there is some interesting history here. This article appeared in todays Daily Telegraph giving a perspective on how successful outdoor pools are continuing to be.
The pool was built prior to the war and in the 80's its low quality construction let it down and they closed it. I suppose the comfort for me know is that the surrounding residents do not have to endure the level of traffic and disturbance a pool would cause on the old Lagoon site. Clearly it was built there in a world where the motor car did not predominate.
The site as it is now:
For information on Lidos that are still open then click here.
3 comments:
I can only lament its demise too Kevin. I passed it almost every day as a kid going to Challoner school and frequently used it in the summer. It was a "proper" pool - you could do lengths in it like at the old pool in Denmark Road Kingston - which is not really possible with the modern Fairfield facility, albeit the changing rooms are far better. However, it was badly built, not really one of those lidos worth saving and I gather the hogsmill started to leak into it as a huge crack developed.
A 3rd pool is possibly still needed to serve the borough and I would advocate it should be in Tolworth to replace the Tolworth Bowl should that eventually be closed.
I think you will find that a new pool is planned as part of the Tolworth Girls school redeveloment. I am all for this although I hear that the Lib Dem Cllr's in that ward are not being terribly supportive.
If that is the case, I could perhaps see their point - a public pool will bring further traffic up Red Lion Road extending the chaos residents already have to endure at school times. If accessed directly from the A3 it might help but can't see how this would work without extensive junction improvements or a new slip road.
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