Winchester has a long history of outdoor swimming which has been lost over the years with the closure of the Lido on Worthy Road and the river swimming pool in the water meadows. We would like the council to support its revival!
We would like the council to consider installing a lido as part of either the North Walls Park Improvement or the Redevelopment of the old leisure centre.
Lockdown has created a resurgence in outdoor sports and there is a great demand for outdoor swimming. The Walking Survey on North Walls Park in December 2020 suggested the possibility of a lido, and the North Walls Consultation Feedback in 2019 showed the strongest support (over 70%) for outdoor swimming.
There are many reasons why having a lido in Winchester would be great for our city.
Firstly, swimming outside is a lot of fun and a lido would be a draw for people to come to Winchester.
Secondly, outdoor swimming has been shown to have many positive benefits for physical and mental health and wellbeing - particularly important given the social impact of COVID.
Thirdly, outdoor swimming is good for increasing rates of physical activity in the community. A report carried out by the Outdoor Swimmer Magazine in 2020 found it attracts more women than men - the number of women swimming outdoors rose from 50% in 2017 to 65% in 2020. This is important as women overall are less likely to engage in sport. It would also provide a venue for young people to exercise and socialise.
Fourthly, swimming outdoors runs a lower risk of COVID transmission than swimming inside.
The River Park, due to its proximity to town and residential
areas would be a perfect place for the Lido. A lido could be
created inexpensively with simple outdoor shelters and changing
facilities as they have done in places such as Abbey Meadows Lido
in Abingdon or Petersfield. It could also house the cafe that is
called for in the consultations.
This ePetition ran from 31/07/2021 to 10/01/2022 and has now finished.
3156 people signed this ePetition.