Peckham Rye Lido

[early_doors]

I've copied this from the Spacehive crowdfunding site that is about to start a new fundraising push. It's dead exciting and seems to have a lot of momentum but where is it all going to fit!

About

Buried beneath the grass, in an underused corner of Peckham Rye Common, lies the old Peckham Lido. Once a well loved 50 metre outdoor swimming pool, it served the swimmers and sun-bathers of South East London for over 50 years. But by 1987 it had fallen into disrepair and it was closed and filled in. Now all that remains visible of the once great Peckham Lido is a crumbling blue fountain. We think it?s time to bring the lido back again. And we?re not alone. Up and down the country, from Saltdean to Tarlair, many of Britain?s lidos are coming back to life. We think South East London should be part of this great movement to bring outdoor swimming and sunbathing back. So, we?d like to rebuild the Peckham Lido on the same site as the original, using the existing mature trees to frame the new buildings. But we?re not just creating a replica. We want to make it better than ever! The following facilities will make it a fantastic hub for the whole of the Peckham Community!

What we'll do:

A 50 meter heated Olympic standard poolOutdoor cinema with amphitheatre seatingRoof-top sunbathing areasRestaurantGymYoga/dance studioFunction room for hireWild-swimming ? phase two will bring a separate natural pool, tapping into the buried River Peck that flows beneath

Why it's a great idea:

It brings a Olympic-sized pool for local schools, swimming clubs & the local community. If the next Michael Phelps or Rebecca Adlington lives in Peckham, we would never know, without a facility like this. It?s a healthy recreational facility for Peckham?s diverse community, serving all ages and cultures. It 's in tune with the fantastic energy in Peckham right now. Bringing biodiversity, health and wellbeing to the heart of our community. It breathes new life into changing area of London, creating at least 40 full and part time jobs that would suit a range of skill sets and qualifications - including life guards, personal trainers, yoga teachers, admin staff, managers, chefs & waiters. It brings more people into the area and boosts the local economy. Local shops, suppliers, restaurants and bars in Peckham, Nunhead and East Dulwich will benefit from the greater footfall and investment. Architects Studio Octopi and The Peckham Lido Campaign , will bring the vision to life!

Milestones:

Progress with our architects Studio Octopi to produce: drawings, updated visuals, and technical documentationCommission landscape architects to prepare landscape concept designCommission quantity surveyors to prepare a construction cost estimateHold a consultation to take on board ideas from locals, which we?ll feed into the architect?s designCommission our planning consultants to formally submit for Pre-Application Planning Advice to Southwark CouncilProduce a business plan, commercial strategy and fundraising tools to raise the ?5.5 million construction costCreate a marketing and publicity campaign to attract attention for the pool

Ever since our petition launched, we?ve been bowled over by the response from the public, and both the national and local press. Southwark Council have also voiced their support and approved the land use in principle, as has our local MP, Harriet Harman. Peckham Lido will be a vibrant open space, accessible to all. The jewel in the crown of one of London?s most exciting and involved communities. But we need your help to bring it home. Thank you all for your enthusiasm so far ? it?s been great! But now we need you to turn your support into pounds. As much or as little as you can afford to pledge. Let?s show the world that the community of Peckham wants its lido back. Thank you!

[bil]

Sounds like a fantastic addition to Peckham Rye common; for the whole community

[macutd]

It would be great if Southwark actually saw it as something that was a real asset and made it a priority, instead of some of it's other more mundane projects!

[Admoose]

This project sounds wonderful and I'll definitely be supporting it.

But on a pragmatic level I wonder how you will deal with challenges from nearby pools Dulwich Baths and Peckham Pulse? Admittedly what they offer is different - indoor, only 25m, heated - but they're both popular.

[fruityloops]

Not sure that it will struggle versus those two. Certainly a real revival in outdoor swimming in past 5 years or so.

[Abe_froeman]

I can't imagine there will be anywehere near enough finanical support to keep a 50m outdoor pool heated and open year round.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Would be absolutely fantastic if it happens.

[DulwichFox]

This was discussed at length some time back..

The site is totally unsuitable being so close to dangerous road junction.

100's of people milling around would not be practical.

Not financially viable. I also seem to remember there being a structual problem with the River Peck running beneath the site.

Foxy

[B&G]

Could you please post the link to the crowdfunding site, early_doors?

[jacks09]

I would love it, if viable.

[Jeremy]

Are we talking about a private business, or something that Southwark would operate and subsidise?

I think it would be a wonderful community asset, but due to the costs and unpredictable weather, surely not viable as a business?

[DulwichFox]

Just get on the 37 bus to the Lido / Cafe in Brockwell Park.. 10-12 mins.

Foxy.

[Jeremy]

DulwichFox Wrote:

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> Just get on the 37 bus to the Lido / Cafe in

> Brockwell Park.. 10-12 mins.

More like 45 mins - 20 min wait and 25 mins sitting on the bloody thing. But yeah, point taken. Not to mention two indoor pools v close by.

[TheArtfulDogger]

Oh foxy, you are such a killjoy, I support the idea simply because it would make Peckham rye a destination for swimmers and as a result they will spend in the area helping revive the economic fortune of Peckham and nunhead, which would push up house prices making me bloody rich 😈

So yes bring it on as I would seriously love to go swimming in a local lido

[Lynne]

Foxy is quiet right. A lot of money was spent not so many years ago and, if I remember rightly, the lido was open for about a year. And a very busy, polluted junction doesn't seem an ideal place

[DulwichFox]

I did use The Old Lido back in the 60's .. It was crap then falling down and the water was freezing..

The pool was full of dead leaves and wasps and flies..

Foxy

[TheArtfulDogger]

Lynne Wrote:

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> Foxy is quiet right. A lot of money was spent not

> so many years ago and, if I remember rightly, the

> lido was open for about a year. And a very busy,

> polluted junction doesn't seem an ideal place

Must have been longer than a few years ago as in the past 20 years the Peckham lido has never been reopened...

[gingerchris]

The crowdfunding has now opened - the link is https://www.spacehive.com/peckham-lido

[JohnL]

On twitter they say something announced tomorrow.

[KatyLou]

I would love a Peckham lido and love the idea of resurrecting the original however as a local who lives next to that end of the park, I agree with DulwichFox. The roads that surround that end of the Rye are already super busy. Importantly there would be no parking facilities and our already crowded residential streets would be swamped unless of course, they built a carpark which would take away some much loved green space to accomodate it.

[ed_pete]

TheArtfulDogger Wrote:

> So yes bring it on as I would seriously love to go

> swimming in a local lido

How local d'you want ? Brockwell Lido is 2 miles from corner of Peckham Rye.

[JohnL]

KatyLou Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I would love a Peckham lido and love the idea of

> resurrecting the original however as a local who

> lives next to that end of the park, I agree with

> DulwichFox. The roads that surround that end of

> the Rye are already super busy. Importantly there

> would be no parking facilities and our already

> crowded residential streets would be swamped

> unless of course, they built a carpark which would

> take away some much loved green space to

> accomodate it.

A local Lido for local people ;)

[TheArtfulDogger]

ed_pete Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> TheArtfulDogger Wrote:

>

> > So yes bring it on as I would seriously love to

> go

> > swimming in a local lido

>

> How local d'you want ? Brockwell Lido is 2 miles

> from corner of Peckham Rye.

Ed_pete, what a silly comment, as Peckham lido will be 2 minutes walk, thus reducing the need for me to pollute the atmosphere by driving or getting a bus to brockwell lido.

[DulwichFox]

I usually walk to Herne Hill.. would not think of driving.. might catch the bus..

Foxy

[LondonMix]

I can't see this happening. Until a definite route is selected for the Bakerloo line extension is formailzed (right now Old Kent Roaad is preferred but not selected), nothing will happen there. I believe from threads on the tube line extension that it would run to that spot.