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Below are some of the many questions we are frequently asked about Broomhill Pool and the Trust itself.
What and where is Broomhill Pool?
Broomhill Pool is a Grade II listed 1930's lido.
George Underwood, the Mayor of Ipswich, opened the pool on April 30th 1938 and it was considered to be one of the leading pools of its time. Broomhill Pool is situated on the north-west side of Ipswich, with access to the pool from Sherrington Road. It closed in 2002 and a continuous campaign to save and restore it has been going since that time.
The pool was built at a cost of £17,000 and is over 50 metres long: (165'long x 60'wide,) with eight lanes. The pool is 4.5 metres deep at the deep end, accomodated 1,2,3,4,and 5 metre diving boards, a grandstand for 700 spectators, underwater floodlighting, and changing facilities for 70 ladies and 108 men. The water was heated and filtered and the 3 hour change over rate for the 464,000 gallons of water was one of the fastest in the county.
What is the Broomhill Pool Trust?
The Broomhill Pool Trust is a registered charity (No.1102659). The Trust's activities are to lobby, explore and liaise with Ipswich Borough Council and all interested parties to preserve Broomhill Pool for future generations. Ipswich Borough Council have provided a grant to cover most of the cost of a Feasibility Study, which the Trust will conduct: January through to August 2006; this includes the development of a possible business plan - to demonstrate the financial basis of Broomhill Pool as an ongoing facility. Subject to the success of the feasibility study, we aim to secure a further £1,000,000 pledge by Ipswich Borough Council towards the costs of re-developing this historic pool.
Why save Broomhill Pool?
Broomhill Pool has been central to summer for over 60 years. It has a special appeal for children who are able to spend all day in the fresh air in attractive surroundings, in a safe, healthy environment. The pool building is one of the most attractive open air pools in Britain and has an unrivalled position on the edge of Broomhill Park; it was spot lighted by the Twentieth Century Society in 2001 and is the only Olympic length open-air pool in Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk.
In addition to its appeal to recreational swimmers, many local groups have used Broomhill for a wide range of water sports, including Life-Saving Training, Canoeing, Triathlon training,and Dinghy sailing. At 4.5 metres deep the pool offers Sub-Aqua divers the only deep water pit in Suffolk. We must ensure that this wonderful pool is saved from demolition and preserved for future generations.
What are Broomhill's other key features?
Everything about Broomhill was built on a generous scale: The spectator's grandstand on the South side of the pool has space for 700 people on five tiers; sunbathing terraces, known as beaches, run the whole length of the North side and a buffet and patio area on the East side provides great views of the diving board activities. The pool originally had heating and underwater lighting and the main entrance was built with a clock tower.
What will the Feasibility Study cover?
The Trust has appointed a professional team to manage the feasibility study on behalf of - and reporting fully to - the Trust. The feasibility study will include: 1. An updated structural survey of the pool.
2. A complete financial appraisal to regenerate and restore it.
3. A business plan of what income streams could sympathetically be added to the pool facility.
4. Consultation with the public and a hands-on exhibition of preliminary proposals.
5. An outline of potential professional management companies who might operate the pool on behalf of the Trust.
Broomhill always lost money, so how can you expect to make it viable in the future?
The feasibility study will include a review of successful lidos and open-air pools eg. Tooting Bec Lido in South London, Hampton Pool (Middlesex) and Tinside Lido, Plymouth. The study will also provide solid proposals to secure regular income streams; public consultation will be a key part of this process.
Is the Feasibility Study a waste of taxpayers'money?
Over 18,000 people signed the Trust's petition to save Broomhill Pool and there has been sustained on-going interest in the pool's future; it is therefore not unreasonable to spend some taxpayer's money to explore what is "feasible." Moreover, Ipswich Borough Council carried out a survey of all it's pools in 2003: they received over 1600 responses and a resounding 88% put "saving Broomhill Pool" as their first choice. (The Angle - August 2003)
Do some local residents oppose the re-opening of Broomhill Pool?
We believe the majority of local residents want to see the Pool restored, but we appreciate that some are deeply concerned about how the Pool will be regenerated and how it will impact the area. As already stressed, there will be consultation on all proposals put forward.
Does the Broomhill Pool Trust possess the skills required to manage this project?
The Trust consists of dedicated supporters with business, financial, development and health backgrounds; the majority of the Trust's members are local people who are aware of what Broomhill Pool means to Ipswich; the Trust is also aware of its duty to local taxpayers and will keep them updated on our activities and progress.
Is Broomhill Pool Olympic-sized? Can it play a role for 2012?
Broomhill Pool is 165' long - just over 50 metres in length; but it is only 60' wide and therefore does not meet modern standards for Olympic competitive swimming. It is, however, ideal for stamina and endurance training for any sporting discipline. We believe that due to its size, Broomhill offers our future Olympians an excellent training facility, particularly for events like the Triathlon.
How can Broomhill be viable if it only opens three months a year?
Broomhill was originally heated and floodlit and had extended opening from April-September; the feasibility study will look at opportunities to lengthen the opening times of the pool, again in consultation with the public. Other funding streams will also be investigated.
Is Broomhill Pool eligible for lottery funding?
There are a variety of lottery funding projects that the Trust can explore. The Feasibility Study will include a full re-evaluation of funding possibilities for restoration and/or operational costs; this year (2006) we have had the encouragement of seeing three lidos receive substantial grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Brockwell Park Lido has now received the go-ahead for major changes and improvements to the buildings surrounding the pool area whilst Uxbridge Lido and Sandford Parks Lido in Cheltenham have had a "Refreshing Splash" from HLF: see HLF website - Media Centre.
Does IBC's plans for a new £14 million leisure complex affect your plans?
The Broomhill Pool Trust believes that Ipswich should become a regional centre of sporting excellence. Ipswich has a choice of excellent dry sports facilities at Maidenhall, Whitton, Northgate. There is Gainsborough with its newly opened Gymnastics centre and Copleston has its sports college. Yet three swimming pools have closed in recent times and the new complex is being promoted as an improved replacement for Crown Pools. In our view the need for a restored Broomhill is as strong as ever: the region's growing population demands more "water space" and the need to value all our Ipswich pools.
Outdoor swimming offers a different experience, culture and enjoyment for the public and has proved to be a major tourist attraction in Cheltenham and a popular all-year-round facility at Hampton, Middlesex.
How do you justify trying to re-open Broomhill?
For over 60 years Broomhill Pool was part of the fabric of Ipswich life; since it closed there has been a shortage of "water space" and the facility has been greatly missed. With plans for additional homes all over the town, rising levels of obesity (nationally)and increased anti-social behaviour there is a need for our young people to get more exercise and burn off surplus energy in a safe and supervised environment. Broomhill Pool potentially offers this environment to all who live, work in or visit Ipswich.
What is the latest news?
We are currently almost three-quarters of the way through a full-scale Feasibility Study running from January - September 2006; up-to-date surveys have been conducted and business plans and various funding streams are being explored; we have attended two major conferences this year on pools and lidos. The first was "Reviving Lidos" on March 16th 2006, which was organised by Malavan Media (Played in Britain series)and PTEa - Pollard Thomas Edwards architects; a 32 page report was compiled and submitted personally to the Dept. of Culture, Media and Sport. The second Conference was organised by the Victorian Society and held in London on June 24th. Again, a report will be prepared on this and circulated to all delegates.
The main news is a terrific upsurge of interest in lidos generally from the media: radio, television and all major newspapers are showing concern that there are now less than 100 outdoor pools left in Britain; the BBC Today programme, BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio Suffolk, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Economist have all been logging on to www.savebroomhillpool.org and highlighting the current plight of British Swimming.
Are you in touch with other lido operators?
The Lidos History Society run by Oliver Merrington now has 90 on-line members (Yahoo Lidos Group,) with experts, campaigners and user groups all pooling their latest news and operating a very successful "mediawatch". Moreover lidos are now officially on the NMR - National Monuments Register.
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