Lido fears for future if hospital car park development gets the go-ahead
SANDFORD PARKS Lido fears it could be forced to close if a proposal for a multi-storey facility at Cheltenham hospital is approved.
Lido bosses say if Cheltenham General Hospital gets the green light to put up a 417 space four-storey car park it could rob them of as much as £100,000 in parking revenue a year.
Julie Sargent, lido chief executive, says hospital workers and visitors have historically used the Lido car park and if the new facility is built on the proposed scale it could force them out of business.
She said: "We're blessed by the fact that we have our car park to ensure that we can maintain and refurbish the site. "Without the resources we have from the car park we would be fearful about our future."
She said the Lido was not debating the fact there is a need for additional parking for the area, but is concerned this would be too much.
The car parking division for Cheltenham Borough Council has submitted comments on the on-line planning application about the parking issue.
It says: "The impact on Lido car park revenue which goes to the Lido Trust will be significant. Perhaps as much as £100k per annum."
In response to the lido's concerns the hospital's director of property and medical engineering, Graham Marsh, said: "We are seeking to increase our on site parking to 1,100 of the 1,400 total site spaces we require to meet demand.
"The hospital car park would be provided for the use of patients, visitors and staff and the car parking company will bring in measures to ensure parking is restricted to these groups."
The multi-storey aims to alleviate on-street parking problems around the hospital. The cost of the car park would be paid for by private company Vinci Park. It would then take over the management of the car park in exchange for revenue from charges.
The Lido opened in 1935 and can attract up to 200,000 visitors during the season. Its future was plunged into doubt when cracks started to appear in the main pool in 2003. But a fundraising appeal and a lottery grant helped pay for £700,000 of repairs last year.
3 Comments
by nicky cowan, sheffield
Wednesday, November 19 2008, 7:55AM
“Of course if the council would guarantee to fund the lido as a vital public amenity, then users of the lido would be reassured, new car park or not. Sadly, there is a historic lack of committment by municipal authorities to llidos - and indeed swmming pools generally. It is time for a change of attitudes by both local and central government - lthe funding of lidos and indoor pools should be a statutory requirement, not left to individual councils' whims.”
by M Sheppard, Charlton Kings
Sunday, November 16 2008, 1:39PM
“This is an issue central to the campaign "Your town - Your future".
Whatever the parking needs & they exist all around the town, a multi storey in the midst of a conservation area & adjacent to Cheltenham's unique Lido, would inflict irreversable damage leaving generations to rue the day.
Please think again, a better solution will surface.”
by Bored, Cheltenham
Saturday, November 15 2008, 10:43AM
“This is such a bad idea. Please don't kill the Lido.”