Heating costs are already spiking and set to rise further ahead of winter, with household energy bills on course to reach almost £3,000 by the year end. Swimming pool operators are facing price rises across the board. 'But they are all having the same problems on energy costs.' 'The lidos and the outdoor swimming is very popular, and they are certainly being well used,” says Jane Nickerson, chief executive of Swim England. While positive, that has also exacerbated the problem of a lack of chlorine.

Peterborough Lido said it was fully booked due to such a surge in demand, while others only had limited availability. It threatens to force many local pools to close permanently this year due to financial pressures, despite the current summer uplift.īeccles Lido and others have all benefited from an uptick in visitors as families rushed to cool down in outdoor swimming spots amid the heatwave. That comes on top of soaring energy costs, higher wage bills and a shortage of workers such as lifeguards. Some 200 athletes competed in a triathlon last month to make sure the outdoor pool could stay open as it faces a doubling chlorine bill. As swimming pools struggle with a nationwide shortage of chlorine, the Beccles Lido in Suffolk turned to an annual fundraiser to help keep its waters clean.

Pool time sink and swim