Ilkley Pool and Lido will become financially viable, say campaigners

The Ilkley Pool and Lido Community Group (IPLCG) was set up to save the facility from closure after the local authority said it was running at a shortfall of £280,000 and could be closed to save money.

But a detailed report by the IPLCG says that in the financial year to April 2025 they have projected what they call an “easy win” increase of £323,000 net income.

This would be achieved by “a few operational tweaks” and a change in certain economic conditions.

The costings are based on:

• The reduced price of energy
• The increase in ticket pricing and the doubling of sessions at the Lido
• Charging for car parking for non -pool users.
• A set of ideas for the operational running of the pool and lido provided by the community at public meetings including more swimming club sessions and lessons, changes to the cafe provision, more events like the very successful Full Moon Swim, more sports activities.

Becky Malby, chair of the group, said: “Some of these ideas have been put into practice by Ilkley Pool and Lido staff. All of them could be implemented immediately.

"The Bradford Council paper to the executive in March showed Ilkley Pool and Lido running at a shortfall of £280,000.

“We have shown that not only can Ilkley Pool and Lido bridge that gap it can be financially sustainable in the longer term. This means it should come off the list for potential closure."

Ilkley Lido (Image: Ilkley Pool and Lido Community Group)

Bradford Council is undertaking a review of leisure services to save £1.25 million in 2024-2025. All pools are being scrutinised to determine whether they stay open, close or are delivered through a hybrid model of collaboration.

Prof Malby added: “We pulled all these together to provide a conservative summary of the impact on the 'bottom line'.

"Our view is that there is over £323,000 net impact from the proposals for immediate change and from the current changes that have been put into action.”

The information used to draw up the report was taken from other pools and lidos to benchmark the figures, as well as using data provided by Bradford Council. This is therefore a conservative and credible figure, say the group.

(Image: Ilkley Pool and Lido Community Group)

Prof Malby said: “We have not as yet costed more significant changes (such as solar panels/ sustainable energy; floodlighting for longer opening/ year round opening for the Lido; Cafe open to walkers as well as pool users; better use of the grounds) which have the potential to bring in significantly more income/reduce costs and secure net profit. In addition there are opportunities for investment from grants which have not been accessed.

“Our conservative calculations demonstrate that the potential from very marginal changes at Ilkley Pool and Lido show that the facility is not only viable this year, but it is sustainable in the longer term.

“Bradford Council needs to take advice from other pools and lidos, and work closely with the community to develop an operating model that secures usage and income for the longer term.

“There is now no reason for Bradford Council in its Review of Leisure Services to include the closure of Ilkley Pool and Lido.”

The report says: “These are not ‘one off’ savings, but both a real-time impact and an ongoing impact on the balance sheet. This impact does not include any significant changes to the operating model or staffing of the facility.

“There are further opportunities to secure improvements that significantly change the balance sheet, all of which are sustainable. Overall the pool and lido remain underutilised and income is nowhere near its potential.

"In addition to the revenue there are funding opportunities currently available for capital. Additional sources of funding related to heritage projects may provide further opportunities, for example the National Lottery’s Heritage Fund can provide grants of up to £250k covering both revenue and capital expenditure, aimed at projects that value, care for and sustain heritage for everyone across the UK."

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We have been talking to the Ilkley Pool and Lido Community Group (IPLCG) since the Leisure review was announced. We will review their latest findings and discuss them with them. The review of sports and leisure facilities is ongoing. The sports review is looking at all Council owned sports facilities in the district. The Executive will be updated on the sports review in the coming months and public consultation on any proposals will take place at that point.”