CAMPAIGNERS hoping to resurrect an open swimming pool will meet council bosses this week to present their vision for the future of the facility.

Members of the Save Grange Lido group will show their business plan to South Lakeland District Council on Wednesday, laying out how they would fund the pool.

The group have urged the council to include a swimming pool as part of a redevelopment of the Lido complex.

The 1930s art deco pool, based in the promenade, was closed in 1993.

Phil Bradby, the chairman of Save Grange Lido, said the booming popularity of other open air pools across the country would transfer to Grange.

He said: “Lidos are very popular again and are helping bring investment, jobs and business to the towns fortunate enough to have them.

“We have researched and visited a large number of other lidos across the country and have seen just how successful Grange Lido could be.

“Other lidos show that Grange Lido could obtain the funding necessary to be restored and operate very successfully in the future.

“Times have changed a lot since the pool closed in 1993 and lidos are now booming again.

“SLDC are fortunate to have such a rare Lido and should look again at fantastic potential to create a unique tourist attraction.”

Three years ago, the council, which owns the site, concluded that reopening the lido for swimming was unfeasible and began to explore using the site for other purposes.

It is planning a £2m renovation which could see up to five new business units on the site, alongside a landscaped open space in place of the old pool.

According to the business plan, which has been drawn together with help from industry experts, the lido would run at a surplus of £100k.

As well as a pool, the complex would also act as an open air concert venue and cinema.

Steve Trevillon, an SGL committee member, said: “The facts and figures make it very clear that Grange Lido has a large potential market of people living in the surrounding towns and cities, and if we add to this the huge number of tourists who would love to swim in such an amazing place, it should be obvious the market is there.”

A petition to reinstate the swimming pool has gathered more than 10,000 signatures. The campaign group formed in 2011.