A TEAM working to restore an outdoor swimming pool have had a busy few months.

After their successful Cross Bay Walk last year, the team trying to restore Grange Lido have launched this year’s walk which will take place on Saturday, August 12, with the Kings Guide.

They are currently commissioning feasibility studies for the provision of renewable energy to heat the pool and are also looking to open a Heritage Centre in Grange to continue their work on the archives and collection of oral history.

Following the announcement by South Lakeland District Council that the work on the promenade and the lido will commence, the team of volunteers said they have been 'continually answering questions if it will reopen as a pool'.

The approved project, which includes £4.9m for the lido and £1.6m for the promenade, is due to start this month and will see the site reopen to the public after more than 30 years.

While work is undertaken, Save Grange Lido (SGL) Community Benefit Society will continue securing funds for phase two - the reopening of the pool as a leisure, heritage and tourism destination.

SGL is raising around £4.5 million to realise the vision of bringing this unique pool back to life.

SGL Chair Janet Carter said: “Phase one works include provisions for a temporary infill to the pool. If SGL hasn’t raised the funding by the end of the work, the group will take over the site.

“The infill will allow us to open the site to the community as a multi-use venue whilst we continue our fundraising work to commence phase two - the pool restoration. The infill will be easily removeable and completely recyclable and once we’ve raised sufficient funds we will get on with the full restoration.”

Councillor Robin Ashcroft, Portfolio Holder for Economy, Culture and Leisure, said: "We at South Lakeland District Council are delighted that this multi-million pound project is going ahead and that the work will protect the site’s immense social and cultural heritage in a way which doesn’t preclude the option of bringing the pool back into use sometime in the future.

“Getting to this point has been highly complicated and taken a colossal amount of work from officers, members and partners. Doing nothing was never an option, as failing to act would leave future administrations liable for even greater costs.

“Stabilising this listed site and refurbishing it to create public access and a usable space for the community was always our intention. We look forward to work commencing and to the time when the rejuvenated lido, promenade and children's play area can all be enjoyed together in this beautiful and unique location - with others able to pursue the aspiration to re-water the pool in the future.”