The big cleanup is well underway and this year, finally, the majority of the hideous conifers are being felled thus opening the pool to more light and heat from the sun.
We are very pleased to let Friends of Jesus Green Lido know that Better is preparing to open Jesus Green pool from early April (2nd April according to @camcitico ), with morning, evening and weekend sessions. All of the timings and dates will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
See Update at end of this post! Dear Friends of Jesus Green Lido
We hope you are all keeping well. We are looking forward to the pool opening in May, all being well.
In the meantime, there is an urgent petition underway in respect of a planning application for a mobile phone mast and generator, currently situated on top of Park Street car park, to be relocated on to Jesus Green. This will have a massive impact on our wonderful open space, frequented by many, and which has just been awarded Green Flag status.
There will be “no need” to erect a temporary telecoms mast on Jesus Green after planning permission was granted for an alternative site, Cambridge Labour has said.
Following discussions with the council, MBNL submitted a full and more detailed planning application for the Bridge House site, which was granted planning permission on Wednesday (April 21).
After the short but lovely season at Jesus Green, our annual autumn visit to Felixstowe will take place on Sunday 11th October
Meet on the beach near the Fludyers Hotel at approximately 11.30 for a swim then a walk and, hopefully, coffee and fish and chips.
Please take account of all Covid-19 regulations especially social distancing
Please be aware that, as always and especially in present circumstances, this is an informal arrangement and we cannot take any responsibility for organising transport – we suggest that individuals arrange appropriate car sharing. Alternatively, travel by train should be possible by catching the 09.08 train from Cambridge arriving 11.21 with a change at Ipswich. Return services run hourly @ 15.25, 16.25 etc.
Low tide should be at approximately 11.30
Please fill in the form below as numbers are restricted for CoVid outdoor events
On behalf of all the staff at Jesus Green Lido, Better and Cambridge City Council we would like to express our thanks and gratitude for every single person who came and supported us at Jesus Green Lido during the 2020 season.
We have been overwhelmed with the thanks we have received from our customers and we are really proud to have played a small role in helping people get some sort of normality back in their lives.
If any positives can be gleaned from these crazy times it is the community spirit shown, the improvement in both physical & mental wellbeing and the overall appreciation of this wonderful outdoor pool in Cambridge that clearly means so much to so many.
Having spoken to the staff regularly over the course of the past 6 weeks it is clear just how much they have enjoyed being a part of this season and how much they have enjoyed welcoming customers back into our facilities again.
It is now time to draw the season to a close as we move on to try and re-open more of our facilities to more people over the coming weeks and months. However we will be back at the Lido before you know it, having gained so much useful information and new ways of operating that we believe will improve the experience for all users as we go forwards.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones and we look forward to seeing you all again very soon.
Excellent news from Daryl Emes, BETTER Cambridgeshire Partnership Manager.
……due to the excellent feedback and safe running of the facility so far I am pleased to say we are going to push the season back a further week so we will now be closing on Sunday 6th September instead – giving an extra week’s swimming!
So thank you, everyone, for making your views known and all the excellent comments.
Obviously on the assumption that nothing changes (hours and procedures) 🙂
If it is a case that they have registered for online bookings in the past but can’t remember their password and need it reset, or they have set up a new account but the e-mail address is linked to an old account then we can do this at centre level so get people to email matt.hill@gll.org or George.pemberton@gll.org for those specific issues.
The pool will open officially on 25 July 2020. There will be some free Friends’ sessions (bookable) on Friday 24 July. The season will run to 30 August 2020.
Hours of operation will be Monday to Friday 07.00 to 19.00 hours; weekends 10.00 to 18.00 hours. Last bookable entry one hour before closure.
Important points to note and observe
All sessions are bookable in advance, one hour slots – running every ten minutes to spread arrivals and departures. There is an App: Better UK which can be used to arrange membership (eg Pay and Play) and for booking sessions. Otherwise book via their website. Sessions can be booked up to five days in advance for non-members and seven days for members. The recommendation is to get registered via the App in advance.
Better have created a circular access and exit route around the facility. Please see the web-link at the end for guidance. There will be one inside shower available and one outside at either end, separate for men and women.
Only adults and children over the age of 11 years will be admitted, for lane swimming only. No sauna, no catering.
This means a different feel to the normal season, but we are very fortunate that Better and the Council have made considerable efforts to get the Lido open, so we all need to book and swim!
We recently wrote to the local councillors after we had meetings with BETTER & council officers and received the following speedy response from Councillor, Cheney Payne:
Date: 17 Jun 2020
Dear Mr Hudson,
I have had an update from the officers that they are already starting to plan for the re-opening – they don’t have a date yet but are keen to have the pool open as soon as possible, and will let me know their timeline once they have had chance to think it through further. I will keep you informed as I find out more concrete information: but the wheels are in motion. I’ll keep checking in, as I think it is really important we have the pool open as quickly as possible.
Best Wishes,
Cheney
In reply to Will’s letter below:
Dear Councillors
Opening of Jesus Green Lido 2020
We all appreciate that the City Council, GLL, local businesses and many individuals are facing
multiple financial, physical and psychological strains in these unprecedented times. The current
pandemic has affected us all, but with the current easing of the lockdown, Swim England has now
produced five key Pool Reopening Guidelines www.swimming.org that include operator and user guidelines. So following these guidelines the Friends of Jesus Green Lido would like to see the pool open as soon as possible.
Currently as of the morning of 16th June 2020 the pool is empty, so being realistic the lead-up time to getting the pool ready, getting staff in place and importantly, trained in effective procedures that must be in place to ensure everyone’s safety is 2-3 weeks. Effective procedures will include online booking, signage and user guidance specifically for Jesus Green Lido. This facility could be ready by early July.
I mentioned in the opening paragraph the psychological impact of the pandemic, the opening of the pool would benefit many users who for whatever reason are unable to participate in other activates. The benefits of open air swimming are well documented.
We would welcome your support to ensure this fantastic and unique facility in Cambridge is re-
opened for the remainder of the season for the benefit of all.
A swift response would be most welcome.
Yours Sincerely
Will Hudson
On behalf of Friends Jesus Green Lido
Message from Daryl Eaves, BETTER Cambridge Partnership Manager
Hi All,
Firstly as is customary I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well.
It would normally be around this time I would be sending a last minute message to remind everyone about the Lido opening (it was due to be open from this Friday 8th May 2020).
Sadly it’s not to be and so with the help of my 10 year old daughter here’s a little something that we made for you to hopefully fill a little of the void of not being able to meet up on the pool’s edge. It’s a little quiet at the start so you may need to turn up the volume a bit.
Please feel free to share the link with anyone you know will appreciate it but just a note this is not an approved video from a media point of view and is simply hoping to provide a bit of cheer in these mad times.
Take care everyone and hopefully, we’ll be able to meet again soon (somewhere over the rainbow!)
