FIVE years of community campaigning to save the iconic Saltdean Lido was rewarded yesterday with confirmation of £2.3 million in government funding. Neil Vowles reports on what the money will mean for the project to bring the art deco gem back into public use and three other regeneration projects in the county that have also been boosted

SWIMMERS at Saltdean Lido will be able to feel the benefit of £2.3 million of new funding when the art deco venue has heated water for the first time in its history.

The Coastal Community Fund’s (CCF) cash injection to the lido project will help pay for a new plant room to heat the lido’s water as well as a new volleyball court.

Members of the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company (CIC) said residents would see a physical transformation of the site.

Formally announcing the successful funding bid in the ageing, stifling hot and soon-to-be-replaced plant room of the lido, Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby said the confirmation was “fantastic news” and recognition of the hard work put in by the CIC.

The announcement marks the start of an exciting few months for the campaigners, who have received one of the largest grants of a national £36 million investment, and will see the site reopen to swimmers this summer.

CIC directors said they were aiming to open initially at weekends in June or July and then throughout the school summer holidays.

An earlier grant of £440,000 from the Social Investment Bank will help pay for temporary toilets and showers as well as a pop-up cafe, while the group’s successful bid for £500,000 in the People’s Millions in November will pay for a reconstructed paddling pool.

As well as hosting swimming for the first time in five years, the lido will have summer events this year, including an open-air cinema, theatre and festival events.

The CCF grant will pay for work which will commence once this year’s summer season has concluded, with the newly constructed plant room key to heating the lido’s waters and prolonging the venue’s summer season.

The CIC hopes the £2.3 million funding is not the only seven-figure piece of good news this week. A decision on the first part of a bid for a £4.9 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund is also imminent.

If won, this money would be spent on extensive refurbishment work on the historic Grade II*-listed lido building to transform it into a year-round leisure attraction, restaurant, community hub and heritage centre.

CIC chairwoman Rachel Crook said residents had already made enquiries about weddings in the lido once it had been restored.

It is hoped that building work on the project could begin by the end of the year and would take between 12 and 18 months.

The total project costs have doubled to £10 million during the past year – no thanks in part to a nationwide 15% increase in building costs.

Ms Crook added: “The condition of the building has deteriorated considerably, the rotunda and the sun terrace are in much worse condition than the first assessment from the council.

“It is a real shame that it has been allowed to get into this state. It’s the only local authority-owned building on the English Heritage at-risk register in the South East.

“Building costs are going up all the time. That’s what happens with empty buildings, so it’s important that we get the funding soon.”

The CIC team is confident about making the lido the “number-one reason” to visit Brighton and Hove.

Ms Crook said: “If we hadn’t stepped in, we could now be looking at flats or a building without a future.

“Had this building been in central Brighton, I think there would have been a very different outcome.

“I think that in Brighton and Hove, the outlying areas can be forgotten and that’s where Simon has been great in raising the profile of the project to get national interest.”

Conservative MP Mr Kirby, a long-term supporter of the campaign, said that ministers Penny Mordaunt and Brandon Lewis were full of praise for the professional manner of the CIC team when they visited the lido last year, while Prime Minister David Cameron was also made familiar with the landmark at a specially arranged meeting at Downing Street.

Mr Kirby said: “Opening the pool this year will continue the momentum the project has got.

“The building is looking particularly sorry today but this announcement will give hope to all the people who have supported the fundraising.

“We are convinced it will open now when a lot of people said it wouldn’t.”

The success of Saltdean CIC has been largely down to the hard work of volunteers.

Ms Crook said: “None of us have applied for multimillion pound grants before.

“None of us have run a swimming pool before. We all have business experience but nothing like this.

“When we started we thought it would be a petition. We never thought it would lead to this.”

Fellow Saltdean Lido CIC director Deryck Chester said the funding announcement and work under way at the site was “a really positive physical demonstration” to the community.

He said: “A lot of work is going on behind the scenes but people going past might just see it’s derelict and say ‘we did all that work and nothing has happened’.

“Now with this money they will see the difference.”

CIC volunteer Sally Horrox said: “We do match-funding but we are never going to reach the scale of investment that we need from local events. But local events maintain our profile and we have tremendous support from the community. All our events are really well attended.”

Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, chairman of Brighton and Hove City Council’s committee for economic development and culture, said: “It’s not just great news for the Saltdean area but for the whole city. It will extend the reach of the visitor attraction all the way to Saltdean.

“This is a huge leap forward. Fingers crossed for the Heritage Lottery Funding.

“We are supporting the CIC. We have put a lot of work in making the site safe.

“But in the current climate we have to make tough choices about children’s centres and extra care homes with our declining budget from central government.

“Our doors are open and we hope to arrange a meeting soon with Rebecca and senior officers to explore every way we can support them.”

The CIC is looking for volunteers to get involved with the project and with helping to run events this summer. Visit saltdeanlido.co.uk.

Eastbourne’s £1.8m boost

THREE sites in Eastbourne are set for “momentous and positive change”.

The Devonshire area of the town has received £1.84 million from the Coastal Communities Fund.

In Princes Park, money will be spent refurbishing the cafe and developing a new entrance and central plaza with improved links to the seafront, with work expected to finish by February next year.

Sea Houses Square will be transformed, with plaza improvements and refurbishment of commercial space expected to be finished in 12 months, while Seaside Road will see improvements to building fronts and commercial space by October 2016.

A new tech resort for teaching coding skills and improving the skills base in the town will open in April and a new cultural trail incorporating local artists will be launched with the Towner art gallery and museum. Councillor Steve Wallis, chairman of Driving Devonshire Forward, said the funding was the result of months of hard work at Eastbourne Borough Council and Eastbourne Homes.

He said more tourists would now visit the town.

Empty offices to be £245,000 artistic hub

EMPTY office space will be revamped as a buzzing hub for artistic creatives thanks to £245,000 of government funding.

The new Coastal Communities Fund money will be used by Worthing Borough Council to convert unoccupied offices in Colonnade House in the town’s high street into an “incubator space” for small and medium-sized arts-based enterprises.

It is hoped the Creative Hub will be up and running by the summer, supporting 22 jobs and adding to Worthing’s cultural attractions for tourists.

The hub will have a studio, exhibition and retail spaces, alongside appropriate office and cultural development space.

Work to refit Colonnade House is expected to begin in March and the council is also investing about £15,000 into the project.

The project was launched after the council identified a lack of affordable workspace in the town for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Councillor Bryan Turner, executive member for regeneration at Worthing Borough Council, said the project would look to build on the success of converting beach chalets into artists’ studios.

He said: “This is excellent news for Worthing. “Not only will the Creative Hub provide new jobs, but it will deliver the space, resources and facilities to aid networking and interconnectivity between the town’s cultural entrepreneurs.”

Rosalind Turner, chairwoman of the Adur and Worthing Trust, said: “This funding will mean that Worthing has a focal point for the development of the cultural sector – something that the trust clearly identified as being absolutely vital to the coast’s cultural business – health.”

£500,000 makeover for Hastings seafront

HASTINGS seafront is set for a makeover in time for two major upcoming events.

The town’s borough council has successfully bid for £500,000 to spruce up the seafront in time for the reopening of Hastings Pier later this year and the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings in 2016.

The council said the events presented a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to boost the town’s tourist attractions.

With a state-of-the-art indoor BMX/skateboard facility due to take over the redundant White Rock Baths, the money will go towards providing electric bikes and a wheelchair bike for hire to young riders and spectators visiting the new facility.

New signs will flag up attractions to visitors, while a world of information will be available with a smartphone app featuring a 3D walkthrough with ‘augmented reality’ to overlay historical views, heritage information, walks and trails and art and music downloads. The council hopes installing a free public wi-fi infrastructure at visitor hot spots will make the app run smoothly.

Improved lighting, seating and planting is all expected to improve the approach to Hastings Pier.

The funding will also help fund a tourism marketing campaign.