Haringey Council’s plans for Park Road Lido

Haringey Council’s plans for Park Road Lido

Thursday 26 September 2024

Haringey Council takes over on 1 October

On 1 October, Haringey Council will take over the direct management of Park Road lido from Fusion Leisure.

Information about the transfer is available on a frequently asked questions page from Fusion and leisure centre changes page from Haringey.

PRLUG meeting with Haringey Council

On 25 September, committee members of the Park Road Lido User Group (PRLUG) met with Roz Standen-Horton, Park Road’s General Manager (currently working for Fusion but transferring to Haringey) and several representatives from the council, including Paul Martindill, Leisure Centres Area Manager, and Simon Farrow, Head of Parks & Leisure.

The council says the lido is the “jewel in the crown” of their leisure offering and “needs to be cherished”. And they want to improve significantly on “the experience [users] have had in recent times”. The team’s focus will be on a centre that’s clean, safe, and well-maintained. The council acknowledges that a lack of planned and timely maintenance has been at the heart of many problems at the centre.

The first phase of improvement works will run from 1 October through until Christmas. This will start with a deep clean of the centre during the six-day closure from 1 to 6 October; basic repairs will be carried out. Staff will receive additional customer service training. Access audits have been completed and a plan of improvements is being developed.

Also, by Christmas:

• a lido cover should be installed and other energy-saving measures introduced

• a dedicated lido vacuum will regularly clean the floor and walls of the pool and, until this arrives, further manual floor cleaning will take place

• the hedge of conifer trees around the lido will at last be brought under control

• new uniforms will include warm dry robes for lifeguards

• better lane marker boards will help help users navigate the pool

• a pest-control strategy will be put in place.

During this period, Haringey will also consult residents on the future of its leisure services.

Membership plans and pricing will remain unchanged until the new year.

The council agrees that extended hours — including after-work swimming, all year round — are key to increasing the appeal of the lido. Night lighting and proper lifeguard shelters will be among options considered for future phases of improvements.

The old indoor cafe and lido kiosk will be back in operation ahead of next summer. 

We also got some answers to other hot topics raised by PRLUG members:

• New website and app to be available from 1 October. Users will need to re-register using their existing email address and password. Haringey will email out instructions. (Current app users might want to note down their registered email address and member ID: menu > Accounts.)

• Memberships will be transferred like-for-like.

• Pay-monthly direct debit payments will be taken by London Borough of Haringey instead of Fusion Lifestyle, on or around your normal collection date and will be for the usual amount. The council acknowledges the inconvenience of the six-day closure of the centre and will be writing to members soon to address this.

• No changes to memberships were permitted during September to ensure reliable transfer of customer data to Haringey. Affected over-65 concessionary memberships can be renewed at the centre after 7 October, and these members should be able to swim up until 1 October without additional charge.

• Cashless balances / credits will not be transferred to Haringey, so use it before 1 October or lose it. Fusion’s FAQ makes this clear, and their terms and conditions state that any credit is strictly non-refundable.

• Existing membership cards will continue to work when the centre re-opens on Monday 7 October.

• Booking slots for the lido from 7 October are still being finalized, although a move to 15-minute windows is possible.

We’re excited about what the future could hold for our wonderful lido and very much hope Haringey delivers on its ambition.

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