Volunteers to give pool a makeover

DOZENS of volunteers are to descend on Portishead Open Air Pool – to give it a makeover ahead of the lido fully opening for the summer season. Around 60 volunteers stepped forward after the pool trust issued a call for help as part of the Big Help Out to mark the coronation of King Charles III.

The work will take place over two days – June 7 and June 17 – where the army of helpers will get busy with the paintbrushes and rollers. It is hoped that over the two days, helpers will be able to repaint the outside walls of the lido along with the cafe walls and changing rooms.

The last time the pool, run by the Portishead Pool Community Trust, was painted entirely was four years ago. Pool volunteer Andy Thatcher said: “We put a call out for volunteers as part of the Big Help Out and have been overwhelmed by the response we have received.

“Some of the painting has been started, but with these two sessions it will really help us push forward and get the job completed.”

As well as painting walls and the changing rooms, volunteers will also be tasked with jobs including painting and varnishing the benches around the site.

The colours of the pool – the bright blues, yellows and oranges chosen as part of a major makeover in 2009 with American TV star Ty Pennington – will remain the same. The pool opened for the 2023 season at Easter and is now in the process of training up additional lifeguards to allow it to open seven days a week by the end of June.

Last year the pool welcomed 50,000 people through its turnstiles and the trust is hoping this year will be a record-breaking one. Pool supporters are also looking at how operating costs of the lido, taken over by the trust in 2009, can be reduced.