BLU News - August 2025

Welcome

…. to the Brockwell Lido Users (BLU) newsletter. We aim to issue a newsletter to members every quarter, with updates in between, where necessary.

What’s been happening?

Over six months have elapsed since our last AGM in November 2024 (draft minutes are here) when members made clear their dissatisfaction about the state of the Lido.

In response Mark Rogers, a senior manager with Fusion, having acknowledged that the Lido delivered substantial surpluses for Fusion, promised to invest £500k to deliver major improvements in the first half of 2025.

Aside from the late delivery of two small poolside saunas and the delivery of exercise bikes, we have yet to see any of this investment materialise. In particular:

• The steam room remained out of order for months, until June 2025 and the hydro pool remains out of use

• The new poolside saunas are regularly out of order. We believe that they are not fit for purpose

• The entry turnstiles to the pool side remain broken, as does one of the front doors

• Much of the gym equipment is constantly broken, with some used replacements being delivered this summer, although we understand that the refurbishment is now imminent and we will let you know when we are sure

• There are continuing issues with cleanliness

Despite this, Fusion implemented a price rise in May, significantly increasing prices for activities such as casual swims.

As well as increasing charges, we are aware that Fusion has yet to file its accounts for the year ending 31st March 2024.

This suggests that they face financial difficulties and that they are continuing to use the substantial revenues generated by the Lido to cross subsidise other Fusion sites. This is something that we know from the strength of feeling expressed at the AGM is of significant concern to our members.

What are we doing?

BLU has a committee elected by members to represent Lido users. BLU in turn nominates four representatives to serve on the Brockwell Lido Steering Committee (BLSC) which includes representatives from local community organisations. Representatives of both Lambeth and Fusion are expected to attend meetings of the BLSC.

Under Fusion’s lease (due to expire in 2031) BLSC has a recognised role in monitoring the operation of the Lido.

Since January 2025, BLSC has been chaired by Marc Meryon. Marc is a member of the BLU Committee, having been first elected at the AGM in November 2024. With four members and holding the Chair, BLU plays a dominant role in the work of the BLSC.

Whilst BLSC has no control over how the Lido is operated, it does have a right to demand information from Fusion, to express its views on their annual Service Delivery Plan and to review progress in quarterly meetings.

In January the BLSC produced a detailed commentary for Lambeth Council on Fusion’s draft Service Delivery Plan for 2025/26.

The BLSC expressed its concern that:

• There were no metrics for maintenance or for cleanliness; •

• Targets to improve the number of concessionary users were not sufficiently ambitious; •

• BLSC were being given information late or not at all; •

• Unless and until the promised investments were delivered, BLSC could not support any price rises.

  
  

Despite these concerns and the vociferous objection to the proposed increase in prices, Lambeth did not respond and the increases were implemented by Fusion, without warning, on 1st May.

Considering the ongoing delay with the promised investments and uncertainty over Fusion’s financial position, BLSC requested that the quarterly meetings take place more regularly for the time being and so meetings with Fusion and Lambeth have taken place every 4 -6 weeks since the 30th April.

During these meetings numerous assurances have been given that the promised investments will be delivered, but we have not been given any details and BLSC & BLU remain concerned about Fusion’s financial stability. We have also pressed repeatedly for improvements to cleanliness and equipment maintenance.

In addition Marc and Blu Chair, Ben Longman, have held meetings with two local councillors (Deepak Sardiwal, who attended the AGM and the recently elected Paul Valentine) to express our concerns about the poor state of the Lido and to float the possibility of a community led venture to take over the Lido. This could access funding not available to Lambeth Council, and it would ensure that surplus income from the Lido was reinvested in the Lido’s facilities. We have also held meetings with other interested parties who might be able to help us progress these plans.

BLSC has also asked Lambeth to be allowed to attend its review meetings with Fusion so that it can ensure that users’ concerns are heard. There is little evidence that Lambeth’s senior leadership have engaged actively with Fusion over the poor state of the Lido.

As well as the more regular meeting with Fusion, we have been communicating with them about a variety of issues such as the availability of casual swims; the need to warn members about the impact of special events on the regular programme; and the ongoing state of the gym equipment.

What can you do?

Chair of BLU, Ben Longman, says “I hope this newsletter helps demonstrate that we are doing all we can to get Fusion to improve the state of the Lido. However, only Lambeth Council can directly hold Fusion to account”.

We know that local councillors are sensitive to concerns about the Lido and we know also that Fusion is sensitive to pressure from them to improve the Lido. So, if you have concerns about the state of the Lido, please contact your local councillor or your local MP.

Additionally, we need people to volunteer to help us in our work and to develop our plans for a community venture to operate the Lido.

In particular we could do with some help with communications and with finance and fundraising. But, if you think you might have any skills and expertise to help us represent lido users, please email us at bluinfo@brockwelllido.com

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. We want the Lido to become again an “oasis in the city”, readily accessible to everyone in the local community and with clean and wellmaintained facilities.

We cannot do this without you!

We need your help to keep the pressure on Lambeth and Fusion and if you have skills, to help us with a community venture please contact us at bluinfo@brockwelllido.com