The crumbling walls of the River Park Leisure Centre in Winchester could soon be overshadowed by a shimmering new vision: a saltwater outdoor pool, designed to evoke the nostalgia of 1930s lidos. The plan emerged this week as city officials confirmed preliminary discussions with architects and environmental consultants. If approved, construction could begin in 2025, with a 2026 opening.

Council records show the leisure center’s indoor pool, built in 1972, has suffered from chronic underinvestment, with heating systems failing and tiles cracking. Last winter, a burst pipe forced a temporary closure, leaving swimmers in nearby Southampton and Eastleigh as the closest alternatives. A 2023 audit flagged repairs totaling £3.7 million, but no timeline was set.

Simon Lever, a local resident and retired teacher, has led the public push for the project. “People remember the joy of open-air swimming,” Lever said Thursday. “A saltwater pool here would bring families back to the city center instead of driving to the coast.” His letter to the Hampshire Chronicle last month drew 47 responses from supporters, the highest in five years for a leisure-related topic.

Opposition voices cite concerns over maintenance costs and environmental impact, particularly regarding water quality and energy use. “Saltwater systems corrode infrastructure faster,” cautioned Dr. Emma Carter, a civil engineer at the University of Southampton. “Without proper planning, this could become a white elephant.” A counter-proposal suggests a freshwater heated pool with a retractable roof as a compromise.

Leisure services director Jane Holloway confirmed the council is exploring both options but emphasized community input as the deciding factor. “We’re not ruling anything out,” Holloway said. “But we must ensure any new facility serves Winchester for generations.”

Residents like Priya Mehta, who swims daily at River Park, say the current conditions are unsustainable. “The showers don’t work half the time,” she said. “If this pool disappears, I’ll have to drive to Portsmouth—40 minutes each way.” A council survey of 1,200 residents found 78% supported some form of aquatic facility renewal. The next public consultation is scheduled for May 14 at the Winchester Discovery Centre.

While the debate continues, one thing is clear: the clock is ticking on the River Park Leisure Centre. Without intervention, Winchester risks losing one of its last communal spaces for sport and leisure—a fate already suffered by Stewponey Lido nearly a century ago.

For Lever and others, the stakes go beyond swimming. “This isn’t just about a pool,” he said. “It’s about keeping Winchester alive.”