Poor weather ruins Ilkley Lido’s season (From Ilkley Gazette)

Poor weather ruins Ilkley Lido’s season

10:05am Thursday 6th September 2012 in Local news By Jonathan Redhead

Organisers of a series of events at one of the area’s best-loved landmarks have revealed their disappointment after a third cancellation of the summer.

A scheduled cinema night at the Ilkley Lido tomorrow has been cancelled due to poor advance ticket sales, to cap an unfortunate summer for the Friends of Ilkley Lido (FOIL).

The event – the Grease Sing Along – had been rescheduled from earlier this year when it was postponed due to bad weather, while the rain also accounted for the popular Live at the Lido event in July.

Becky Malby, who had organised the cinema night, said the weather had a huge part to play in a bad summer for FOIL.

“We are so disappointed as a lot of effort has gone into organising this, and it would have been such a fun event,” she said.

“Clearly, the weather this year has really hindered our efforts to stage events, such as the outdoor cinema and concert, at the Lido.

“We think people have just not been willing to buy tickets whilst the weather has been so poor, and as a small community organisation, we cannot afford to run the event at the risk of a big financial loss.”

But FOIL chairman, Louise Hale, says the group is determined to continue working to expand the use of the lido by the community and protect the Bradford Council-run facility.

“The lido is a unique asset to the town and a fantastic local facility, and having it used in many different ways, and by as many people as possible, is vital for its future,” she added.

“We will be planning more events for next year, and are keen to hear from local people about their ideas.

“We are busy expanding the membership of FOIL, and talking with local businesses and grant- giving bodies so that we are in a better position to take events and activities forward next year.”

The lido is now closed for the summer, although there is a ‘Friends-only’ event at the pool between 2pm and 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday for just £1.

Anyone who has bought a ticket for the Grease cinema event can get a refund by taking their tickets to the reception desk at Ilkley Pool and Lido, or to the FOIL stand at the Community Showcase at the King’s Hall in Ilkley between 10am and 2pm on Saturday.

Meanwhile, full attendance figures for the lido this summer have not yet been released by the council.

However, from May 26 to August 19, there were 17,813 visits, compared to 18,065 visits between May 23 and August 21 last year, they said.