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Flash flooding at lido blamed on climate change

Tony FisherBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
News imageNorth Hertfordshire District Council An empty outdoor pool with trees in the background. The pool has lanes marked out on the bottom. There are wooden benches to the right and a building to the left of the lido.North Hertfordshire District Council
Letchworth lido was forced to close over the Bank Holiday weekend and in July last year

A 90-year-old lido has been forced to close following flash flooding as a result of climate change, according to Anglian Water.

It is the second time in just over a year that the lido at Norton Common, Letchworth in Hertfordshire has closed due to flooding.

Season ticket holder Kate Hughes, 44, contacted BBC Your Voice to say the pool had closed due to flooding and "sewage discharge".

Anglian Water said that a storm overflow operated "following exceptionally high rainfall in a short amount of time between 24-30 August," and added climate change means rain is likely to be heavier and will "simply run off" dry ground.

News imageKate Hughes A white building with a blue double door which has a sign above it with the words "Everyone welcomes you to Letchworth Lido" written in white lettering. The word "Everyone" has a red background. The words Letchworth Lido are in bigger capital letters. At the foot of the door there are red and white sand bags.Kate Hughes
Lido operators put down sandbags to prevent water getting in to the building

Hughes, who pays £200 per year for her season ticket, said the pool closed on 27 August.

She received an email on Thursday from pool operator, Everyone Active, which has been seen by the BBC, stating the pool would remain closed until the end of the season on Sunday.

Hughes said "if it floods once that is terrible" but added nothing had been done to prevent the same thing happening again.

A spokesperson for Anglian Water said the company was "investing £1billion between now and 2030 to tackle storm spills by installing more storm water storage and preventing rain and groundwater from getting into our pipes to begin with".

News imageKate Hughes A woman with short blonde hair smiling into the camera. In the background there is an outdoor swimming pool. She is on a raised level slightly above the pool and there are barriers directly behind her.Kate Hughes
Kate Hughes said the lido in Letchworth was an "amazing resource for the community"

Everyone Active, which runs the pool for North Hertfordshire District Council, said it was very sorry for the inconvenience caused by the early closure.

A council spokesperson said it was "seeking advice on measures to help prevent or mitigate future flooding" and added customers whose bookings were cancelled because of the closure would be refunded.

They added season ticket holders can use their tickets until Sunday at Hitchin Lido, which is where the Doggy Splash Session will now take place.

News imageYour Voice banner image. Your Voice is written in white against a purple background.

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