A west London council is being urged to install a lido in a popular park to help residents cool down during the summer months.
A petition calling on Hammersmith and Fulham Council to add a “community heated outdoor lido” to Ravenscourt Park has drawn significant support, with well over 1,000 signatures.
It comes amid a record-breaking heatwave which could see temperatures reach above 34C in London on Thursday, according to the Met Office.
Petition highlights need for cooling facilities
“As London enters a new climate period of summer heat waves there is a need for more cooling facilities for residents as well as more exercise wellbeing facilities for local residents year round,” the petition reads.
Ravenscourt Park is one of the borough’s most well-known and popular green spaces. A Green Flag site, it already boasts several play areas and a designated spot for water activities.
The petition, which is on Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s website and is to run until September 3, describes lidos as “a monument to cultural, civic and local pride”.
Lidos across the UK
It continues: “There are over 160 lidos dotted across the UK, and since 2021 over 30 new lido schemes have been delivered.
“Outdoor activity and exercise makes a vital contribution to our physical and mental health. Yet research has found that the average UK person spends just seven per cent of their time outdoors during the work week.
“We need to develop more areas that are conducive to changing that figure – and lidos are the perfect example of where regeneration can work hand-in-hand with the promotion of positive public health outcomes.”
Council response and next steps
Due to the petition’s large number of signatures it will be debated by the council’s Cabinet once it has closed in September.
A formal report detailing the work required will be prepared ahead of the meeting, with Cabinet members to decide on whether to proceed.
A spokesperson for Hammersmith and Fulham Council said: “Our award-winning parks are one of the many reasons Hammersmith and Fulham is such a great place to live, work and socialise. We work with residents, Friends groups and our contractors to make sure these spaces are welcoming to visitors and wildlife all year round.
“Earlier this year we consulted with residents about what they liked and how we could improve Ravenscourt Park and its water play area. We’re taking that feedback onboard as we invest, improve and upgrade the park and its features in the future.”
London has sweltered this summer as a run of heatwaves has left parks scorched and the city in drought.
An amber warning for extreme heat has been issued by the Met Office for Thursday, covering an area including the capital with temperatures to potentially rise as high as 38C.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Chris Bulmer said: “While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday brings the potential for impacts for some, which is why a Met Office warning has been issued.
“High pressure is now becoming dominant and temperatures will build day-by-day. Southerly and southeasterly winds will also tap into the hot conditions over Europe which helps develop this further notable heat in what has been a hot and dry summer so far for many in the south of the UK.”
