Abbey Meadow outdoor pool ready to reopen
Great news for families and swimmers in the Vale – the Abbey Meadow outdoor pool in Abingdon will reopen on Monday 12 July in plenty of time for the summer holidays.
Vale of White Horse District Council has been working hard with its leisure contractor GLL to get the pool open and allow local residents and visitors to enjoy the popular riverside pool this summer.
Cllr Emily Smith, leader of the district council, said: “We promised we would do everything we could to get the pool opened as soon as possible, as we know how popular it is with families, particularly over the summer. I’m so pleased that we’ve been able to pull out all the stops to achieve this ahead of the schools breaking for the summer. We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone who was keen to see the pool open down at Abbey Meadow in the sunshine very soon.”
The pool will remain open throughout the school holidays until early September, ensuring it can be enjoyed by families, youngsters and tourists visiting the Vale, as well as the pool’s regular outdoor swimming enthusiasts.
Obviously some Covid-19 social distancing measures will be in place to ensure the pool can be used safely, and so visitors will need to book in advance via the Better UK smartphone app or on the Better UK website.
The pool will run with a reduced capacity while government Covid-19 restrictions remain in place, and a one-way route will be in place in the changing rooms.
Despite the financial pressure on councils and leisure providers caused by Covid-19, the council and GLL have now managed to find a way to ensure the pool can open. The opening date has been confirmed as it takes a few weeks to prepare and heat the pool.
Following the government’s recent announcement to delay the latest stage of their roadmap, the splash pad at Abbey Meadow will reopen shortly after the pool from the 19 July. These splash pads are relatively small and impossible for the council and GLL to implement social distancing while they’re in use.
