Lido 'will not reopen until 2023'
The Teignmouth Lido will now reopen next year
Delays putting in a new ground source heat pump mean Teignmouth's Lido will not reopen this year.
Teignbridge council say work won't be finished until the end of the school holidays - which won't make it worthwhile opening and they'll also struggle to find staff.
The £800,000 investment in the site aims to cut its fuel bills - as one in three lidos that's closed recently blamed rising running costs.
In an open letter, Martin Flitcroft Chief Finance Officer & Head of Corporate Services, said: "Due to unforeseen issues and construction delays on our £800,000 decarbonisation scheme at Teignmouth Lido we have reluctantly taken the decision it will not open this summer.
"The work was scheduled to be completed in time for the school holidays but instability issues with the foundations of the solar pergola foundation and problems with material supply has extended the construction time.
"Although we expect most of the work to be completed in the coming weeks, the systems will need to be tested and commissioned before final cleaning and maintenance work undertaken to allow the pool to be filled, treated and heated.
"This would leave just a few days of the school holidays where the pool could be opened, and the cost of this, allied to difficulties in recruiting leisure and pool staff, means it will not be financially or operationally viable for the Lido to open until next year.
"We know this will come as a huge disappointment to local people and visitors, but rather than spending money on reopening The Lido for just a few days, we will be making money available to provide Teignbridge community lidos with a one-off contribution towards their additional running costs to help them continue to support outdoor swimming opportunities in the district. We will continue to signpost people to our blue flag, lifeguarded beach at Teignmouth for outdoor swimming as well as Dawlish and Newton Abbot leisure centres for those who want a pool swim."