The Abergavenny Lido Group Committee have been celebrating after announcing that they have secured funding for a feasibility study into building a new lido in the town.

The group applied to The Vale of Usk Local Action Group and received £20,000 towards the study, which is the first phase of the project looking to bring a £7million outdoor pool back to Bailey Park after the last one closed 25 years ago.

The funding was received through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

Having already received nearly £5,000 from the generous donations of local businesses and individuals, the group have now raised the required amount of £25,000 to cover the cost of the feasibility study.

The feasibility study will look at all aspects of the planning applications and surveying, construction quotations, likely running costs and sustainability of the pool and its associated income generation.

The study is expected to be completed by early summer 2022 and will also help the Committee group secure future funding from potential investors and contributors to enable the build to go ahead.

George Foster, chair of Abergavenny Lido Group Committee, said: “We are delighted to have secured the necessary funding to carry out a feasibility study.

“This is fantastic news for the Group, as coupled with other donations from local companies and charities the dream of reopening the Lido in Bailey Park gets one step nearer.”

“There is a huge amount of enthusiasm within the local community for this project, and we believe that a new outdoor pool would a be a real asset to the area and help attract further tourism to Abergavenny.”

The group believe that once the study is over, the lido can be built within two to three years.

The Abergavenny Lido Committee Group would also like to thank donors Abergavenny Town Council, Anthony A Davies, Casa Bianca Restaurant, Magic Little Grants, Persimmon Homes and the Welsh Church Fund.

They also thanked everyone who contributed by buying raffle tickets, their Facebook supporters and those who have contributed through Local Giving.

Abergavenny Town Council were one of the local organisations to offer financial support towards the Lido Group’s efforts to launch the feasibility study and Abergavenny Town Mayor, Councillor Tudor Thomas said he was “heartened” to hear the Council’s contributions have helped secure funding for the study to go ahead.

Speaking to the Chronicle, Councillor Thomas added: “If this project does go ahead, it will provide an excellent facility for the people of Abergavenny but also the surrounding areas. There has been a huge increase nationally in the interest in outdoor swimming throughout the year.

“I think for people who want to swim all year it will be a much safer environment to swim in as it will obviously have life guards whereas currently some people swim in pools and lakes with no life guards.

“Pontypridd Lido is very successful and I am sure an Abergavenny Lido will be very popular with people of all age groups.”