A popular restaurant has thrown its support behind a campaign to bring back the town’s lido.

This week Casa Bianca, a successful Abergavenny restaurant in Frogmore Street, donated £2,000 to the campaign.

The aim is to bring a heated outdoor pool back to Bailey Park, Abergavenny.

This generous donation from a highly-rated local business will contribute towards a feasibility study that will ensure that the lido is both viable and sustainable

Campaigners expect that the study will then help secure larger grants from major funders.

Andreas Christou, owner of the Casa Bianca, said: “I think it’s a fantastic idea to have a lido in Abergavenny.

"There is a growing demand for places to swim in the outdoors - I’m sure local people will love it.

"This facility will also attract many more tourists and visitors to our lovely town."

George Foster, Chair of the lido committee, added: “We have been campaigning for some time to raise money for a feasibility study. But our efforts stalled during the lockdowns.

"Now, however, more and more businesses, groups and individuals are taking the plunge by volunteering their time and making donations.

"A lido would be a unique attraction, creating jobs, training and volunteering opportunities, stimulating investment and the local economy and improving residents’ wellbeing."

Many people remember the old pool with immense fondness.

The lido group website includes photos of people learning to swim, making friends and enjoying family days out.

Those who attended in their younger days are eager to give their children and grandchildren that same experience.

Although Monmouthshire County Council and Abergavenny Town Council support efforts to rebuild the lido on the original site, they have made it clear that no public funding will be available to bring the facility back to the town.

The lido group intends to raise all the finance it needs from community fundraising, grants and sponsorship.

The group has already organised several events, for example: a swimming-themed fun day in Bailey Park, a petition, a SurveyMonkey and quiz nights.

Their current fundraiser is an online raffle which so far has amassed more than £1,000.

The Welsh Church Fund has given £500.

More than £2,500 has been donated via their new crowdfunder site, Localgiving. The group is planning to do much more soon – with a view to gathering information about people’s requirements and encouraging them to help make the dream a reality. Every drop of money raised will contribute to building a fabulous new pool that will benefit, not only the people of Monmouthshire but the whole of South East Wales and further afield.

Anyone who wishes to donate to this project can do so on the Localgiving website:

localgiving.org/appeal/bringitback

Raffle tickets can be purchased at:

app.galabid.com/aberlidoraffle

You can get in touch by emailing [email protected].