Portishead pool wins TV makeover

Portishead's rundown open-air pool is to be given the facelift it desperately needs – by a TV makeover show.

Work will begin next month with the lido hopefully being opened in time for the summer, on May 23.

The transformation, details of which are being kept secret at this stage, will be filmed and shown on UKTV Style later this year.

London-based independent production company, Twofour Broadcast, shortlisted the pool as a possible community regeneration project for Ty's Great British Adventure.

The pool has now been chosen as one of two projects across the UK which will receive a huge makeover.

The show is fronted by US TV star, Ty Pennington, best known for the American show Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

Ty and his team will come to Portishead next month and spend a week upgrading and refurbishing the pool.

The Portishead Pool Community Trust has already put forward a planned series of improvements, including refurbishing the changing rooms, installing solar panels and a pool cover, redecorating the building and opening the children's pool. It is likely these improvements will be made as part of the makeover.

Producers will bring in scores of experts to get the work done, as well as using volunteers from the local community.

Representatives from UKTV Style and Twofour Broadcast have been at the pool over the past few weeks, assessing what work can be done as part of the programme.

Trustees took over the management of the lido earlier this month following the successful Save the Open Air Pool (STOP) campaign, backed by the Post.

North Somerset Council has agreed an initial 12-month lease with the trust, with the option of renewing it for a further 99 years.

Trustee and STOP campaign leader Roger Whitfield said: "It is absolutely fantastic news – the best we could have hoped for.

"To have this sort of support to get the pool ready and open for the summer season this year is amazing.

"It is the cherry on top of the cake of winning the campaign to save this much-loved attraction from closure.

"We are currently working with the show producers to look at what improvements can be made."

Mr Whitfield urged people to give a final push to the Pound for the Pool campaign, launched to raise £20,000 towards getting the lido open. To date the campaign has raised £11,000.

He said: "We are delighted with the response to the appeal so far.

"But we are at a very crucial stage where every penny counts and all the money we raise will go towards supporting the team which will be giving the pool this much needed makeover.

"The more money we get, the more ambitious we can be with the makeover."