Portishead's open-air pool is back
Hundreds of people packed into the pool last night to see the refurbished lido for the first time.
Pool trustees estimate that the makeover project – which has seen the run down 1960s' lido transformed into a Mediterranean oasis – was worth about £100,000 in materials and a further £100,000 in manpower.
It was done as part of the programme Ty's Great British Adventure, which will be shown on the UKTV Style channel later this year.
American TV star Ty Pennington, best known for hit USA show Extreme Makeover Home Edition, arrived on site a week ago to kick off the mammoth challenge.
Ty and his team, plus hundreds of volunteers and businesses from the local community, have worked round the clock over the last week to get the pool ready.
The presenter described the pool refurbishment as his biggest project yet, but said he was delighted with the results.
He said: "I think the whole project has gone swimmingly!
"There were points when I didn't think that we were going to pull it off because it was raining all the time. At one point I said 'oh my God, we are never gonna get this finished'.
"In America, they teach you to swim by throwing you in the deep end, and this is what happened here,
"The local community have been awesome and have really got behind the project and made it happen."
Much to the delight of the crowds, Ty, wearing a pair of red shorts, was among the first to jump in the pool.
The star even took part in a synchronised swim with the Portishead Loafers swimming club, cheered on by the crowds.
The pool is barely recognisable from the rundown 1960s' lido it was just a week ago, and the once-tatty cream sun terraces have been painted a mix of bright blue and orange.
Deck chairs and palm trees have been put on the terraces along with picnic tables and Astroturf.
The diving board has been repainted and large decorative waves painted on the outside walls of the building.
A new pool cover, costing £17,250, has been installed, as well as a new lane counter on the wall of the plant room.
Trustees worked with Avon Fire and Rescue Service and Bristol Water to ensure enough water could be pumped into the pool to fill it in time, after earlier worries about pressure levels.
The plant room and boilers have been re-commissioned and new windows put in the plant room and poolside toilets.
A new emergency exit has been created, the cafe area completely refurbished and a new entrance to the pool has been built.
The cafe, which will be called the Lock House Lounge, has been extended and will have new toilets and a refurbished kitchen.
A new decked area has been laid outside the pool for people to sit and enjoy a bite to eat in the sunshine.
The pool's male and female changing rooms have also been refurbished and new toilets and showers installed.
One of the highlights of the makeover has been the reopening of the children's pool, which had been decked over for several years but has now been reopened with new water features.
Pool trustee Roger Whitfield said: "On some days we have had 100 people on site, some of whom have been volunteers and some skilled tradesmen.
"It has been an amazing project which has involved so many sections of the community.
"Everyone is exhausted, but it has been worth it and it is incredible to see everything which has been achieved in just six days.
"I cannot thank the people who have got behind the project enough.
"The people of Portishead now have a pool they can be proud of."
Volunteers and contractors were on site right up until past 6pm yesterday to make the final touches to the pool.
Local builders, including workers from Richwood Construction, Quicksons and DPC Contractors, have worked until 11pm most nights to ensure the project is finished.
Project site manager Andy Thatcher, aged 54, from Portishead, said there had been a real party atmosphere.
Mr Thatcher said: "It's been hard work but there has been a real party atmosphere."
Architect Mike Godfrey, 46, from Portishead, was the man behind the designs for the pool.
Mr Godfrey, a dad of two who used to swim at the pool as a child, gave his services for free and said he was delighted at how the pool had been transformed.
He said: "I worked on a project at Wiveliscombe open-air pool and when I heard what was happening in Portishead, I approached the trustees. I wanted to give the pool a Mediterranean feel and that is why we decided on the warm, bright colours.
"This project has seen a three- to six-month building programme completed in one week. It's been an amazing achievement for everyone involved."
Among the businesses which helped out was St Philip's-based Rudge Brothers and James, which supplied and fitted £5,000-worth of flooring for the entrance hall and poolside for free. The company's fitters faced a race against time to put the flooring in after rain delays, finishing a job that would normally take up to two days in just over an hour, immediately before last night's opening.
Co-director Jim Heal, 43, of Bedminster, said: "We all want to help someone in need and the pool was certainly in need of help."
Volunteer Barbara Thatcher, 58, from Portishead, who has been at the pool all week, said: "This project has really brought the whole community together.
"I've had my husband, son, brother, sister-in-law and lots of friends working on site as volunteers."
As well as the preview evening, a private party for 150 people was organised at the pool last night.
Builders, volunteers, suppliers and local dignitaries attended the event and were entertained by Portishead Town Band, Portishead Community Choir and the Portishead Loafers.
The exterior of the pool has also been given a facelift, with murals painted by local schoolchildren, and flowerbeds outside replanted.
Portishead Town Council chairman, Councillor David Pasley, said: "I am thrilled to see the pool looking so good and all the people here. I think the pool looks so vibrant, it really has been brought to life.
"What the trust, Ty and the volunteers have done is nothing short of a miracle."
The celebrations reached an exciting climax with a barbecue around the pool and a fireworks display at dusk.
Volunteers will be on site the rest of the week to finish a last few jobs ready for the pool to open for the summer season on Saturday.
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