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Cotswold BlogThe Cotswold Blog is a collection of diary entries, news, gossip and other Cotswold related information.
Loan makes Chipping Norton lido more sustainableCo-operative and Community Finance is pleased to announce it has approved a loan to the award-winning Chipping Norton Lido, which will cover the costs of making the pool more energy efficient. The outdoor pool which has become famous for immersing upmarket cars is currently undergoing large scale work to replace its gas boiler with a ground source heating system and associated photo-voltaic solar panels.Claire Jarvis, one of the trustees of Chipping Norton Lido, said: �The whole team at the Lido are delighted with the loan from Co-operative and Community Finance. We have been awarded a grant to cover the cost of the work, which we will use to pay off the loan once the project is completed. Co-operative and Community Finance has given us the opportunity to begin the project immediately, and we are looking forward to getting it underway. The new system will save the Lido a considerable amount of money per annum as it will be more cost effective and environmentally friendly, and we are hoping that the new constant temperature of 27 degrees will encourage more visitors on colder days.� The Lido was first opened in 1970 after the local community raised funds for a community outdoor swimming pool and since then, the community has campaigned hard to keep the Lido open for business. Today, it relies on a team of dedicated volunteers who contribute to the running of the outdoor pool and plan fundraising events to ensure the Lido can afford to remain open. Clare Jarvis, who also works for the Phone Co-op, the multi-awarding winning co-operative based in Chipping Norton, continued: �The local community holds a series of events during the year including a sponsored swim, quiz night and fun run, which raise money to ensure the day to day running of the pool and also any projects we are working on. We have been lucky to have regular support from celebrities such as Sharon Davies, Patrick Stewart, Sir Ben Kingsley, David Cameron and local celebrity Jeremy Clarkson, who hosts our Auction of Promises and made headlines in 2005 by driving a Rolls Royce into the lido for BBC�s Top Gear.� The Lido provides the people of Chipping Norton with a small haven, where they can go for an outdoor swim, relax in the caf� or picnic on the large lawn. It offers free events including a �Dip n Chill� evening for 11-18 year olds and keep fit classes for Over-60s. The Lido can also be hired for corporate events or parties. Over the last couple of years Chipping Norton Lido has won a Community Award from the Amateur Swimming Association and was also the winner of the charities & community award (Oxfordshire Business Awards) and West Oxfordshire District Council�s Chairman�s Award for Achievement. Ian Rothwell at Co-operative and Community Finance said: �The Lido at Chipping Norton is very special and we immediately saw the value it offers to its local community and surrounding area. It is a place where families and friends can spend quality time together while keeping fit and having fun, and of course it attracts tourists to the area which ultimately supports the local businesses. The money we have loaned will be put towards a worthwhile project that, once finished, will save the Lido around �7,000 each year. We hope that this saving will allow the Lido to continue to offer its leisure services for many years to come.� Posted : 16/10/2009 19:56:44 PLEASE NOTE: This story has been archived and the information contained within it may no longer be correct.
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