The much-loved annual Christmas swim at Sandford Parks Lido in Cheltenham has been cancelled, due to fears of safety because of Covid-19.
Going for a swim in freezing temperatures may not sound appealing. But locals have been diving in on Christmas Day for years.
The last time they closed the Christmas swim was back in 2010, due to unprecedented sub-zero temperatures resulting in frozen pipes.
The Lido said on Facebook: “There is no way we can feasibly operate this event in a safe manner due to Covid-19 and we do not want to put anybody at risk”.
? ? It’s with a heavy heart that we have to announce the sad, but expected, news that there will be no Christmas Day…
Posted by Sandford Parks Lido on Monday, November 23, 2020
Sandford Lido is a popular outside-swimming pool located on Keynsham Road close to Cheltenham General Hospital.
The owners of the swimming pool said on their website they were “devastated”.
Last month in October hundreds of people and their dogs swam in the Lido, whilst adhering to social distancing rules and wearing face coverings.
