Brockwell Lido users launch charity as Fusion crisis deepens and council vows no closure

A packed public meeting in Herne Hill on Sunday evening heard that users of Brockwell Lido have already set up a new charity to help secure the site’s future, as concerns grow that current operator Fusion could enter administration within weeks.

At the same meeting, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Leisure insisted there would be “no break in use” if that happens, promising the council is ready to step in to keep the Lido open.

Alongside that reassurance came a clear warning from campaigners that the site may require millions of pounds of investment after years of under-maintenance.

Opening the Brockwell Lido Users (BLU) Extraordinary General Meeting on 22 March at Station Hall, chair Ben Longman said the group now represents more than 800 members “representing all users of the Lido, not just swimmers,” and confirmed that a new charity has been established, “sitting there dormant but ready to be used,” with trustees already in place.

He thanked Fusion staff, saying “we are so grateful, especially in times like this when things are afoot. They give their time, energy and skills,” and also thanked Labour MP Helen Hayes, local councillors and Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Cllr Donatus Anywanyu, for attending.

He added:

“We are not going to discuss the current state of the Lido. We know there are so many issues to fix. But we want to talk about what is going to happen structurally and how we can involve the local community in decision-making.”

BLU’s Marc Meryon then outlined developments since the November AGM.

“Ever since we were alerted to the seriousness of Fusion’s challenges last spring, we have been looking for a solution. We changed the quarterly meetings to monthly meetings. We got media coverage about the poor state of the Lido.”

He stressed the limits of BLU’s power. “The problem is that we have a voice, but not a veto. We can’t force Fusion to do anything. It has been time-consuming and stressful. I have been threatened with legal proceedings for talking about the state of the Lido.”

He said Fusion had acknowledged a £13 million loan it cannot repay:

“All the profits generated by the Lido are being used to pay off the loan. Under the lease, Fusion pays Lambeth no rent. There are five years left on the lease.”

That lease, he warned, creates legal risk:

“Lambeth is cautious about terminating the lease as it isn’t worded well. Lambeth might face claims from Fusion. I understand Lambeth now does have a contingency plan. I want to thank Lambeth for pulling out all the stops for getting ready for this situation.”

He added:

“Fusion are way over 400 days from filing their accounts. This can’t continue. If they can’t sort out their loan they will probably go into administration.”

If that happens, the consequences are uncertain.

“If Fusion goes into administration, Lambeth may not be able to terminate the lease. The alternative is liquidation. Fusion would cease to trade, the front door would be locked.”

That could mean closure while repairs are carried out.

“It would take time to reopen as repairs would be needed. There are complicated factors. The Lido needs urgent investment.”

He added:

“There are only five years left on the lease. No operator would take on the lease with the repairs needed. Lambeth doesn’t have funds to invest in the Lido.”

He described the situation as a “false choice” and outlined three options:

“The default option is that it returns to Lambeth under Active Lambeth. But the council has no money. It would be hard for the BLU charity to raise funds if it is operated by the local council and it generates a profit. Hardly anyone favours it being returned to Lambeth.”

“A second option is a new operator, but this risks repeating the Fusion situation. Funds could be sucked into another site. Having a voice is not enough for BLU.”

“The third option is for the community to run the Lido where everyone has a say. But it needs investment. We don’t think the council should use their own resources. We need to discuss how we can use BLU’s charity to have a lease, and then subcontract out to a new operator. It would enable fundraising and have a plan for repairs. The arrangement would be designed to give a return to Lambeth. We’ve already had interest from one operator.”

Returning to the floor, Longman said:

“We have a once-in-a-generation situation to have a say in how the Lido is run and where the profits go. We are looking to open the community to what happens here. We feel that you need to have a say.”

He added:

“It is an anchor of the community. It needs to have the community at the heart. We have learnt that the Lido needs investment, and it needs community involvement. It can’t just be a leisure centre.”

He confirmed BLU has set up a charity “that provides a level of governance that is transparent,” and said:

“The Lido hasn’t had investment for at least a decade. You can see that. It’s a difficult conversation to ask Lambeth for money for leisure. It requires a community-level approach.”

He said BLU has submitted an Asset of Community Value application and launched a new website “built around protecting the Lido,” adding:

“The message is that we shouldn’t take the Lido for granted.”

He confirmed discussions with funders:

“We are talking to institutional funders. We have received a credible partnership offer from a credible organisation saying that if you take on the lease, we can run it for you. We aren’t pretending that we are going to run it ourselves.”

Referencing Herne Hill Velodrome, he said:

“They have taken a local asset and turned it around. Who comes in through the door? Children and the local community. Cycling is just the vehicle showing potential. That is what the Lido is.”

He added:

“Do you want it to be run with heart, or do you want just another leisure centre? We want the profits to go back into the community and make sure that money stays in the area.”

Caroline from Whippersnappers said:

“I am vintage Lido. I came to the Lido in 1994 when Paddy and Casey asked for people to run workshops. I gave them a third of my takings for baby and toddler classes. We have seen all the models.”

She added:

“Our heyday was in the 90s under Paddy and Casey. This is when the site was a community. We had BBQs, play schemes with kids being pirates and markets. It was a community space.”

She also noted improvements under Fusion:

“Fusion came in and built the gym. They gave us something that was more sustainable long term, and they did rebuild the front with the wonderful architecture.”

She concluded:

“Let’s all work together and say good things about each other.”

Helen Hayes MP said:

“This will be my 30th year of swimming at the Lido. It has meant so much more to me and my family than just swimming.”

She added:

“There was a complicated story that led to Fusion running the Lido. I worked with Fusion to get the Lottery funding for the front of the building.”

She was blunt about the current situation.

“It is a terrible, terrible change that has happened to Fusion. It has descended into a state of crisis over poor financial management. They have taken on too many sites across the country.”

She warned:

“Under no circumstances must the Lido close its doors. This will lead to further problems to come.”

And added:

“I see the conditions at the Lido and I see BLU saying how people are being short changed.”

She said:

“This is about getting through the crisis, and then deliver the best possible version of the Lido. BLU needs to be part of this discussion.”

Cllr Donatus Anywanyu said:

“We have been involved in regular meetings with local councillors and officers who have the sign-off for the money. There are some things I can’t say for legal and commercial reasons.”

He added:

“Our officers have been working with other local authorities. We are working absolutely diligently to make sure there is no break of use. The team is absolutely ready. There will be no stop of usage.”

He said:

“We will protect Whippersnappers and other community activities that happen at the Lido.”

He added:

“We are aware of what is going on, we are prepared to step in straight away. Whatever happens after that, then we will have to make a decision.”

Labour councillor Deepak Sardiwall said:

“Time Out recognised it as the best place in London for an outdoor dip.”

He added:

“Fusion have not been the easiest of partners to work with. They have made false promises with regards investment and the cleanliness of the facility.”

He said:

“The council can step in, should Fusion fold tomorrow. I can commit to staying involved and backing the community.”

Green councillor Paul Valentine said:

“It was invaluable speaking to BLU and its members when I was first elected last May. I am here to listen to you. The Lido has such a role in our community. I will listen and be led by those in the room this evening.”

In questions, Longman said BLU had identified:

“Around 10 or 12 grant funding organisations… there are seed funders, as well as the National Lottery. they require a semi-professional approach. We have brought on board a professional fundraiser.”

He said:

“Even though the current Lambeth survey says the Lido can run as normal, we think it needs millions of pounds of investment.”

Meryon added:

“I have spoken with a bank who may be able to offer short-term funding, as well as long-term investment. It is a no-brainer. It has a strong support base and generates a surplus. They would be willing to crunch the numbers and provide substantial funding.”

On governance, he said:

“We settled on a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. There is the foundation model where members of the charity are trustees, and the association model where the public who use the Lido can be members.”

He added:

“There is a huge interest in the community. People should be allowed to become members of this new charity. There is a lot to think about regarding members, governance and policy. We are progressing as quickly as we can.”

He was challenged from the floor:

“You’ve chosen your three trustees selected by yourselves. Within ten months you then have to stand down. It’s then down to us members to approve the constitution, which is still unpublished”

Meryon replied:

“I don’t think this is an appropriate forum to have this debate.”

On lease enforcement, he said:

“Lambeth has been looking at this and could take action, but we’re not sure if this is wise.”

On staffing, he said:

“The law guarantees that the staff have the right to go with a new operator. They are brilliant and they deserve our support.”

Councillor Anywanyu added:

“The staff are protected by law.”

Asked whether the council would run the Lido itself, Cllr Anywanyu said:

“I wasn’t prepared to use public money for this. We are watching.”

One resident said:

“We are facing a crisis. We have a leasehold owned by someone who has £13 million of debt. We have a freehold with more substantial debt. Thank you for your cooperation. Compromises will be needed. We need to work together to get this to the best possible place.”

Another said:

“At the moment the Lido makes a significant annual profit. Fusion creams this off. We have a profit-making organisation that can function. I do not want Lambeth running this. It is financially viable. Time can be bought for the council to work with BLU.”

They added:

“I want profits to be ring-fenced to the Lido and not given to the rest of Lambeth.”

Cllr Anywanyu replied:

“The council has its own processes. It is a Cabinet decision. If you ask me for my personal view, which is different to the council’s position, I am committed to working with the community.”

He added:

“You said that you don’t want it to be run like a leisure centre, but it is a leisure centre.”

Another intervention brought in the Lido’s history.

“The Lido was facing closure 22 years ago. It took the community for Lambeth to do a complete U-turn. I was part of the group that interviewed companies that tendered.”

They added:

“We thought we had a good deal then, as we had the community under the Steering Group. Looking back now, it should have been nailed down more. Fusion was quite good at first. Then it started to go wrong. Then it became an extraction process and not an investment process.”

They concluded:

“We realised the Steering Group didn’t have enough teeth. Who hdoes the donkey work on the ground? We need to make sure that decisions are enforceable and enshrined.”

On maintenance, Longman said:

“We are concerned about the leaks, the paving stones, the decking, the gym equipment, the plant as it is old. There is damp in the changing rooms.”

He added:

“We are concerned about things we don’t know about. We have not seen a comprehensive survey, even though we have been pushing for this. In order to protect the heritage of the Lido, the bill will be substantial.”

Cllr Anywanyu said:

“We had a surveyor who did an audit last week. Officers have done an analysis to be certain what is required. If the report is legally allowed to be made public then we will share it.”

On pricing, Longman said:

“We know Fusion has taken substantial profits out of the site. We think around £1 million was leaving the site and going elsewhere. There is no reason that the pricing needs to change.”

Closing the meeting, Helen Hayes said:

“We have people here whose history goes back a long period of time. We get better outcomes when we work that way. Those processes are messier than one organisation going off on its own.”

She added:

“The Lido is complicated with the current lease issue, and the health and safety considerations, plus the jigsaw puzzle of the funding.”

She concluded:

“We will get the best outcome if we all work together patiently and together. This facility should be here and thriving, serving future generations. We need to navigate the short term first, and then a longer sustainable solution.”

With Fusion’s financial position unresolved and its accounts still outstanding, the immediate focus is on whether the operator can avoid administration in the coming weeks. If it cannot, Lambeth says the doors will stay open.

Beyond that, the longer-term future of Brockwell Lido and who ultimately controls it, funds it and benefits from it, remains undecided, but is now being actively shaped by a community determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past.