Chilly summer cools fortunes of outdoor pools

The volunteer-run pool at Shap is usually open from late May until the beginning of September

Shap Open Air Swimming Pool Shap pool with no swimmers in it — The volunteer-run pool at Shap is usually open from late May until the beginning of September

Open-air swimming pools in Cumbria are struggling to cover running costs as unseasonably cold weather is putting off customers.

At England's highest pool, in Shap, volunteer Briony Newsome said "hardened Shap kids" will brave any weather but some visitors are finding it "too bracing".

Groups running pools near Penrith told BBC Radio Cumbria there are not enough paying customers to cover costs.

At Greystoke, where the pool is "warmer than the lake", income is not matching the £250 a day required for lifeguards, water and electricity.

Greystoke Pool says it is losing money at present

Greystoke Pool A lifeguard on a high chair with a sunshade, watching over two swimmers — Greystoke Pool says it is losing money at present

June Bratton, volunteer manager for a pair of pools at Askham, said: "It's been really bad, very slow, very quiet. There's just nobody about at all.

"We've literally got one or two people in every session and it's not worth even being open."

Ms Bratton said the water temperature is 25C (77F), but "it's just so cold" when people get out after their swim that even locals are being put off.

At Shap, Ms Newsome agreed, saying: "It would mean everything to us if the sun could come out."

Askham's two pools say they urgently need more customers or volunteers

Askham Outdoor Swimming Pools Paddling pool in foreground with main pool further away — Askham's two pools say they urgently need more customers or volunteers

BBC Look North's Paul Mooney said the current unsettled weather has been caused by a jet stream which "remains stubbornly close to the UK".

"The fact that we’ve often been just on the cold side of the jet stream also means temperatures have been struggling to reach the seasonal average," he explained.

"So, weather-wise, it’s been a bit of a double whammy for much of June so far, with rain at times as well as disappointing temperatures.

"And the bad news is that the weather doesn’t look like settling down, or warming up, noticeably in the short term."

'Use it or lose it'

It has also been difficult attracting volunteers at the pools, with Shap even having to shut for two days during the week.

People have been urged to come and use the pools or to help out.

Ms Bratton said: "It's either use it or lose it. If people don't come and start to help, it's just getting too much for me and one other person and it would be such a shame for it to close."

Ms Newsome added: "We don't want to get to the point where we have to make the decision of whether it's viable to run anymore, because we're not here to make money.

"We're here to be an asset to the village, but if the asset isn't being supported, there's not much we can do."

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