Opinion: Returning the Tropicana back to a Lido will waste tens of millions of taxpayers money

by Dan Heley (Editor)

The development of a lido once again at Weston-super-Mare’s Tropicana might sound like a nostalgic and exciting idea, but when you look closely at the numbers and realities, it quickly becomes clear that it would be a waste of taxpayers money and a financial black hole for North Somerset Council.

The issue of a Lido and the Tropicana rears its head from time to time, and it’s that time now, as residents offer their views on North Somerset Councils plan to hand the Tropicana on a 25yr lease to event organisers Live Nation, where a decision is likely to be made at a meeting of the Full Council on Tuesday 12th May.

At first glance, the appeal of a Lido is obvious. The Tropicana was once a defining seaside attraction, and the idea of restoring it to its former glory carries emotional weight. But sentiment alone is not a sound basis for a multi-million-pound public investment.

The financial reality tells a very different story.

Even several years ago, estimates to bring back a functioning lido were already extremely high. A figure of around £30 million was being discussed in 2019.

Adjusted for today’s construction costs, that rises to somewhere in the region of £40 million to £45 million—and once realistic contingencies are added, the total project cost could easily reach £50 million or more.

And that is just the cost to build it.

Outdoor lidos in the UK are notoriously expensive to run. They require constant heating, filtration, staffing, and maintenance, all while being heavily dependent on good weather.

In a climate like the South West’s, usage would be highly seasonal and unpredictable. Even on a good summer, revenue would struggle to match operating costs.

On a poor one, losses could be significant. This is not speculation—it is exactly why so many traditional seaside pools across the country have closed over the past few decades.

There is also a reason why the current redevelopment of the Tropicana has moved away from the idea of a pool entirely.

The approved use of around £12m of the £20 million Levelling Up Fund awarded to Weston-super-Mare from Central Government, for the current proposed scheme of Live Nation utilising the site, focuses on creating a flexible, year-round events and cultural space.

Unlike a lido, this type of venue can generate income in all seasons, attract a wider range of visitors, and support the local economy more consistently. It reflects a pragmatic approach to regeneration rather than a nostalgic one.

In a time when council finances are under pressure, committing tens of millions to a high-risk, weather-dependent project is impossible to justify.

The romanticism held towards the idea of a Lido returning to the seafront, is largely held by those from the older generation in Weston, a demographic who harp for days of old that are no longer here.

However that’s the case for almost all seaside towns, some have managed to buck the trend, but with the 1990’s came the advent of package holidays and cheap flights which opened up travelling abroad for the first time to those that had previously been unable to meet the costs.

That trend has continued unabated in the decades since, which means the future of Weston-super-Mare lies not in revisiting the past, but in decision makers being forward thinking in their views on what is best for residents and tourists alike.

When all is said and done, Weston-super-Mare needs investment that is sustainable, resilient, and economically sound.

Nostalgia is powerful—but it is not a business plan.