‘It really made our Christmas’ - £750,000 secured for South Devon sea pool

• Watch Richard Lawrence's report here.

A sea pool in Brixham has been awarded a grant of more than half a million pounds. 

Brixham’s Shoalstone Pool opened in 1896 and is one of the last remaining examples of a seawater lido left in the country. 

Thousands of people use it every year, and generations of local people have learnt to swim in it.

Now it’s been awarded a grant of more than half a million pounds for repairs and refurbishment. That, on top of fundraising efforts and council pledges, means there’s £750,000 available to make it safe for future generations. 

Dave Thomas, from Shoalstone Pool CIO, said: “It’s an early Christmas present for us. It was fantastic news. It really made our Christmas. 

“We can hit the ground running in January and all the hard work that we’ve done and the trustees have done and our volunteers have done fundraising, we can make this happen.”

Money raised locally and pledged by the councils helped to unlock the government cash.

Local people and holidaymakers have given donations ranging from £5 to £10,000 towards the campaign, plus Brixham Town Council and Torbay Council have each pledged £60,000 for the engineering project.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed a £550,000 grant to pay for the engineering works needed to save the pool, bringing the total to £750,000. 

Around 60 volunteers help run the pool, including Shelia Andrews. She said: “I think it’s wonderful. It actually brought a tear to my eyes. We have been fundraising for years and years and the people of Brixham have put so much effort into it. 

“Our children came here, our grandchildren, now our great grandchildren. It’s used by so many people.”  

Jessica Stock, from the CIO, said: “It’s time to celebrate! This successful bid means work can now start this season. Thank you all.

“For four years we have watched the waves coming over the side at Shoalstone Pool and every wave has made the cracks a little bit bigger!” 

Work will include the reconstruction of the north west corner of the pool and anchoring the base of the pool firmly to the rock bed below. 

Mr Thomas said: “There is a massive amount of work to be done. We’ve got to make this safe for the generations to come.”

Work will hopefully start in the new year.