A beloved swimming pool set for a £20 million renovation project will shut within months and not reopen again for years, it has been revealed.
Councillors have approved plans to overhaul popular Tides in Deal – the town’s only pool – so that a new six lane pool, toddler splash zone and bigger gym can be created.
Tides, in Park Avenue, Deal, will shut within months while work takes place to overhaul the centre
The plans have been in the works for years as the current facility is showing signs of aging.
But it has also emerged that the leisure centre, including its tennis centre and sports hall, will shut on March 31 this year, when the current lease for operator Your Leisure ends.
They will be shut for nine months while a new leisure centre management contract is being tendered.
The new contract will begin with a new provider in January 2026, at which point the sports hall and tennis centre will reopen while development work continues on the new pool and gym.
It is then hoped the new and improved pool and gym – including a cafe and fitness studios – will reopen in summer 2027.
Tides is home to a pool, gym and tennis courts
Dover District Council’s (DDC) Labour administration hailed the move as “brilliant,” but the opposition have slated the closure as “leaving local clubs, groups, and staff in turmoil”.
Plans to flatten and rebuild Tides, originally built in the 1980s, first emerged in 2018, but were put on hold by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2022 the wheels were put back in motion, with members of DDC finally approving the plans at a cabinet meeting last night (Monday). The scheme will cost £20.4 million in total.
A council officer explained to the cabinet that the new facility will have “a six lane pool, a toddler splash pad and a bigger gym with a range of health and fitness studios”.
Controversially however, the complex’s current slides will not be replaced, with another officer saying “disappointment” with this was a “key theme” in the public consultation, which had 1,000 responses.
The cabinet were told: “The ongoing deterioration of Tides pool has driven the need to close the pool by March 31 2025 which is in line with the current operator’s lease ending.”
At the meeting, Labour cabinet members praised the plans, with deputy leader Cllr Jamie Pout (Lab) stressing: “People do want lane swimming – I think a lot of people are saying that at the Dover leisure centre they struggle to get in there particularly some of the schools and clubs.”
Cllr Kevin Mills, leader of DDC
Cllr Stacey Blair (Lab) added: “There seems to be a lot of nostalgia over what you’re about to lose which seems mad seeing as a lot of the facilities that are there haven’t actually worked since I was a child.”
Later, opposition leader Cllr Trevor Bartlett (Con) criticised the long-term closure on social media, calling for an “urgent rethink”.
“The Labour cabinet’s baffling decision to shut down all facilities at Tides Leisure Centre from April – without proper notice to users – leaves local clubs, groups, and staff in turmoil,” he wrote.
“Gymnastics, tennis, and other community activities will now be scrambling to find alternative venues, with no clear plan from the administration.
“No consideration was given to keeping the tennis centre open temporarily, and the staff now face redundancy only for a new operator to take over in January.”
DDC has been approached over any redundancies.
In a statement today, leader of DDC Kevin Mills said: “It has been a long journey to reach this point and we are thrilled to be within touching distance of work beginning on this exciting new leisure centre for Deal.
“We listened to your feedback during our public engagement sessions and are pleased to be able to add an extra swimming lane which will allow for fun inflatable sessions and lane swimming, as well as a splash pad for our youngest residents.
“We have worked hard to make this centre deliverable in what has been a tough financial climate and some difficult decisions have had to be made.
“The closure of the gym and swimming pool while the project progresses was a cross-party recommendation from the Project Advisory Group and while we understand people’s frustrations, this project will benefit residents and current user groups in the long-term.
“We will be working with local groups to explore what other facilities are available to users while the centre is closed.
“We look forward to taking this positive step forward to provide much needed facilities for residents and visitors.”