The following are key questions arising from the Hillingdon Lido Proposals 2010. The Hillingdon Council response email to FORL are below each question.

1. Car Parking proposed site:

a. Where are the cars & people gaining access to the car park?

The entrance as shown on the map at the meeting will be through the large double gates at the entrance to Willow Lawn.

b. How are cars going to pass each other e.g. exit & entry?

The entrance and exit point is currently two way and the road to the car park would be marked for two way traffic.

2. What are the proposals to control people exiting & entering train station by the car park?

The proposals include a Zebra crossing

3. What proposals to negate risk and the Health & Safety considerations regarding cars vs pedestrians in this area?

The proposals will be subject to advice received from Council officers.

4. Finance: Is the cost of development ‘ring fenced’ and where will the finance come from for continuous up keep?

The budget is capital money already set aside in the council’s budgets.

5. Is there a Public Consultation taking place? (please give start dates & plans)

The Improvement Programme has already begun; it encompasses several different aspects of development on the site and will run for approximately two years. The programme will continue to be reported to the Management Advisory Group (MAG) and published in ‘Hillingdon People’ on a regular basis.

6. How do local residents have their say/voice opinion?

Residents of the borough should use the dedicated email address ruisliplidoenquiries@hillingdon.gov.uk or write to Lyn Summers, 3S/07 Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW

7. Was the Athletic Association consulted regarding these proposals?

The Hillingdon Athletic Club have been made aware of the proposals through the Ruislip Woods Management Advisory group, as members of that group.

8. Are any alterations proposed to the Waters Edge Public House?

None at this stage

9. What are the boundaries of the Waters Edge and where are these shown?

The boundaries of the Waters Edge will be indicated on the webpage for the Improvement Programme once the pages have been completed.

10. Details of proposed water improvements are required.  Is this for part or whole of the Lido?

During testing, the water has proved to be at the acceptable standard for inland bathing set down by EC directive 76/160/EEC

11. Details of the proposed areas designated for swimming and bathing are required.  How are these going to be sectioned off from the rest of the Lido?

It is proposed that the areas are buoyed off and once a decision is made on the area this will be indicated on a map and made available on the dedicated website.

12. Why did the boating and skiing stop previously?

The previous company which undertook the skiing operation was evicted from the premises for breaches of the lease. The boating operation also ceased at this time. The water skiing that took place was also seen as a failing business.

13. How are the Council planning to balance the increase in water level vs the impact on the flood plain?

All risks will be explored through investigations carried out by appointed engineers and permissions sought from the Environment Agency

14. Have there been engineer’s reports?  (When were they done & what do they say)

Engineers have yet to be appointed.

15. The stated aim of the Council is “to preserve the look and feel” of the Lido - how do they intend to achieve this?  Who will be consulted to ensure that this is being achieved?

The council will communicate through the MAG, via Hillingdon People and through the Ruislip Lido webpage.

16. Has an Authorative Environmental Impact Assessment been completed?  What does it say?

This will be undertaken once proposals have been agreed.

17. What is happening with the Council agreed ‘Five Year Plan?’

The Council’s Management Plan continues to provide the basis for our work and will include projects as they arise. Improvements to the site will be added as they are considered and approved.

18. Is it not discrimination to charge to residents outside Hillingdon Borough?

The cost of the Improvement Programme is met by Hillingdon residents; the Council has determined that the costs of the work require contributions by users from outside of the Borough.

19. Will there be more staff employed?   During what months of the year and how will this be financed?

Staffing at the Lido will be reviewed once proposals have been agreed.

20. Is this a Proposal or a Decision?

The outline plans are currently proposals.

21. Please provide details of the requirements to maintain the Dam vs the Water Level to be maintained at a certain height as proposed by the HIP

Please refer to question 13 and relevant response

22. What is the plan for ongoing investment in improvements and staff levels?

Staffing levels and ongoing investment will be assessed during the Improvement Programme and will ensure that the improved facilities are managed to a high standard.

23. What would you be doing to tackle the dangers of weeds and risk of drowning?

A full risk assessment will be undertaken to ensure that the bathing risks are managed in line with HSE requirements for Inland Bathing

24. What are the planned Parking restrictions?  How are these going to be enforced?

Currently there are no parking restrictions other than the double yellow lines which are currently enforced by the council’s civil enforcement officers. The council will work with local residents to explore options to manage parking facilities around the Lido.

25. How are the emergency services going to access the residential roads and car parks in peak times?

We will continue to work with the Emergency Services to ensure that they can carry out their responsibilities unimpeded through effective parking enforcement and other methods. The existing parking restrictions were developed in consultation with residents and the emergency services.

26. How will you control the capacity of numbers?

The site is currently fully accessible with no defined limits on numbers however, the Council closely monitors numbers of people visiting the site and will review the capacity as the site develops.

27. What is the ‘capacity’ in numbers of people able to use the Lido at any one time?

Please refer to question 26 and relevant response.

28. Have the proposals been properly costed?

Each phase of works will be costed and procured in line with the Council’s procurement policies.

29. What companies have conducted feasibility studies re providing boating/swimming to the Lido - please identify them?

We have had informal discussions with companies to provide boating facilities at the Lido, but this would be subject to an external procurement process to ensure value for money if progressed.

30. What bids have they put in and what do they propose to charge users of the facilities e.g. use of boating.

The tender process has not been started.

31. Have the Council asked the Water Board if they will sell the field at side of existing car park behind Reservoir Road for parking facilities?

No approaches have been made to Violia (the water company) regarding any use of land owed by them

32. What time is the Lido going to be closed?

The Lido is not closed at present and would not be closed unless a decision was made to install fencing around the site.

33. What time is the car park going to be closed?

The Reservoir Road Car Park is closed at 11.00 pm or after the pub has closed. Opening and closing of the new overflow car park will be assessed in advance of it opening.

34. What are the proposals regarding admission charges?

No proposals have been made regarding admission charges.

35. What ecological & wildlife protection groups have the Council consulted?

The proposals have been discussed with the Ruislip Woods Management Advisory Group which includes a number of local natural history groups and local naturalists.

36. What are the proposals to clean up the water and the water’s edge prior to use?

The waters edge will be cleaned by the Lido staff and tests will be carried out to ensure the water meets the EC guidelines.

37. The base of the lido is covered by ‘Gungy silt’ when disturbed this released harmful bacteria.  What are the proposals to negate risk of ingestion by swimmers and users of boats on lido?

Risk assessments will be carried out to ensure that all risks are controlled.

38. In the 5 year plan , which is only 2 years old, i.e. M900 the Lido is afforded the status of Metropolitan Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. How will this status be protected?

The Lido is included in the wider Metropolitan site of importance for Nature Conservation M009, which includes Ruislip Woods, the Lido and Poor’s Field. The proposals at the Lido will maintain the ‘look and feel’ of the Lido taking Nature Conservation interests into consideration.

39. The Cafe is quite a walk from the car parks and the railway only
operates at week ends and school holidays in the summer, so
there might not be enough passing trade on not so good days to
support building a large Cafe like the one at the Aquadrome,
which is right next to the car parks.

The concession at the Lido is operated with the concessionaire taking account of how the business would succeed.

40. The resident Common Toad Bufo-bufo, is a special species of

principle importance for the conservation of biodiversity under section 41of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006″. How will Hillingdon deliver on their biodiversity duty (Section 40 of the NERC Act) to have regard for biodiversity conservation when carrying out their functions

The Council is fully aware of its duties under the NERC Act, and regularly reviews its responsibilities accordingly.