'Drain the lake, import more sand and build a bigger car park': How to 'save' Ruislip Lido that has become a 'dump', according to residents
In a corner of West London, close to the end of the Central Line, is Ruislip. Known for being one of the best connected commuter towns, its Polish War memorial and also its Lido. In recent times the Lido has become a hot topic for locals in the area and now some have given their opinion on how to return the man-made beach and lake to its former glory.
Formed from imported sand, the beach is accompanied by a miniature railway track, café, and nature walks, perfect for a sunny day. From the outset Ruislip Lido seems like the perfect place spend the day and have a relax. However, the opinions of locals are not flattering and many want to see the Lido revamped so it is no longer “undesirable” and can become a place that Hillingdon’s residents are proud of.
The main problems that locals complained about included the water safety, or lack of it, and the lack of facilities to put up with increasing levels of tourism. Currently, swimming is not permitted in the reservoir. Even though the Lido has a beach, Hillingdon Council warn of the danger that Blue Green Algae poses to humans and pets, as well as “certain microscopic parasites” which can cause allergic reactions.
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One local who was particularly unhappy with the current state of Ruislip Lido was a dog walker who often takes her pet Labrador around the woods which border the reservoir. Lisa Grange, 27, said: “I’ve lived in Ruislip my whole life and the place has just become a dump. We need to fix it because it could be a beautiful place.
“I think it needs new sand because it’s dirty and maybe even drain the lake, rid it of blue green algae and it could become great for the area. We could see water sports return and I’m sure swimmers would love the opportunity too enter the water again. It seems a shame that they can’t.”
Another flaw of the Lido, pointed out by locals, was how overcrowded it gets on warmer days. Local residents wanted more car parking spaces to become available so that less of the surrounding roads were stacked up with cars from out of town visitors. In an effort to combat this, Hillingdon Council officers limit the Lido to 1,200 people during busy periods.
According to local café worker, Richard Oakes, 32, this doesn’t work, he said: “It needs change round here. It can just about cope with the usual traffic but on a sunny day its chocker block. Cars will fill up the roads in about a mile radius just to come to the beach.
“We need to make the car park bigger for one because this will help as it puts people off having to park ages away. People even get blocked in the car park during the summer months because of desperate people wanting to make the most of the sun. It’s funny because a lot of people come and done realise you can’t swim in the water, even though it’s a beach.”
As well as the water and overcrowding, the other main topic was the cleanliness of the beach and Lido. One resident labelled the sand on the beach “dirty” and another said “the sand is just used to bury litter”. A worker at the same café as Richard even suggested “importing more sand” in the hope to make the beach look “a bit cleaner”.
Despite criticism, there was hope among locals that Ruislip Lido had the potential to change and be returned to its former glory. Most people thought that with a bit of attention to residents’ suggestions, Ruislip Lido could become a great space for the community and tourists alike.
Finally, Marla, 47, who lives in Ruislip Central, said: “It’s not a great place but it can easily be changed and we can make a good area of it. It could be great, so much potential. Just ask yourself why the hell they have a beach next to a body of water that they actively encourage people not to swim in. Change this an we’re on to a winner.”
The Council actively encourage use of public transport to Ruislip Lido and the H13 and 331 buses stop close by Ruislip Lido and the woods. Hillingdon Council said: "We are pleased that Ruislip Lido was enjoyed by so many during the sunny bank holiday. We always ensure we have more resources available for the upkeep of green spaces, including Ruislip Lido, during spells of good weather.
"That includes additional litter management and increased patrols to monitor and enforce the area for illegal parking. There is information on our website to ensure illegal parking does not affect residents. Those found parking illegally will be fined and may have their vehicle towed away.
"While we encourage as many residents as possible to make the most of the excellent facilities at Ruislip Lido, we also ask they take note that parking is limited. The venue is well serviced by public transport including the H13 and 331 bus services and Piccadilly and Metropolitan tube lines.
"Following consultation with local residents, we are also introducing a parking management scheme in the area on 1 May 2022 to help tackle seasonal parking issues. Swimming in the lake is not permitted and we have no plans to drain it in the near future.”
Do you wish to share a story? Contact finn.byrne@reachplc.com
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