Thanks to VWHDC for the press release, and Elizabeth for the picture…

Abingdon’s Abbey Meadow outdoor pool will be open for longer on weekdays after proving to be a huge hit since its £1.3million refurbishment by Vale of White Horse District Council.

Since it reopened on 16 June, the pool has hosted more than 13,000 swims with many sessions fully booked. The exceptional weather combined with the popularity of the new facilities has prompted the council, following discussions with GLL – which runs the pool on the council’s behalf – to announce it will extend the pool’s opening hours.

From Thursday 2 August the pool will open from 8.30am until 7pm, Monday to Friday – that’s an extra half an hour in the morning and an extra hour in the evening, which the council hopes will give people more time to swim.

Cllr Alice Badcock, Cabinet Member for Leisure at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “It’s so fantastic to see how popular this much-loved local pool has become since its rebuild. We’re delighted that we can extend the pool’s opening hours so even more people can enjoy it.”

This weeks Herald has an article ‘Keep outdoor pool open longer for workers plea.‘

In order to allow GLL to re-populate its online booking system with the new extended times, online booking beyond 2 August will only be available from Monday 30 July. 

Today sees the opening of the Abbey Meadow outdoor pool at 1pm for swimmers. The pool and changing areas are looking very smart after the £1.3million refurbishment, and there are lots of balloons.

The council held an official opening event this morning for invited guests. Abingdon Town Band were playing and refreshments were being served.

I was told that the council would be putting some pictures on their website for the use of the press. But, for now, here are a couple taken over the fence by a backstreet blogger.

June 16th sees the opening of the new outdoor swimming pool after a complete rebuild. The new pool has been filled with water and the heating system turned on to make sure it is working before the opening. The Abingdon Herald had a headline last week about the pool looking anaemic with just the white tiles showing, but it looks OK now that it is filled with water.

Beyond the blue pool flows the River Thames where two red barges are moored, and beyond them a meadow of buttercups.

For two months now, work has been progressing on the £1.3m rebuild of the Abbey Meadows Open Air Pool and changing area.

Currently the surrounds are looking very muddy, but the end result will be a pool that should last us for another sixty years (the current pool was dug in the 1950s). The revamped pool will have a beach area, a safer surface, and be heated more efficiently (the pool was first heated in the 1970s).