FRUSTRATIONS are building as Lymington councillors still wait to take the plunge and open the town’s sea water swimming baths.

Initially expected to open in time for the Spring Bank Holiday rush, the opening was called off at the last minute and postponed until this weekend.

Now it appears that if a few last remaining jobs are not completed, the riverside lido may not open until some time next week – missing the school half-term holidays.

“I guess it’s frustrating more than anything, especially as the weather is improving as well,” said Patrick Covey, a member of the Friends of Lymington Sea Water Baths committee, set up to save the popular 176-year-old pool after it remained closed throughout last year on safety grounds.

Spurred on by the Friends, the town council, local tradesmen and Community Payback workers, carried out a major refurbishment of the pool and its surroundings this year.

But in the past week a rumour spread the insurers would not give the go-ahead to the opening until a survey had been carried out.

Yesterday locum town clerk Pat Higgins said that was untrue.

“I finally tracked them [the insurers] down yesterday and they are not going to do a survey until August, so we can go ahead,” she said.

However to do that the council has to cover every aspect of health and safety to prove “due diligence” had been taken should an accident occur.

And, because some maintenance work and new signing has still not been completed it is uncertain when the opening date will be.

Mrs Higgins said yesterday: “We’re going to have a recce tonight to check everything has been done, but I think things might be outstanding.”

A decision is expected this evening, she added.

“I don’t think anyone would thank us if we didn’t do the job properly.”

She stressed: “As soon as all the jobs are done, we will open.”