CAMPAIGNERS trying to save Teignmouth’s popular Lido have urged supporters not to be ‘disheartened’ after for sale signs went up at the pool.

Commercial agents Bettesworths are marketing the ‘landmark’ Lido for sale on behalf of Teignbridge Council and bids have to be submitted by September.

But Save The Lido campaigners have reassured supporters the move is ‘due diligence’ by the council.

A spokesman said: ‘It needed to happen to give us the opportunity to submit our bid to run the lido as a community asset.

‘A lot of work is going on behind the scenes to ensure we have very robust business plan to submit alongside our bid.

‘This is certainly not the end for Teignmouth Lido but the beginning of the legal framework required to give us the opportunity to acquire the asset.’

Teignbridge Council says it has instructed the agent to market the pool as part of ‘due diligence’ to ensure all options for disposal of the pool are fully considered.

For sale signs are now up for the freehold site which agents describe as ‘one of the South West’s most prominent coastal leisure assets’.

Matt Bettesworth of Bettesworths commented:

‘The Lido represents an exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire a landmark coastal site in one of the most prominent seafront locations.

‘Opportunities of this nature very seldom come to the open market and we anticipate interest from a wide range of leisure, hospitality, healthcare and development operators, together with community-led proposals.’

The pool is listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) and a six-month moratorium on the sale is in place to allow community groups time to prepare a bid, alongside private and commercial bids.

Bettesworths says the council has confirmed all expressions of interest received will be considered.

Teignbridge Council’s Executive Committee will review all expressions of interest in October.