 said her daily swims with friends were vital for her mental wellbeing At a glance Guildford Lido is to close over the winter for urgent works to "protect its long-term future" said the work mainly centres on fixing a leak to the main pool tank Swimmers say the facility is vital for their wellbeing and they are devastated by the news The pool will close on Sunday for about six months Outdoor swimmers have spoken of their devastation after hearing their local lido will be closed for six months. announced on Monday that Guildford Lido would close from 1 October for "essential" maintenance work. One pool-user explained how outdoor swimming and socialising were critical for her mental wellbeing. said: "Although disappointing it is vital to the future of the lido to repair the leaks." , which also closed the facility last winter for refurbishment, said the work mainly centred on fixing a "worsening leak" to the main tank. But Ellie Byrne, from Bramley, near Guildford, said: "Taking the facility away from us without much notice has left the community devastated." Ms Byrne said she swam about 1,000 metres (about 0.6 miles) every week day morning "without fail". She told BBC South East: "I have suffered with mental health issues in the past and it's really important to me. "Being in the water, looking at the sky, having a cold water swim, without having to worry about currents, is so important." But she said it was not "just about the swim" but also about the loss of the social aspect. 'Disappointing' Another swimmer, Cheryl Payne, from Shamley Green, near Guildford, said the lido had "this amazing culture and atmosphere" and "just attending gives you a lift". She said: "We went all last winter with the lido being closed. They had the opportunity then to do this leak." said that, although disappointing, it was vital to the future of the lido to repair the leaks. It added: "The Guildford Spectrum remains open){kind=link}
Ellie Byrne (far left) said her daily swims with friends were vital for her mental wellbeing
At a glance
Guildford Lido is to close over the winter for urgent works to “protect its long-term future”
Freedom Leisure said the work mainly centres on fixing a leak to the main pool tank
Swimmers say the facility is vital for their wellbeing and they are devastated by the news