A SHAFTESBURY woman claims she has been forced to leave her home – along with her child – due to “strong chemical smells” during work on the town lido.

The resident, who does not wish to be named, said she had been unable to live in her house since March 17 – after work got started on the pool, in Barton Hill.

Shaftesbury Town Council – which manages the pool and is overseeing the work – said investigations had shown no problem with the project and no evidence of any impact on nearby households.

However, the resident said she and her son had been confronted with “strong chemical smells throughout the house and in the immediate vicinity of the garden”.

She said the pair developed “sore eyes, sore throats, tight chests and headaches”, with the child developing asthma symptoms.

After leaving the property, they had been forced to “sofa-surf, live in hotels and even with ex-parents-in-law”, she went on.

“It has been incredibly stressful, expensive and detrimental to health and all without the support of the town council,” the resident said.

“They have been defensive and unsympathetic from the start and there has been an obvious conflict of interests as they own the Lido.

“The very people I went to for support have turned against me.”

Work has been taking place at Shaftesbury Lido in recent weeks. Picture: Shaftesbury Town Council

But STC said it has carried out investigations through several agencies, which had found no evidence of problems.

“A complaint was raised by a resident regarding a chemical odour in her property, which she believed originated from renovation works at the Shaftesbury Lido,” a spokesperson said.

“The resident believes the property has been uninhabitable for her and her family since March 17 due to the unexplained odour. Several agencies and individuals were engaged to investigate the matter.”

They said investigations found:
• Multiple tests from independent agencies, contractors, and specialists have consistently shown no evidence of chlorine or other chemicals from the lido affecting the complainant’s property.
• No reports from other residents or businesses corroborate the residents claims regarding chemical odours from the lido.
• The lido’s chemical storage and disposal processes were found to be compliant, including bunded tanks and proper disposal measures.

“STC has taken extensive steps to investigate the complaint, including engaging relevant authorities, third-party contractors, and specialists,” the spokesperson added.

“Based on the findings there is no evidence connecting the odour to the Shaftesbury Lido or its renovation works.

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“I can confirm that STC has fulfilled its due diligence obligations and have shared the findings with the complainant. The resident is also aware that should there be any new evidence or significant developments, STC remains open to further discussion.”

The works come after STC pledged in January to invest in replacing an “ageing” filtration system and installing a new pool liner at the lido.

“The council’s decision reflects our commitment to keeping the Lido a safe, modern, and vibrant space for our community,” a council spokesperson said at the time.

“By investing in the infrastructure of the Lido, we can secure the Lido’s future for the next decade, ensuring it remains a cost-effective and cherished asset.”

The new liner being installed at Shaftesbury Lido. Picture: Shaftesbury Town Council

And earlier this month, STC shared pictures of work being carried out to re-line the swimming facility, saying: “Right now, the brand-new pool liner is being installed – this is a big milestone.

“Once it’s in position, we’ll be adding the lane lines, and then it’s time to fill the pool.

“After that, we’ll need a few days to heat the water up to swimming temperature. We don’t have an opening date for you yet but we’ll keep posting updates as we go. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.”