The Hinksey outdoor swimming facility on Abingdon Road ceased operations in September for the winter season, with its return scheduled for April to align with summer weather.
Plans to restore the 35-metre heated outdoor pool to service this year have encountered delays after floodwaters caused damage to the site. The flooding stemmed from what has been recorded as the sixth wettest winter in Oxfordshire since 1836.
Rob Jennings, contract manager for Leisure Solutions Community Trust—the body operating the pool under agreement with Oxford City Council—explained that the organisation had managed to open promptly during its first two years of service. Unfortunately, this season the reopening would not proceed as planned, and customers would understandably feel disappointed by this news, though circumstances beyond their control were responsible.
More than £200,000 was invested in upgrading the plant room during the closure period. While visitors would not see these changes visibly, they would benefit from reduced energy consumption, fewer disruptions to operations, and more consistent water temperatures.
Workers are working towards having the venue prepared sometime between mid-May and early June, although an exact date has not yet been announced.
Since 1936, the pool has been a beloved feature of South Oxford’s parkland, and the facility marks its 90th anniversary this year.