NOT?MAKING?the splash it hoped for so far this summer is Petersfield Open Air Swimming Pool.

Disappointing visitor numbers at the historic lido has led to a ‘use it or lose it’ plea from its operators.

Day tickets for June were down 20 per cent on last year’s figures – from 4,268 in June 2014 to 3,435 this year.

Holiday vouchers which give unlimited pool use for a set amount, popular in the 1980s and 1990s and reintroduced this season, have not been taken up as expected.

The problem, according to pool committee chairman Linda Knutson, has been the lack of sunny days over a sustained period.

Last summer there was a month or so of continual sunshine which brought the hordes in looking to cool off.

“It isn’t too worrying to us but it not as we would have hoped,” said Linda, who is passionate about what she sees as one of Petersfield’s gems.

“The season isn’t going terribly well so far because it is all so dependent on the weather. When there’s sunshine they come down to the pool but when there isn’t, they forget to use it.”

Two boilers need replacing at a cost of £60,000 so a fundraising drive may be put in place.

The pool has to finish the season – it closes on September 13 – with

funds of £10,000 to plough back into necessary maintenance, to keep it viable.

“It is really a use it or lose it situation,” added Linda.

“We are so lucky to have the pool in the town and people always say how lovely and clean it is.”

Season tickets were doing well, as were swimming lesson courses for all ages, with feedback on the quality of the teaching very positive from customers.

There is a synchronised swimming display on Sunday, September 6, with the participants of a very high standard. Tickets are available.