PROJECT DESCRIPTION
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A specially formed Trust, Cartmel Peninsula Recreational Trust, was established to build a swimming pool, leisure and community project to replace a 1930's seaside Lido that had closed down in the early 1990's. The site had been in the ownership of South Lakeland District Council for this purpose for 15 years. It is a central and highly visible site with views of Morecambe Bay.

METHOD
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The Trust treated the community as an extension of themselves and ultimately as the building client and to this end included them in the process continuously throughout the 8 year life of the project. Work with the local community was extensive. As well as regular community bulletins and public meetings, the organisation held an open day where they marked out the building on the grassed area of the site and conducted "tours". They have also held a swimming gala for local children, where they ran up and down the marked up lanes doing swimming strokes. The architectural drawings for the scheme were also displayed at the site for 4 months prior to construction work commencing.

A viewing platform was incorporated into the site to allow constant visual access; the visitors to the platform included visitors to the town as well as local residents. The involvement of the public in the project involved many low cost activities and although there is a website for the scheme the organisers were unable to include a webcam.

The community was also directly involved with fundraising for the scheme; this too led to strong public involvement and interest. A scheme was developed which asked for donations of £250 to become a "founder" of the project; the names of the benefactors will be engraved on glass within the building.

BENEFIT
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The public involvement in the scheme was a natural and essential part of the community project, which generated ownership and openness. This was seen as a key component to making Berners a success. Proof of community interest and enthusiasm for the project came when adult education classes planned at the new centre sold out even before completion of the scheme. The community's pride and excitement in the project reassured the trust that their scheme had long term viability.

The trust also noticed that there was a marked excitement about the project once the building work began and they were surprised that they received so few complaints about noise and disruption.

The benefits of maintaining an open process and dialogue with the community throughout this project were paramount to its success. The project team recognised that their commitment to involving the public also led to a high level of responsibility on their part to deliver the scheme.

The mechanisms used by the project team were innovative and successful. The programme was undertaken for little financial cost and will undoubtedly prove to be invaluable in the future of Berners.