Once upon a time there were plenty of places for people, of all ages, to gather and enjoy the sunshine and a dip in the water at a lido.

The Westcliff swimming baths opened in 1915 on Western Esplanade and the pool was filled with sea water. In 1987 the Westcliff Casino, now Genting Casino, was built on the site.

Sarah-Jane Coombes is a station officer at HM Coastguard Southend. She is also coowner of Blue Therapy Active, which offers various activities to boost wellbeing, including stand-up paddle boarding and cold water swimming.

Sarah has been campaigning for a lido to be instated at the Southend Marine Activities Centre and believes it would be an asset to Southend.

“I run Blue Therapy Active which is focused on improving mental health and we do cold water dips which really benefit people,” said Sarah.

“A lido at the Southend Marine Activities Centre would be the perfect location, it already has showers and lockers there. A lido would be a safe space where people could come together from all over Essex, away from sewage in the sea, to enjoy themselves. We have tried to apply for a lido there, but nothing has happened yet.”

A Facebook post on the Echo page about lidos prompted lots of readers to comment on what they love, and miss, about lidos of the past.

Ty Wilkinson said: “I remember the Westcliff lido I used to cycle from Harold Wood to Southend and go to the lido for the day I was aged 13 at the time.”

Hazel Hargraves commented: “My parents and aunts grew up swimming there in the 1940s to 50s.”

Katrina Marie said: “We should have some sort of water park in Basildon” as she feels water-based facilities are now lacking in where she lives.

In Canvey there is the Stay and Splash at the Paddocks, on Long Road. The lido is closed at the moment but the team are hopeful it will re-open next summer.

Vange outdoor swimming pool was located on the former Riverside Farm. It closed around 1952 and was filled in during the early 1960s.