Simon Burgess, Labour parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown, is encouraged by a response from the Chair of English Heritage as he joins campaigners in attempting to save Saltdean Lido.

Burgess is hoping English Heritage will improve Saltdean Lido’s listed building status, which will improve its chances to ward off plans to turn the site into a block of flats.

He said: “This is a terrific grassroots campaign that deserves all our support. I have done what I can to help raise awareness in the community by getting newsletters out that told residents about the leaseholders ’secretive’ public consultation and then about the public meetings against his proposals.

“One of the priorities that the community agreed out of the public meetings was to work to improve the listed building status from grade II to grade II* which offers much greater protection.

“I am really pleased to get such a positive response that can only help the hard-working campaigners when they formally apply for the upgrading. This is an important first step in the right direction.”

Find out more about the Save Saltdean Lido campaign.