Better late than never. The London Fields Lido reopens tomorrow – more than six months after it was meant to.

Hackney Gazette: Conducting final checks at London Fields Lido ahead of today's reopening, Danny Parkinson from Universal Pool Services yesterday. Picture: Polly HancockConducting final checks at London Fields Lido ahead of today's reopening, Danny Parkinson from Universal Pool Services yesterday. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

When the Gazette visited today, divers were carrying out a last round of checks and finishing up the cleaning of the pool ready for the big day.

Hackney Gazette: Refurbished indoor changing area at London Fields Lido. Picture: Polly HancockRefurbished indoor changing area at London Fields Lido. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

As if to prove the lido really was usable after so many delays, the council invited 20 members of its user group for an early morning swim.

Hackney Gazette: The gender neutral changing room at London Fields Lido, which reopens to the public tomorrow. Picture: Polly HancockThe gender neutral changing room at London Fields Lido, which reopens to the public tomorrow. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

“There are some signs around the pool asking users to send us any feedback or report issues,” said a council spokesman.

Hackney Gazette: Refurbished reception area at London Fields Lido, which reopens to the public tomorrow. Picture: Polly HancockRefurbished reception area at London Fields Lido, which reopens to the public tomorrow. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

Cllr Jon Burke has apologised repeatedly for the late opening, which was meant to take place in summer, then “late summer”, then at the end of September. Then it was pushed back two further times.

Hackney Gazette: Refurbished reception area at London Fields Lido, which reopens to the public tomorrow. Picture: Polly HancockRefurbished reception area at London Fields Lido, which reopens to the public tomorrow. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

The delays snowballed as the much-lauded refurb to fix the crumbly old tiles turned out to be shoddy and unsafe.

That, embarrassingly, was despite a lengthy tendering process that saw a 2016 closure announced and then scrapped when no one good enough could be found.