City leaders have apologised to families and residents for shutting down an Exeter park’s popular paddling pools all summer amid equipment failure.
Work on a new ‘splashpad’ paddling pool complex in Exeter will start sooner than planned after the much-loved existing pool on the site was forced to close, writes local democracy reporter Guy Henderson.
Exeter City Council hoped work could begin on the new pools after the summer holidays. Image: Exeter City Council.
The Heavitree paddling pools have been shut down by the city council after ageing equipment failed and could no longer operate reliably. But, says the council, work on a new upgraded pool will now start sooner than originally planned, with the aim of opening at the end of the summer.
A computer-generated image of how the new Splash Pad will look at Heavitree Park.
Image: Exeter City Council.
Images show a brightly-coloured and accessible pool with a number of water features including fountains and tipping buckets. Seating areas surround the pool, which is also ringed by a fence.
The new pools will be ready after the summer, the city council said. Image: Exeter City Council.
The Heavitree pools had reopened to families at the beginning of June but were forced to close last Friday – ahead of what turned out to be a heatwave weekend – after some of the mechanics failed.
Families and residents will have to go to St Thomas Splash Pad until the Heavitree pools reopen after the summer holidays. Image: Exeter City Council.
Cllr Duncan Wood (Lab, Pinhoe), who has the city council portfolio for leisure services and healthy living, said of the closure: “We know this news will be upsetting for families and residents who were looking forward to using the pools this summer, and we are sorry.
“Despite exploring every option to keep the facility open, the ageing equipment and systems have reached the end of their working life and can no longer operate reliably.
“The upgraded pools have already been designed, and although work had originally been scheduled to take place after the summer season, a contractor is now ready to begin sooner than planned.”
Work to create the new-look pools had been expected to start after the summer holidays. Image: Exeter City Council.
The news sparked a number of online comments from local families disappointed at the closure of the pools and the fact that the replacements will not be open until after the summer holidays.
A computer-generated image of a seating area at the Heavitree Splash Pad.
Image: Exeter City Council.
Cllr Wood added: “We share residents’ disappointment but recognise that this creates an opportunity to deliver a better, more sustainable facility for the future. In the meantime, the Splashpad in St Thomas remains open for families to enjoy over the summer months.”
