Council switches off children's water play area

The local authority said it "appreciated" the popularity of the playground

A local authority in Surrey has "temporarily" switched off a water play area for children amid budget cuts.

Parents visiting Woking Park, which has play equipment, a sandpit and water play area, found the taps had been turned off.

A Woking Borough Council spokesperson said the daily cleaning costs needed to operate the site "safely and hygienically" forced the "difficult decision".

The council declared itself effectively bankrupt last year with debts of about £2 billion.

It has sold off assets and cut jobs, while slashing funding to other popular services such as Citizens Advice, public toilets and community centres.

A spokesperson for Woking Borough Council said: “Regrettably, due to the ongoing cost of daily cleansing required to operate the water play feature safely and hygienically, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily switch off the Woking Park play area water taps.

“We appreciate the popularity of the equipment and currently are investigating ways that we can turn the taps back in the future.”

The other play equipment at Woking Park remains open.