No reopening date for park paddling pool

The pool is still closed with the summer holidays looming

Work to reopen a paddling pool at a Derby park continues to be hampered by wet weather.

With the school summer holiday about to begin, the paddling pool at Markeaton Park remains closed.

The popular feature normally opens for the season in May.

But “essential” resurfacing work which was needed after the pool began to deteriorate in 2023 is yet to be completed, in part due to wet weather.

Work is ongoing to bring the pool back into use

No date has yet been set for when the paddling pool at the Mundy Play Centre can reopen.

In May, Derby city councillor Hardyal Dhindsa said while the delay was “disappointing” the work was being carried out with care “to ensure the pool is in the best possible condition and can continue to be enjoyed for years to come”.

Parents at the Mundy Play Centre expressed their frustration at the prolonged closure on Friday.

Leah Lea, from Allestree, said: "We come here often. The pool has been shut since last summer - it's disappointing.

"It probably hasn't been the weather for it but today would have been lovely, we'd have been straight in there this morning.

"We used it a lot last summer and the summer before."

Leah Lea said the weather was ideal for a paddle

While Louise Humphries, from Mickleover, said: "It's very disappointing, especially with the weather like it is.

"I normally just double check the socials to see if it's open before coming, it's certainly stopped me coming as often.

"In a time of financial crisis, what options have you got to do with you kids that doesn't cost a lot of money?

"Having an open air paddling pool is one of those."

One of the parents disappointed at the closure was Louise Humphries

And Emma Maylard, from Rolleston near Burton upon Trent, said: "It's a lovely hot day, we were hoping that the paddling pool would be open.

"I knew it wasn't open at Easter, I thought surely it must be open by now.

"It's a lovely place to come and keep the kids cool but if the pool is not there we might find a different splash park to go to."

A spokesperson for Derby City Council said: “We’re sorry the paddling pool remains closed but it’s a painstaking job to make sure it will be in the best condition for everyone to enjoy when it reopens.

“The recent wet weather has meant that work has been delayed again but as soon we have an opening date, we’ll let everyone know.

“While resurfacing work continues at Markeaton Park paddling pool, there are still lots of attractions to enjoy at the park.

“There are free play areas and pay to play activities at Mundy Play Centre, or give the new Tree House Trek High Ropes course a try – it’s suitable for children aged five (1m tall) upwards.”

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