Frustration over 'lack of work' at paddling pool

Mally Welburn operates the paddleboats and the ice-cream stall in Pickering Park

The operator of attractions in a Hull park says he is "sick of lip service" amid concerns a popular paddling pool will not reopen in time for the school holidays.

The facility at Pickering Park has been closed since 2023 over health and safety issues.

Hull City Council, which has been approached for comment, put out a tender for a £540,000 refurbishment in May and claimed it would be "opening this summer".

But Mally Welburn, who owns the land train and runs paddleboats and an ice-cream stall at the park, said: "There's only four weeks until the school holidays and there's nothing happening – no spades in the ground."

He added: "So many people ask me when we'll be back up and running and I just don't know. [The council] needs to get the hard hats and spades out, get stuck in and get the work done.

"I'm sick of lip service. People are fed up. They want to be able to come and enjoy Pickering Park."

Hull City Council previously said the paddling pool would be "opening this summer"

According to the tender document, the improvement project at the park was expected to take place between 16 June and 20 July.

The BBC understands one of the main issues that forced the closure of the pool was the filter system being unable to cope with debris from nearby trees and grass cuttings.

Mr Welburn, who employs six people, said the closure of the paddling pool had impacted his business.

"When we first came here in 2021, it was rammed. Loads of people used to come. It's one of the best paddling pools and it's the reason I tried to make a living here," he said.

"Since the pool closed, we've lost a load of footfall. I feel as though we've been put out to dry and we're suffering."

Hull City Council has not commented on Mr Welburn's claims.

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