Latest news with #paddlingpool
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Update on Guildford paddling pool plagued by problems
The public paddling pool in Guildford's Stoke Park is no stranger to opened a month late last year because of staff sickness and in 2022 was forced to shut just days after a £141,000 refurbishment because parents said its floor was too slippery for the pool is once again more than a month late to open as engineers try to balance the chlorine levels, and are yet to determine what is causing the asked how much the ongoing work is costing the taxpayer, the leader of Guildford Borough Council was unable to answer. So what exactly is going on at Stoke Park and what needs to happen for the pool to reopen? Respiratory problems Council leader Julia McShane told BBC Radio Surrey that the current high levels of chlorine in the water could be a public health said it would particularly affect vulnerable people and might lead to skin or eye irritation as well as stomach and breathing problems."We don't want to be causing people those issues to their health," she said. "I can reassure people that the teams are working incredibly hard with experts to try to find out what the problem is and to resolve this as quickly as possible so we can get this pool open again."But with temperatures in Guildford set to hit 32C on Monday, many families have been left feeling frustrated."It doesn't seem like they can get it right on anything really, it's a real shame that it's like that again, we had a lovely summer here last year once it was sorted," one parent told us: "We're all sad because we used it last year and it was lovely, a lot of people enjoyed being there, but unfortunately it's not open." What happens now? Ms McShane said it would not be fair to give a reopening date to the public as a timeframe for repairs is not yet clear, but she did say work would continue from next week."The team are going to empty the pool again, flush it through, fill it back up again, probably try a different chemical treatment and then test it again," she said."When we're absolutely certain that the pool is safe to use, then we'll reopen."And how much is this all costing?Ms McShane was unable to give a figure and the council did not provide us with one either when we followed it for now, families will just have to keep their fingers crossed and hope the sun is still around when the pool eventually reopens.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Sutton on Sea's new paddling pool forced to close due to leak
A paddling pool that opened in May following a £500,000 renovation has been forced to close due to a Maple Leaf Pool, in Sutton on Sea, Lincolnshire, has been shut since 6 June. East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) said the pool was unexpectedly losing water because of issues with the circulation and drainage system. Work was under way to find a solution, but further investigations were required before a reopening date could be confirmed. The council had hoped to reopen the pool on 30 June, but on Thursday a spokesperson confirmed that a test refilling had been unsuccessful. Megan Lawson, from Mablethorpe, brought her young children for a day out at the pool, only to discover it was closed. She said: "It's a shame really, especially in this weather. You need something to keep the children cool."ELDC said the focus was on "getting it fixed and right for the long-term" rather than "rushing to find the solution that allows us to reopen the quickest". A spokesperson said the works would not result in additional cost to the council or taxpayer.A further attempt to refill the pool would take place in the coming days and, if successful, a reopening date would be confirmed. Refurbishment work on the pool began in 2023 as part of the £7.5m Seaview Colonnade project. When the pool opened on 24 May, the final bill of £524,000 was £124,000 over the initial budget. ELDC previously blamed the increased cost on a new underground filtration system, as well as a rise in the price of materials and to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Mum urges parents to nab Aldi paddling pool that's the ‘easiest' to put up so you're set up for the weekend sunshine
A MUM has urged parents to head to their local Aldi before the weekend arrives. Andrea Kemp, from the UK, took to social media to show off her bargain buy that was essential for the summer months. 2 The mother and grandma shared a picture of the paddling pool she had purchased from the budget-friendly store last week. The large paddling pool looked perfect for having a dip in this weekend where the weather should reach 30°C again. It measures over 9ft long and 5.5ft wide, meaning there's plenty of space for toys as well to keep the kiddos entertained. Andrea wrote: "Bought this from Aldi for my grandson's birthday, got to say it's the easiest paddling pool I've had to put up and a bargain, it takes an hour and a half to fill up. "We've had so much fun over the weekend with it." The happy gran revealed she paid just £50 for the paddling pool which was 50cm in height. While it was easy to put up thanks to its foldable sides that collapse down and up, Andrea warned it was heavier than it looked. "The only thing is it's really heavy and it takes two people to carry to where you want to put it up and to fold it back and put it back away in its box as extremely heavy," she added. Despite that Andrea and her grandchildren were loving the pool for the hot summer days. Aldi bosses say: "Featuring foldable sides that allow users to change the size, it means shoppers can create a mini splash zone for toddlers or go full-size for family fun, and anything in between! My dream pool was £40,000 so I DIYd my own 18ft version in February all for this summer heatwave - it's saved me £37,000 "It simply folds away when the day is done for easy storage. It's the ultimate solution for homes where space is tight but summer fun is non-negotiable." Like with most Aldi Specialbuys, once it's gone, it's gone, so make sure you head to your local store now. Others who bought the pool were quick to confirm just how good it was on the Facebook group, Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK. One person wrote: "We got the same one it's absolutely fantastic well worth the money out of all the pools we have bought over the years this is by far the best and easiest. "I agree it is very heavy though." Swimming safety advice Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer: How to stay safe at the beach Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: "If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety. "If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard." How to stay safe at the swimming pool Tiny Hearts Education, former paramedic and CEO Nikki Jurcutz said: "Always put your little one in bright or contrasting colours that would be easy to find in an emergency. "It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life". An Auqabliss spokesperson added: ' Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool. ' Children may try to grab these from the pool's edge and fall in." How to stay safe at a waterpark Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, said: "Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult. "And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently. ' Waterparks are often very busy places and it's easy to lose sight of a child in a split second." "I have this, my little boys love it, took about 3 hours to fill up," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "Now that's what I'm talking about." Someone else added: "This one seems good."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Stoke Park paddling pool opening date still unclear, council says
A Surrey paddling pool still does not have an opening date, one month after it was due to reopen for the Borough Council said it was "unable to confirm an exact opening date" for the Stoke Park paddling attraction was due to open on 24 May but testing after resurfacing works found the water was contaminated."We understand how frustrating this closure is but the safety of visitors remains the priority," the council told the BBC. A spokesperson said staff are "working hard" but testing still indicated "high combined chlorine levels"."These levels indicate that the chlorine we are adding to the paddling pool is not effectively cleaning the water," according to the council."Bacteria and algae might still be present, so we need to achieve a safe combined chlorine level before we can reopen."The current state of the pool poses possible health risks including skin and eye irritation, stomach issues or respiratory problems, the local authority added. The paddling pool, which typically opens annually from May until September, also suffered opening delays in 2024 due to staffing last underwent a refurbishment in 2022.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I tested paddling pools from £10 – the winner comes with unique feature and will keep kids entertained for hours
CHILDREN love water play and splashing around in a paddling pool will keep them cool and burn off excess energy on hot days. There are paddling pools to suit all ages, budgets and gardens - but if you don't want to spend a fortune, then you are in luck. 8 We have tested the best pools you can buy for £40 or less and there are lots of fun ones to choose from. From fast set options to a pool with basketball hoops for extra fun, here are my favourites: Intex Swim Centre Rectangular Inflatable Paddling Pool £24.99, Smyths Toys Age: 6 plus 8 This Intex pool is a good size and can hold a whopping 749 litres of water, so it's big enough for the whole family to enjoy. I liked the extra wide walls too, as you could lounge back on it and watch the kids play on a hot sunny day and it felt very comfy. It also comes with a repair patch in case of puncture. Overall, I thought this pool is a good option that would suit pretty much anyone and all for a wallet friendly price. Funsicle Turtle QuickSet Pool £30, Argos Age: 6 plus 8 A super cute pool, the kids were really excited when they saw the turtle blown up and ready for action. It's a quick set so super easy to get ready. You simply inflate the top ring and the pool rises as it fills with water. It took a minute to inflate and though the box says it takes ten minutes to fill, it definitely took a little longer than this - probably more like 25, but it was easy to do. It seems durable and is made from three-ply puncture resistant material. It can hold 757 litres of water and there's probably enough space for three kids to play in the water. It has a built in water sprayer too which provided hours of fun. For £30 I thought it was fun and good value. Performance: 5/5 Total: 10/10 Bestway Family Paddling Pool with Basketball Game £39.99, Amazon Age: 3 plus 8 The basketball hoops added a whole new layer of fun to my kids' excitement when I blew up this paddling pool. They couldn't wait to jump in and were immediately diving in and scoring hoops whilst they played. Handy that it came with two blow up balls as well. Although this pool is one of more expensive ones in our test, it did keep the children entertained for longer. My eldest son Jacob, 10, was also more entertained in this than he was in the plain pools. This also comes with a repair patch, which I think will come in handy as they were jumping around in a lot so probably only a matter of time before there is a puncture. Performance: 5/5 Price: 4/5 Total: 9/10 Home Swimming Pool £21.26, Temu Age: 6 plus 8 This two-ring rectangular pool was easy to blow up and it was put up and filled with water in less than half an hour. It's a decent size for the price, though it did sag a bit quite quickly. After a couple of hours quite a bit of air had come out and I had to pump a bit more in. However, the two large outer rings were super comfy to relax against and it's a great price." Performance: 3/5 Price: 4/5 Total: 7/10 Intex 1.8m Easy Set Paddling Pool £29.99, The Range Age: 3 plus 8 Simply blow up the ring and this pool builds as it fills with water. It's not so labour intensive as others but it did take longer to fill - around 30 minutes from start to finish and whilst waiting, the kids were desperate to jump in. It feels robust. The idea walls are made with three separate layers for strength. It's good for smaller children, you can probably get two or three playing in it at once, and it measures around 20 inches deep. It also stayed up in the garden for several days with no maintenance required, other than fishing out grass and leaves. Performance: 4/5 Price: 4/5 Total: 8/10 Polar Pals Inflatable Pool with Play Centre £29.99, Bestway Store Age: 2 plus 8 What a fun looking pool. There's only a little bit of water in the pool area but it's ideal for smaller kids who prefer running in and out of the water than fully submerging themselves. It has a couple of games to keep little ones entertained too - there's a ring toss game using the narwhal's horn and seal's nose and you can move the seal around to make it harder or easier. Thee's also an inflatable penguin and two foam fish toys for kids to splash with or they can try and feed them into the dolphine's mouth. Super cute and not to huge to store. Great option for smaller gardens too. Performance: 5/5 Price: 4/5 Total: 9/10 Bestway 40inch Safari Themed Kids Inflatable Paddling Pool £9.99, Bestway Store Age: 2 plus 8 Small and without the bells and whistles of some of the others, but for less than a tenner it's a cute design and it held up well. The three ring construction increases stability and reduces the risks of the sides buckling in and it comes with a repair patch, though it seemed reasonably sturdy. Easy to put up and filled in a matter of minutes. Great option for the price and for smaller gardens - little children are sure to love the cute safari design.
