As naive as it may well be, many of us just assume that the things that we do are safe. That is especially the case when it is located somewhere that is run with the public in mind, which is why it was such a shock when news emerged of the accident at Alton Towers theme park back in 2015, for example.
Guildford residents have reacted in understandable shock at the news that the water in the paddling pool in Stoke Park is still unsafe for use, with the only good news being that the pool has yet to open to the public this year after repeated delays due to the safety of the water.
Not the First Time It Has Been Closed
Parents of slightly older children will no doubt remember the paddling pool in Stoke Park with fondness, given the fact that it was long used as an area for children to have fun and cool down during hot summers. In fact, it is often one of the busiest parts of the area when it is open. It originally opened in 1935 as a commemoration of King George V’s Silver Jubilee, and underwent a refurbishment in 2016. Although designed to improve things, that might well be seen as the moment that problems started occurring with the paddling pool as it hasn’t really been right since.
It didn’t take long before the surface started to disintegrate, which in turn led to it clogging up the filters that keep the water fresh. As a result, it was shut in 2022, as was the boating lake, with a decision taken to replace it with a fibreglass surface. Having cost six figures for the resurfacing, more problems emerged when parents deemed that the fibreglass was too slippery. As a result, it was closed again at the start of the year to allow for a new surface to be put down in its place. Construction workers scraped off the top layer so as to ensure the safety of all visitors to it.
Intended May Re-Opening
The plan was for the new work to be carried out over a period of a month or two in order to allow it to be reopened for the May of this year. The fact that it is free to use has always meant that it is a popular area for families to head along to, seeing many people notice areas of it that were cordoned off back in the August of 2024 because its surface had flaked away. At that point, the council did what it could to keep it open for use. Guildford Borough Council had confirmed that it was to reopen on the fifth of May this year, which is actually even earlier than it had opened the year before.
Back then, staff sickness was the reason why the pool had been unable to open in the May half-term holiday, whilst this year that wasn’t a problem. It is why many were hoping that it would be able to open at a time of year that is traditionally warmer than at earlier points, only to ultimately be left disappointed. Obviously, nobody wants the council to rush the opening of the pool if it isn’t deemed to be safe enough to be used, especially given the fact that it is mainly young children that tend to use the space, but the sense of disappointment is palpable for the parents in the area.
The Water Is Contaminated
The opening was pushed back to the end of May, with the hope being that it could open up in time for the May bank holiday weekend. The fence around the area remained in place, however, and a notice was put up saying that the water in the pool failed to meet the safety standards that would be expected of such a public area. A spokesperson for Guildford Borough Council said that they understood the frustration, but numerous factors can cause a delay in the pool being opened. The likes of the weather and maintenance needs can all delay the area being opened up to everyone.
The issue in May was that the water testing, which is a necessity prior to the public using the pool, revealed that it wasn’t up to scratch. Doing them any earlier than the time that the pool is due to be opened can present unreliable results, which is why they are left as late as possible. Sadly, in May the water was contaminated, which is why it wasn’t opened in time. The council looked to perform ‘repeated flushing’ of the water out of the system as a means to discover why it was being contaminated, but the contamination itself had led to the sensors being damaged and in need of being repaired.
Take No Chances
Although Guildford Borough Council completely understands the disappointment of parents and everyone else hoping to use the paddling pool in the hotter climate of the summer, the message that they’re putting out is that people should not take any chances. They have said that it may well look clean and usable, especially on a hot and sunny day, but that it presents a health risk in its current state and continues to fail to meet safety standards. Whereas previous updates around the pool reopening contained a possible opening date, the latest council update does not.
The council has continued to add chlorine to the water in an effort to remove the contaminants, but instead it is not doing so and the pool is instead too high with chlorine. The one thing that the council wants to avoid is putting anyone’s health at risk, especially vulnerable people, and opening it now would do exactly that. People have been told not to try and enter the water even if they think it looks clear and welcoming, because what is going on under the surface is the exact opposite. With public safety being the council’s main priority, Guildford residents are being urged to remain patient.