Anger as Ruthin paddling pool is filled with soil

Jun 17 2009 by Andrew Davies, Denbigh Visitor

Ruthin pool

A ROW has broken out over a paddling pool which has been filled with soil by the council.

Denbighshire County Council deemed the facility too expensive to keep open and failing to meet health and safety regulations.

But the move has been met with anger by furious residents who have signed a petition and formed a Facebook group against the closure.

The Cae Ddol paddling pool in Ruthin was a regular site for parents to take their children, however last week they were outraged when they found the pool had been filled with soil.

Plans to axe Cae Ddol were announced in January as part of a list of money saving measures aimed at helping the county’s education services and was said to save the council £7,000.

Whilst the council have highlighted the issue of health and safety at the pool, angry parents have joined a Facebook group who are trying to stop the closure of the pool which now has over 550 members.

One of them, Rick Kendrick, told the Visitor: “At the next council meeting we will be presenting them with a petition against the closure of the pool which has 600 signatures on it.

“I have two young children and was planning on using the pool over the summer. We are looking to get AM Ann Jones and MP David Jones involved.”

In a statement, Denbighshire County Council said: “The paddling pool does not comply with current health and safety legislation and it was deemed not fit for purpose nor cost effective in its current state. The pool was filled and emptied on a daily basis and the waste water treated on emptying – this was a long and costly process.

“The site required supervision by lifeguards yet there were no facilities to offer them comfort breaks on site, nor indeed anywhere to sit while on duty – if they needed a comfort break they had to leave the pool unattended and this was a less than adequate situation.

“In recent years, the pool has only been filled during the summer holidays as and when the weather was appropriate – last summer it was only open for a total of 17 days – and on many occasions, the weather deteriorated during the day and it has not been used at all.”

A public meeting to discuss the matter will take place at the Community Centre in Llanfwrog, Ruthin, on Monday, June 22, at 7.30pm. The council has welcomed any opportunity to work with residents in order to find a positive solution.

“We will arrange to meet residents, community groups and the Town Council to find alternative options to further improve Cae Ddol for future generations to enjoy. A review is currently underway to improve the facilities at the park and officers are actively looking at more modern and cost effective facilities to put in its place. It would be extremely positive to see the community working with Denbighshire to find a suitable alternative,” the council added.