Campaigners call for council to rethink plans for park splash pad

A GROUP of residents are appealing to Melksham Town Council to rethink their plans to install a splash pad in King George V playing field.

Instead of a splash pad located in front of the multi-use games area (MUGA) next to the cricket pavilion, the group want to see funds used instead to create a sports centre and a ‘healthy eating’ café at the pavilion for the whole community.

The group has raised a number of objections to the council’s plans for the splash pad, which include: the cost to install and maintain the splash pad, which they say has many ‘hidden extras’; the negative impact on the environment;  the risk of vandalism due to its location in a ‘open park’ which is not locked at night;  the cost of damage to the equipment when dismantling it for storage when not in use in the colder months; the seasonal use of the splash pad, which would be closed for the majority of the year; and the lack of inclusiveness for the whole community, as the splash pad is designed for children.

The group’s alternative ‘cheaper’ plan also suggests the provision of outdoor table tennis tables, a climbing wall, outdoor gym equipment, a boules court, leasing the MUGA outside of school hours, and equipment for a variety of field sports stored at the pavilion.

Local resident Ian Cardy said, “We want to see the pavilion being used, but we think our idea would bring more people in, all year round to use it. A splash pad looks like a fine idea – but once we looked at the costs, we discovered all these hidden extras.

“For example, a continuous water system would cost £25,000 a year, for water that would be going into the drains. We estimate that the splash pad would use 50 cubic metres of  water a day, costing £4 a cubic metre.

“A system that re-uses  water is cheaper, costing £2.40 a cubic metre, using 4 cubic metres a day. However, for this system, it would cost an extra £85,000 to install and the MUGA would have to be dug up. Also, storage would be lost in the pavilion to a pump room and pipes. Once installed you then need someone who is trained and licensed to check it two or three times a day.”

Member of the group, Martin Pain, who is also a Melksham town councillor, has carried out his own investigations, talking to councillors and town clerks of other councils who have considered installing a splash pad in their parks. He said, “The consensus of all the people I spoke to is don’t go near a splash pad as there are all sorts of hidden costs. The summary was that in their own research, they came down heavily in favour of a paddling pool – which they say is one-third the cost of maintenance and less than one-third the cost of installation of a splash pad.

“The town council hasn’t been open with their research – so we don’t know what has been done. It is worrying that the people of Melksham have not been given adequate information. Nobody seems to be taking any notice of all of these problems.

“We are calling for an open discussion, so the community can decide what it wants.”

The group has approached the council with the support of the trustees of the cricket pavilion, asking them to discuss their proposal at a future town council meeting.

In a response to the group’s proposal, mayor of Melksham, cllr Adrienne Westbrook told Melksham News that she is ‘disappointed’ by the group’s objections to the splash pad and has defended the council’s plans. “The town council is very aware of the costs of running the ‘splash pad’”, explained cllr Westbrook. “We have visited some of these other sites and obtained much information to understand cost implications. However, until the first year of usage has been established, obtaining actual running costs is a bit like people just looking into crystal balls.

“We are fully aware that the type of water used in a ‘splash pad’ has significant cost and environmental implications. Previously, water used in the old paddling pool was simply pumped into the drains for over sixty years.   Does this meet current standards?

“So as part of our due diligence examination process, the council has been working with the preferred bidder, looking at the options to establish the cost benefits and environmental implications of the various ‘grey water’ and re-circulating systems available. The important issue here is to achieve the best solution for our ‘splash pad’.

“Let’s be proud of what we are trying to achieve.  Melksham residents should not have to leave our town to get good community, play, recreational and social facilities. Why should we allow Chippenham and Trowbridge to have these facilities but not us? Negotiations with Wiltshire Council to transfer the King George V playing field to the town council are continuing.”

Cllr Westbrook’s response in full can be read on the letters page – page 26.