RESIDENTS have criticised the town council for not opening the new splashpad in King George V playing field during good weather.
Temperatures reached 24C over the weekend of Saturday 14th September and Sunday 15th September – but visitors to the park were disappointed to find that the new facility, which opened in late July, was closed.
Local man Keith Burnell said, “Can you believe the incompetence of our councillors, a beautiful sunny weekend and the splash pool (is) closed. The expensive splash pool should be renamed ‘White Elephant’.”
Since its opening and up until Sunday 8th September, the splashpad had been open seven days a week for the school summer holidays. Following this, the town council had said that the splashpad would be opened ‘dependent on the weather’. But a decision could not be made during the weekend of the 14th and 15th September as the town council’s clerk, Linda Roberts, was on annual leave.
“Staff had been advised that the splashpad would be closed from mid-September – this was a direction given before my time,” explained Linda.
“As I was away, staff followed that brief. However, all things being well, it will be open on other weekends. An announcement will be made on social media and our website advising opening times.
“The town council intends to open the splashpad when the weather is favourable rather than have a cut-off date. The decision to open outside our normal opening, i.e. May to September has been delegated to me as proper officer.”
