Seafront paddling pools shut on hottest day of the year

Andrew Gardner

27 June 2024 at 9:00 am·2-min read

The empty pool on Wednesday evening, where temperatures reached the high 20s <i>(Image: Laura King)</i> — The empty pool on Wednesday evening, where temperatures reached the high 20s *(Image: Laura King)*

Two seafront paddling pools were shut on one of the hottest days of the year so far.

Critics have accused the council of having no pride in the city after it was forced to close the pools once again following damage to the surface and a mechanical failure.

The paddling pools in King's Road and the Peter Pan's play area in Madeira Drive, Brighton, have both been shut by council officers.

Temperatures reached 27C in Brighton this week and many families were hoping to take their youngsters to cool off in the pools.

Birds in the pool when it closed last summer (Image: The Argus)

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "Sadly, we’ve had to close King's Road paddling pool following damage to the rubber crumb surface. Repairs will be carried out early next week.

"The interactive water feature at Peter Pan’s play area is also currently unavailable due to a mechanical failure, which is being investigated. The play park is still open."

But Laura King, who has previously stood in the local elections as an independent candidate, says these failures are a sign of the times.

"When I was a child, getting the seafront 'ready for the season' was the biggest job of the year and weeks would be spent painting, planting to making sure holidaymakers had a good experience of Brighton.

"This is all gone now.

"This has now happened multiple times in the last five years or so and the pool has been closed most of that time more often than not.

"Is this what our council means by 'fit for purpose' and 'modern standards' when they talk about a new King Alfred?"

Laura King on Brighton beach (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Pete Gillman, from Brighton, added: "Very poor management, seems to happen most years at peak demand time, occasionally vandalised no doubt but mostly just down to a lack of forward planning. Pathetic."

Dead seagulls, water circulation problems and previous floor damage have all forced the King's Road pool to shut in the last year.

The paddling pools at Hove Lagoon and Saunders Park and the Water Fountains at The Level remain open.

The council spokesman added: "We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused, particularly during the current hot weather."

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