Riverside paddling pool to stay closed for summer

Stourport's riverside paddling pool is going to be closed for the entire summer and will not be back in use until 2026.

Repairs need to be done to the pipework underneath the pool, which needs to be carried out by specialist contractors, Stourport-on-Severn Town Council said.

The pool surface will also be relaid, it added, a task that requires a sustained period of clear, dry weather. Due to the pool's location near the River Severn, there is a possibility that flooding could further affect the timescale.

A statement from the town council said that it recognised the pool as "a valuable asset to our town, cherished by both residents and visitors".

It said: "Stourport-on-Severn Town Council would like to reassure residents and visitors that we take our responsibilities seriously. This decision was not made lightly and has undergone full and careful consideration."

The announcement has dismayed some people in the town, who say Stourport's economy has been dealt a blow.

Holly Fenton, a Stourport resident, said: "I'm originally from Birmingham and I used to come over and use the paddling pool when I lived over there.

"I reckon I was a one-year-old when I first went in - now I live here I still see it being used a lot in the summer.

"They need to spend money on making sure it's repaired - people do like to make use of it."

Terry Carney, 72, said: "I've taken the grandchildren to use it plenty of times - lots of people my age will tell you the same story.

"Loads of parents use it - these are the kind of people who end up making a day of it and spending time in Stourport.

"It's bad news for the town really - you can't put a price on kids enjoying themselves."

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