MS slams council over paddling pools ‘fiasco’
Richard Evans, local democracy reporter
A local authority has come under fire from a Senedd Member after claims that its four paddling pools which closed in April will not reopen until next year.
Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders has slammed Conwy County Council’s management of its four pools and described the handling of the maintenance of the pools as “an absolute disgrace”.
The council came under fire in April after it announced that paddling pools in Craig-y-Don in Llandudno, Rhos-on-Sea, Llanfairfechan, and Penmaenmawr would not re-open in 2023, due to a high risk of people slipping.
The authority said the only UK provider who could install the specialist anti-slip coating needed was unable to complete the work due to ill health. Then in May, the council said an alternative contractor had been found.
But the work has still not been completed, and the summer holidays have now been and gone with children set to return to school next week.
Shambles
Mrs Finch-Saunders said: “This whole scenario has been an absolute shambles, a fiasco.
“It is time for the council and the leader Cllr Charlie McCoubrey and the cabinet member whose watch this is happened on, Cllr Aaron Wynne, to explain to people how on earth it can be that these paddling pools, which have been there for years, decades, have been left in the way they have.
“I’ve been there, to the one in Craig y Don. I met the contractor, and I’ve been told it won’t be open now till next year.
“I’ve spoken to the head of tourism, Sarah Ecob, and even said to her ‘make an announcement; make a statement. Don’t leave everybody in limbo’.
“The cafe owners (cafes leased from the council at the paddling pools) have a contract.
“They signed that contract thinking the pools would be full this summer.”
She added: “They’ve been badly let down, and I hope the county council, their landlord, go easy on them now for rent because one would expect compensation because of the way they’ve been treated. It is an absolute disgrace.
“They were told the pools would be filled, and they have lost a lot of their business.”
A Conwy County Council spokeswoman commented: “Work is continuing on the four paddling pools.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Usual guff from an ineffective MS – competes with her boss Andrew RT Davies for the most noise about least substance
Perhaps she should have made use of her ‘Hotline’ to Tory HQ to ask for some money to get the job done sooner. It is no use complaining now the holiday season for toddlers is over.
Not sure if I am commentating on the pool or some of the adverts ??? Perhaps there is no money there to pay for repairs as other business agreements are their priority of payments ? I used to live in Bangor . The council there have closed nearly all the children’s play areas and in one case sold it or transferred it at no cost. Short term decisions take presidency to the long term services.
Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
Impressive that there is only one person in the UK who can do the work. But surely JFS should be happy? It sounds like Cymru’s anglo-integration is working exactly as intended.