More than £500,000 will be spent on replacing a paddling pool on Nottingham's Victoria Embankment after it was initially announced that the facility would not reopen. The pool was first closed in the summer of 2021 due to ongoing issues such as leaks and Nottingham City Council announced in June that it would not be feasible to open the facility again.
The authority said the repairs required at the pool were too costly and complex and a survey was launched on what people wanted to see in its place. But the council has now released its latest plan for the facility and it involves a full new paddling pool at the site, along with a splash pad and a new pumping system.
A total of £543,971.18 has been allocated for the project so far, which comes from a mixture of Government levelling up funding and money from the developers behind three major builds in Nottingham (known as S106 funding). The council has just backed a decision to allocate that money to the Victoria Embankment Pool and says that the demand for the facility has been "exaggerated" by the cost of living crisis.
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A council report says: "The paddling pool has for many years been in need of investment and in recent years the facility has had to be closed due to failure in the pumping system and pool infrastructure. The public response clearly identified support for its improvement and reopening.
"During the summer months, the value of an outdoor water based facility has been clearly demonstrated, particularly during the long periods of dry and extreme hot weather. This has also been exaggerated by the cost of living crises as many families have stayed at home during the summer holidays and many would have visited the paddling pool if it was not closed.
"Such a facility is likely to draw people from a wider area than just the Meadows and instead from across Nottingham given that there are no other similar facilities in the city. There is a positive response to a new water play facility, although a number of people are keen to keep the existing pool."
The council says it is now working on a design which will incorporate "traditional paddling pool elements, splash park elements and also interactive water play elements". During the consultation on the future of the facility, which more than 2,000 people responded to, there were also requests for new toilets and changing facilities at the paddling pool.
To achieve this element of the project, Nottingham City Council is planning to submit a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. If this funding bid is confirmed, a decision will then be made on this element of the project.
The original pool dates back to the 1940s, while the current equipment has been there since the 1980s. The council originally estimated that it would cost £600,000 to bring the pool back up to standard.
Alongside the Victoria Embankment work, the council has also announced that it will be spending £69,000 of levelling up and S106 funding on restoring the Victoria Embankment memorial gardens, improving the Queens Walk play area and planting a covid memorial tree in Bulwell Forest. Eddie Curry, head of public realm at the council, said in a delegated decision report on the matter: "The S106 and levelling up funding has been secured to fully fund the projects. Without these funds there are no other ways to fund the delivery of the projects.
"Included within the report is details of an additional bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. If awarded, this funding will be used to enhance the scope of the project.
"The projects will help to improve the visual appearance of the parks and will help to drive out the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour. The new facilities all aim to encourage people to enjoy a day out in the fresh air and to engage in healthy lifestyle activities whilst enjoying spending time in our open and green spaces."
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