Splash World water park will reopen to the public after nearly four years this weekend. The Southport attraction closed in December 2019 for refurbishment but stayed closed for much longer than anticipated after the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
Now, Sefton Council has announced the long-awaited reopening of the popular leisure centre. Doors will open to the public this weekend, on Saturday, May 27, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Nestled on the Southport coastline, Splash World has been a favourite destination for families, friends, and water enthusiasts across the north-west for many years. Water lovers of all ages will now be able to rediscover the exhilarating aquatic adventures on offer at the park - just in time for the summer season.
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Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said the council is "absolutely thrilled" to welcome the public back, adding that Saturday's reopening would mark "an exciting milestone". Splash World boasts a number of water slides, a lazy river and interactive play areas suitable for people of all ages.
Cllr Moncur said: "We have taken every measure possible to once again provide an extremely enjoyable, safe experience for all visitors. Whether you're seeking an adrenaline rush on our exhilarating slides or a relaxing time in the lazy river, Splash World has something for everyone.
“Nobody could have foreseen the pandemic or that it would mean Splash World being closed for this length of time, but I know our teams did everything they could to ensure the venue was reopened as soon as possible.”
The closure, which was supposed to last just eight months with the refurbishment due to be complete by the end of summer 2020, was prolonged after the UK went into lockdown in March of that year. Splash World was used as a Covid-19 test centre during the pandemic.
In May 2021, it was stated the closure had come as a result of “significant health and safety concerns stemming from failure in the pool tile surfaces”. Sefton Council had lodged a legal claim against Splash World’s original developers relating to “latent defects” at the facility after spending “several years” trying to resolve the issue informally.
Problems then grew for the council in October 2022, when contractors working on the refurbishment said they were facing "unforeseen challenges" to complete the work.
In June last year a report was published calling for a decision to be made on funding, it has been stated that an estimated £270,000 will be needed to pay for further repair costs.
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